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Eton College


freddy1918

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Tom,

No details on his death I'm afraid, but it transpires that Armstrong spent his last night on earth hunting No-mans land for the dead body of a friend who had fallen. An officer wrote to his mother saying "If you had seen the men round our dinner table; when his death was heard of it would have helped you not a little to mourn his loss."

Jon,

Matthews, Myles Lewis Wigan

Eldest son of Major E Matthews. Arrived at Eton September 1905, left April 1911 for University College Oxford.

Started off in 3rd form at Eton (small, with v. young boys and academic dregs) but ended up in the first 100 (more than respectable)

Distinguished himself on the River and on the football field. I may have a picture of him somewhere but until I get them catalogued I couldn't say. I'll get back to you.

Hambo,

Found some bits on R C G G Leveson Gower today by accident. Was treasurer of his house debating society and Captain of House Games. Was also L-Corporal in the OTC just prior to the outbreak of war.

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Freddy

Thanks for the information. I would be very keen to see any obits or photographs if any are avaliable

Thanks again for your time and help

Do I get the impression you archiving all the Etonions?

Hambo

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Hambo,

Am trying. Think I have photos of approx 5-600 of the 1157 (give or take a handful) that died, but won't have a final count for a while yet whilst I sort them out. As soon as I do I will let you know but I believe I have a picture of one of the Leveson-Gowers at least.

There were about 5500 OE's that served. Have bits and pieces and some photos on the odd one that survived too, mainly the young ones that left 1912-1917.

Haven't sussed the youngest Etonian to die, I have a few ideas but haven't linked up the dates of birth and matched them with ages at death. The eldest was 82. Field Marshal Earl Roberts died in 1914 on account of an illness he contracted inspecting Indian troops in France. The troops were not furnished with greatcoats at the time so he refused to wear his - he got ill and died. The name of the first to die escapes me but he was only in his early twenties. There were a couple in Russia but the last I have so far is a suicide in 1921. An MC winner about to embark on a career in the ICS killed himself and in the note he left his father he attributed his state of mind to his experiences at the front. He had witnessed most of his friend's dying at some point and had been gassed. CWGC regard him as a casualty of war so I do too.

Freddy

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Matthews, Myles Lewis Wigan

Eldest son of Major E Matthews. Arrived at Eton September 1905, left April 1911 for University College Oxford.

Started off in 3rd form at Eton (small, with v. young boys and academic dregs) but ended up in the first 100 (more than respectable)

Distinguished himself on the River and on the football field. I may have a picture of him somewhere but until I get them catalogued I couldn't say. I'll get back to you.

Hambo,

Freddy,

Many thanks - I have some observations on Matthews via a manuscript that was written by a 6 West Kent's man in the early 70s. Should you wish to know how this reminisces on Matthews please let me know and I will be happy to share with you.

Regards,

Jon S

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I have a rather poor photo of one of the Leveson Gowers taken from a group of Coldstream officers. I have been in contact with the Titsey estate of which he was heir and I know they would be very interested in the picture if you have one

Look forward to hearing from you as and when you have the time

Thanks again Hambo

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Jon,

Would be really interested in the memories of Matthews if you don;t mind sharing. Thanks.

Hambo,

Give me a couple of days and Ill send L-G over. I saw quite a few write ups in his hand for house sports etc today, got me quite interested. My pic def isn't the group one, solo portrait.

Freddy

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Hi Chris,

Just saw your ref to him elsewhere on the board.

He certainly was an old Etonian. He left in 1909 and was in Somerville's house. Says he was mid 4 times over the course of the war.

Mr Somerville was also his classics tutor. He was in one of the Army classes (most of the boys in them went on to Sandhurst, some to Woolwich, more modern concept in education than the main part of the school). Mr. Rayner-Wood took the class and S-S was a history specialist.

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Hi Jemma

Thanks for the Information on Stopford-Sackville, is there anything further on his school days and a photo if possible, Does it quote an obituary at all, I have the one from the Rifle Brigade chronicles but would be interested if there is anything.

If you need it I can let you have what I have on him as well.

Regards Chris

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Jon,

Would be really interested in the memories of Matthews if you don;t mind sharing. Thanks.

Email sent. I hope it will be of interest. The author had the highest regard for Lt Matthews "... the Royal West Kent’s had lost not only a fine officer, but a gentleman when Captain Matthews was killed that day in action on the Somme."

Regards,

Jon S

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Hi Megan,

Have got a portrait photo of him for a start.

Born March 17th 1882. Was a scholar at Eton, so in College, not a regular house. Took Classical Moderations at Balliol in 1902 and joined the Leicestershire Regiment in 1903. Served with the 2nd Battalion in India 1906-14. Keen sportsman, although his enthusiasm outweighed his skill. Came with the Indian Corps to France and was killed the first night that his Battlaion was in the trenches. At the time he was in command of A Company and he was told of a listening post in front of the line that had to be taken. He went out with a L-Corporal to investigate before any action was taken. Nothing more was heard and their bodies were found the following morning; presumabley shot whilst looking over the top.

Hope this helps.

Freddy

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Freddy

Thanks for looking out the L-G picture, looking forward to it

Thanks again

Hambo

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Born March 17th 1882. Was a scholar at Eton, so in College, not a regular house. Took Classical Moderations at Balliol in 1902 and joined the Leicestershire Regiment in 1903. Served with the 2nd Battalion in India 1906-14. Keen sportsman, although his enthusiasm outweighed his skill. Came with the Indian Corps to France and was killed the first night that his Battlaion was in the trenches. At the time he was in command of A Company and he was told of a listening post in front of the line that had to be taken. He went out with a L-Corporal to investigate before any action was taken. Nothing more was heard and their bodies were found the following morning; presumabley shot whilst looking over the top.

Hi Freddy,

Thank you very much for the infomation.

Megan

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Freddy

Have you anything on Major Richard Gerard Wellesley Williams-Bulkeley MC Welsh Guards Died at home on the 28th of March 1918

Many thanks Hambo

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Was just cataloguing photos today and just found one of him amongst a group of other officers. Not too good quality wise but better than nothing!

Was in Mr Dyer's house. Left Eton in 1901. Found his way into the Welsh Guards from the Grenadier's (I saw a fantastic quote from an Etonian Scots Guards officer today that apparently to be smart amongst the 1st Battalion was looked down upon as being "grenadier" - a reference to how well turned out the 3rd GG were in their brigade.)

WB had been previously wounded and mentioned in despatches. Will check on Thurs at the College to see if there is a detailed write up.

Freddy

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Hambo,

More on WGG Leveson-Gower Was at Summer Fields so he'll have a write up in Chris Sparrow's book.

At Eton was Captain of the school in 1901.

After he died they discovered a codicil to his will done on 29th Sep leaving "rememberances" to more than 20 children. His dearest friend was Robert Bailey (Another Eton Scholar, who I believe died too)

Last letter home was written on Oct 7th and he said "It really is a fact that I am commanding a company in the Coldstream Guards, an ambition beyond my wildest dreams."

Freddy

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Thanks for the extra info Freddy. Only one problem, what's Summer Fields??

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Prep school in Oxford. At the outbreak of war I think about 1/3 of all scholarship students at Eton had come out of there.

Freddy

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  • 2 weeks later...

Have just acquired biographies of living Etonians in a large volume from the 1930's.

Not everyone is in here but it has lengthy details on hundreds of WW1 servicemen from the school who came through the Great War and their subsequent careers military or otherwise if anyone needs a lookup...

Freddy

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Roll of honour and about 20 other publications with other details and mentions of old Eton boys who served in the Great War, fair bit on those who served in WW2 too, so if anybody needs anything....

Jemma

Hi do you have any info on Lord Venables-Vernon who was educated at Eton and died 1915 many thanks

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Hi do you have any info on Lord Venables-Vernon who was educated at Eton and died 1915 many thanks

He didn't get a write up in the school magazine I'm afraid, but he was in H Brinton's house, leaving in 1905. They have him down as Derbyshire Yeomanry, looks like he might have had a younger brother who was in the RN in Home waters and the Mediterranean. No word about mentions in despatches or anything.

Freddy

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  • 1 month later...

Have now got all but one of the school registers from 1840-1919, which means additional bio/school career info if anybody needs anything. The original owner was an OE who left in 1914 and went through and made annotations for hundreds of the entries, especially the 1909-1919 boys, so there could be extra stuff there.

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Do you have photos of any of the following OEs? They all survived the war:

Major William Henry Benson Baker, RFA

Captain Cuthbert Wellesley Foster, RMA

Lieutenant Arthur Blake Heinemann, RFA

Major Fabian Courtney Letts, RFA

Thanx and regards. Dick Flory

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Hambo: Here is what is in the "Summer Fields Register 1864-1960" concerning WGG Leveson-Gower:

William George Gresham Leveson-Gower

Born 1883

Educated at Summer Fields (1894); Eton (1895) ; and Christ Church, Oxford (1901)

In 1911 he was called to the Bar.

Clerk in the House of Lords.

In 1914 commissioned in the Coldstream Guards.

KIA in 1918.

Regards. Dick Flory

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