Louis Frederick ASHLEY
(Fred) |
- b. 25 July 1895, Retford
- Avete: Christmas Term 1908; Valete: Summer Term 1912
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics &
swimming); Speech Day (Prize winner)
- WWI: Army (2nd Lt, 3rd West Yorkshire Regt, France); RAF (Lt
(A), 12 Sqn, France & Germany)
- Inter-war: Reserve of Air Force Officers (Flg Off); Civilian
Pilot's Licence (Yorkshire Aeroplane Club, 1938)
- d. January-March 1966, Grange-over-Sands
- b. April-June 1899, Glossop, Sheffield
- Avete: Easter Term 1912 (boarder); Valete: Spring Term 1916
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics &
swimming); Cross-country (paper chase); Football (captain 1st XI
& Colours and captain Merton House); Cricket (captain First XI
& Colours); Prefect; Debating Society
- WWI: Army (57th TRB); RAF (Training as Scout Pilot, RAF
Scampton - Hon. 2nd Lt?)
- Post-war: Played for Glossop Football Club (Lancashire
Combination)
- d. unknown (post-Christmas Term 1919)
Leonard Turnell CARRUTHERS
(Leonard) |
- b. 28 March 1899, Long Eaton, Derby
- Avete: Summer Term 1908 (boarder); Valete: Summer Term 1915
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics, winner of
Leslie Cup); Speech Day (prize winner); School Orchestra (1st
& 2nd violin); Cross-country (paper chase); Scout (Cpl);
School Shooting Eight (Marksman Badge, tied winner Junior
Championship Challenge Cup of the Retford Club, Rifleman's
Certificate); Debating Society; Football (1st XI & Merton
House)
- WWI: Army (Nottingham OTC); RFC (Cadet); RAF (2nd Lt (A),
Egypt)
- Inter-war: No 1 Aircraft Acceptance Park, Coventry (injured in
crash); RAF Short Service Commission; 9 Sqn (Manston); 24 (Comms)
Sqn (VIP flights); 55 (B) Sqn, (Hinaidi, Iraq); No 5 Flying
Training School (Sealand); Dismissed the Service by sentence of
General Court Martial (Flt Lt, 1934); Civilian charter work (North
Africa); Cobham's Air Circus; Chief Flying Instructor for Reid and
Sigrist Reserve School (Desford)
- WWII: Test pilot at Bristols (Filton); 24 EFTS (Luton); Chief
Test Pilot at Percival Aircraft
- d. October-December 1973, Exeter District
- b. 2 April 1890, Retford
- Avete: Summer Term 1899 (day boy); Valete: Autumn Term 1904
(day boy)
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics, winner of
Leslie Cup)
- WWI: RFC (Temp 2nd Lt (on prob), Equip Off, 3rd Class); RAF
(2nd Lt (T))
- d. 7 December 1918 at 14th General Hospital, Wimereux, France
(formerly Hotel Splendid); Commonwealth War Grave at Terlincthun
British Cemetery, Wimille, Pas de Calais; Not named on KEGS War
Memorial; Recorded on St. Marks Church Roll of Honour, Broomhill;
Recorded on Sheffield Corporation's Roll of Honour
Henry Frederick CLARKE
(Fred) |
- b. April-June 1898, Doncaster
- Avete: Christmas Term 1910 (boarder); Valete: Autumn Term 1914
- School activities: School Orchestra (1st & 2nd violin);
Sports Day competitor (athletics & swimming); Scout (Cpl);
Speech Day (prize winner); School Shooting Eight (Marksman Badge
& Rifleman's Certificate); Football (1st XI & captain
Merton House); School Folk Dancing Team (Sword dancing); Debating
Society; Hockey (1st XI); Cricket (1st XI); Sub-editor (The
Retfordian); Monitor
- WWI: RFC (Sgt, dispatch rider, "hopes to begin training as
observer and gunner," engine mechanic, UK); RAF (Sgt, engine
mechanic, France)
- d. unknown (post-Autumn Term 1918)
Owen William CLARKE (Owen) |
- b. January-March 1896, East Markham
- Avete: Christmas Term 1909 (day boy, then boarder from
Christmas Term 1911); Valete: Summer Term 1912
- School activities: School Orchestra (2nd violin); Scout (Cpl)
- WWI: Army (Sapper, West Riding Telegraph Company, Royal
Engineers, France); RFC (Observer, France); Army (Despatch rider,
France)
- Post-war: Grocer, East Markham
- d. 9 July 1951 (suicide)
Frederick Allan DOWNES
(Allan) |
- b. 11 November 1898, Retford
- Avete: Easter Term 1910 (day boy) [NOTE: Retfordian Spring
1916 records entered January 1909?]; Valete: Spring Term 1916
- School activities: Debating Society; School Orchestra (1st
& 2nd violin); Scout (Cpl)
- WWI: RFC (2nd Lt, Equipment Officer/Airship Officer); RAF (Lt,
Airships)
[NOTE: On 5 October 1918, Allan was in command of
an airship which circled low over the School buildings and
playing-field, throwing all into "a state of overwhelming
excitement," and dropped a message of greeting on departure. His
younger brother, David Gordon Downes (KEGS 1916-1924), was a pupil
at the time]
- Inter-war: Working in India (Bombay, Baroda and Central India
Railways), after return ten patents issued while working at The
Siemens And General Electric Railway Signal Company, UK (mostly to
do with traffic lights for roads)
- WWII: RAF (Sqn Ldr, Technical Branch (Signals Officer) / Admin
& Special Duties Branch (For Special Duties)); Civilian
Pilot's Licence (issued while at RAF Dyce)
- Post-war: Four patents issued while working at The Sperry
Gyroscope Company
- d. January-March 1974, Midhurst District
John Reginald FARRINGTON
(Rex/Farry) |
- b. 16 February 1894, Calcutta, India
- Avete: Easter Term 1908 (boarder); Valete: Summer Term 1911
- School activities: Debating Society; Monitor; Sports Day
competitor (athletics & swimming); School Shooting Eight
(Bisley, 1909); Cricket (1st XI); Hockey (1st XI)
- Pre-war: Engineering apprentice (oil and gas engines); passed
Students' Examination of the Institute of Civil Engineers
- WWI: Army (Capt, 1st & 7th Batt, Lincoln Regt (Motor Maxim
Battery); Motor Machine Gun Service (S Lan Rgt); Mentioned in
Despatches (Hill 60); 7th Light Armoured Motor Battery (all in
France & Belgium); Comdt Rly Bty, MGC, Mesopotamia); RAF
(working on wings in Cairo at Armistice); Army (Capt, armoured
cars, near Cairo)
- Inter-war: Tank Corps; Staff College (Quetta); Staff Capt
(Western Command); DAA & QMG (South Midland Area)
- WWII: Army (Colonel, Tank Corps)
- Post-war: Retired
- d. unknown (post-September 1946)
George Colin FLETCHER
(Colin) |
- b. July-September 1894, Heanor
- Avete: Summer Term 1905 (boarder); Valete: Summer Term 1910
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics); School
Shooting Eight; School Orchestra (violin)
- Pre-war: Working at father's business
(lace manufacturer)
- WWI: Army (VTC); RFC (motor-cyclist); RAF (1st Air Mechanic,
Reading RAF School)
[NOTE: Younger brothers, Frederick
Leslie and Stuart Kirkland,
both ex-KEGS, served with the Army during WWI. Leslie a dispatch
rider in France, Stuart with the RAMC in Baghdad & Basra]
- Post-war: Managing the hosiery department in father's factory
- d. 4 June 1960, Heanor (Ilkeston District)
- b. 27 October 1897, Worksop
- Avete: September 1911; Valete: Autumn Term 1916
- School activities: Speech Day (prize winner); Cricket (1st XI
& Colours, vice-captain 2nd XI, vice-captain Country House);
Football (1st XI, Country House)
- WWI: RFC (Engine mechanic, France); RAF (France & UK)
- Post-war: Working with father,
F.G. Foster & Son, Fruiterers, Worksop
- d. November 1987, Worksop
- b. 2 June 1899, Basford District
- Avete: Easter Term 1912 (day boy); Valete: Spring Term 1915
- School activities: Speech Day (prize winner); Sports Day
competitor (athletics)
- WWI: RFC (Cadet); RAF (2nd Lt, Admin Branch, 89 Sqn,
UK)
[NOTE: Elder brothers, Percy (KEGS
1906-?) and Edwin, (also ex-KEGS), served
with the Army during WWI. Percy with the Machine Gun Corps (Light
Armoured Car Brigade) in France, Egypt, Libya & Palestine,
Edwin a gunner with the Tank Corps in France]
- Post-war: City and Midland Bank (living in Worksop)
- d. January-March 1987, Ipswich District
Eric Ottway FULLER (Eric) |
- b. 28 January 1899, Normanton (Shardlow District)
- Avete: Spring Term 1914; Valete: Spring Term 1917
- School activities: Debating Society; School Shooting Eight;
Scout (Senior Patrol Leader); Sports Day competitor (athletics -
runner-up Wilson Cup & swimming - winner Bradshaw Cup); School
Orchestra (1st & 2nd violin); Prefect; Football (vice-captain
1st XI & Colours, vice-captain The House); Cricket (1st XI
& Colours, 2nd XI, captain The House & Merton House)
- WWI: RFC (Temp 2nd Lt, No. 5 & 28 Training Sqns); RAF (Lt,
night pilot in France, injured "playing football," instructor at
RAF Retford [6th Brigade (Night) Training Squadron School,
Midland Area])
- Inter-war: Motor engineer; Reserve of Air Force Officers (Flg
Off); Manager, Royal Hotel Derby
[NOTE: Father
was The Royal Hotel's proprietor in Eric's KEGS Admission Register
entry of January 1914]
- WWII: RAFVR (Sqn Ldr, Admin & Special Duties Branch)
- d. July-September 1964, W. Cheshire District
John William GILLIS
(William) |
- b. 28 February 1896, Bolton
- Avete: Spring Term 1907 (boarder); Valete: Easter Term 1910
(boarder)
- School activities: School Concert (solo singer); Debating
Society
- Pre-war: Emigrated to Canada; Student at Connecticut
Agricultural College (Class of 1917, Sophomore Secretary, Sergeant
in Military Band, member College Shakespearean Club, member
Dramatic Club)
- WWI: Army (Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force, February
1916); RFC (Temp 2nd Lt (on prob), Flying Officer); RAF (Lt,
pilot, injured on active service)
- Post-war: Returned to Connecticut Agricultural College; Long
Island Aviation Country Club (Hicksville, Long Island, New York)
1930s (Manager?); Manager, Stamford Yacht Club (until at least
1950)
- d. January 1972, Tesuque, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Charles Richard GLADISH
(Dick) |
- b. 5 August 1893, Retford
- Avete: September 1905 (day boy); Valete: 1908
- School activities: School Shooting Eight (School Team, Bisley,
1907; winner of silver cup, Retford Miniature Rifle Club, 1908);
Speech Day (prize winner)
- Pre-war: Member of Retford Old Boys' Association
- WWI: Army (Signaller, 1/8th Batt, Sherwood Foresters (Notts
& Derby Regt), "temporarily buried after the trench he was in
collapsed during shelling", France; OCB, Cambridge; Temp 2nd Lt);
RFC (Reading); RAF (2nd Lt (A), trained at RAF Retford [6th
Brigade (Night) Training Squadron School, Midland Area])
- Inter-war: Gladish & Sons shop,
corner of Albert Road & Carolgate; Vice-President &
President Chamber of Trade (1934 & 1935)
- WWII: Head of ARP Organisation Group, Retford (1939-45);
Member of Retford Town Council, representing East Ward (1944-45)
- Post-war: Retford Mayor, 1951/52; Member Retford Bowling Green
Ltd.; Deputy Mayor (1952), member of Parks, Cemetery and Baths,
Estates and Markets, Town Planning and Development, Valuation,
Privileges and Procedures, Selection, Road Safety and Civil
Defence Committees; Member of Retford Town Council, June 1944-May
1955.; Independent Councillor (1960-63); Chairman of the General
Commissioners of Income Tax in Bassetlaw (retired 1968);
Vice-Chairman British Legion (Retford Branch); Board of Governors
of King Edward VI Grammar School, Sir Frederick Milner School and
the Hallcroft Secondary Modern School; Chairman of East Retford
Charity Trustees (administering the Almshouses in Union Street and
Sloswicke's Hospital)
- d. 9 November 1968, Retford
[NOTE: Younger brother
follows]
- b. 29 October 1898, Retford
- Avete: Spring Term 1907 (day boy); Valete: unknown
(post-Autumn Term 1914)
- School activities: Speech Day (prize winner); Cricket (1st
XI); Sports Day competitor (throwing the cricket ball); Scout
(bugler); School Concert (solo singer)
- WWI: Army (Nottingham University OTC - Engineering course;
Crookham OCB; Temp 2nd Lt, Notts & Derby Regt; 3rd Sherwood
Foresters); RFC (Reading); RAF (Lt (A), "crashed rather badly
through striking a searchlight (!) apparatus in the dark at RAF
Retford [6th Brigade (Night) Training Squadron School, Midland
Area] but escaped with the loss of a tooth"; Civilian Plot Licence
(annotated "Competitor's Certificate"); 33 Sqn, Gainsborough)
- Inter-war: Running the milling side of the family business
(there were two mills, one on Albert Road); Secretary of the
Malton Aero Club (Gliding); Civilian Pilot Licence (Scarborough
Aero Club); Commercial Traveller; Territorial Army (Lt, 5th Bn.
Green Howards, 1936-38)
- WWII: FAA (Lt Cdr, Served on training Squadrons in UK, West
Indies, Iceland and aboard aircraft carriers; CO 739 Sqn; 750 Sqn;
781 Sqn; CO 720 Sqn)
- Post-war: RAFVR Training Branch (Plt Off)
- 1968: Renewed Pilot's Licence for powered flight. An entry
was published in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest
holder of Pilot's Licence (aged 70), unfortunately accompanied by
the wrong picture
- d. February 1986, Ashford, Kent (at 87 he was in the process
of moving to be with daughter in the
Orkneys, flying himself there!)
George William GOODWIN
(George) |
- b. 13 January 1900, Edgbaston
- Avete: September 1913; Valete: Autumn Term 1916 (boarder)
- School activities: School Orchestra (1st & 2nd violin);
School Shooting Eight (Marksman Badge & Rifleman's
Certificate); Debating Society; Scout (Patrol Leader); Cricket
(captain 1st XI & Colours, 2nd XI, vice-captain Merton House);
Prefect; Deputy Assistant Editor (The Retfordian); Football (1st
XI & vice-captain Merton House); Sports Day competitor
(athletics)
- WWI: RNAS (Flight Officer); RAF (2nd Lt, Airships)
- Post-war: Loughboro' Technical College (Engineering)
- 1947: Hotel manager
- d. unknown (post-July 1947)
[NOTE: Older brother
follows]
Godfrey John Whitehouse GOODWIN
(Godfrey) |
- b. 1 August 1898, Edgbaston
- Avete: September 1913; Valete: Spring Term 1916 (boarder)
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (swimming - runner up
& winner Bradshaw Cup); School Orchestra (1st & 2nd
violin); School Shooting Eight (Rifleman's Certificate & 2nd
place in Junior Challenge Cup of Retford Miniature Rifle Club);
Royal Life Saving Society Proficiency Medallion; Prefect; Football
(1st & 2nd XI, The House); Debating Society; Scout (Patrol
Leader); Cricket (1st & 2nd XI, The House)
- WWI: RNVR (torpedo boat signaller); RNAS (Flight Sub-Lt)
- d. 12 March 1918; Pilot with 12 Sqn, RNAS, arriving on 2
March, killed in flying accident (F1 Camel, B3845). After an
engine fire, aircraft dived vertically and was completely wrecked
at Loon Plage, France; Commonwealth War Grave, Dunkirk Town
Cemetery, Nord; Retfordian Obituary, Summer Term 1918, p.17; Named
on KEGS War Memorial as "J. W. Goodwin"; Memorial Inscription on
plaque at St. Giles' Church, Matlock; Named on Matlock War
Memorial; Named on Herbert Strutt School Memorial, Belper (Junior
School)
Ernest Edward HALE (Ernest) |
- b. 6 March 1897, West Didsbury, Lancashire
- Avete: Summer Term 1908; Valete: Easter Term 1913
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics, winner
Leslie Cup); Cross-country (paper chase); Debating Society; Scout
- Pre-war: Manchester Old Retfordian's Association (Committee)
& Retford Old Boys' Association
- WWI: Army (Bombardier, 2nd Batt, East Lancs, RFA, Egypt &
France, 2nd Lt); RAF (possible printing error)
- Post-war: Emigrated to North Island, New Zealand; farmer;
contractor; salesman; retired (Auckland)
- d. unknown (post-1987, NZ?)
Frederick HIGGINBOTTOM
(Fred) |
- b. 31 October 1894, Didsbury
- Avete: Easter Term 1908 (boarder); Valete: Christmas Term 1911
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics &
winner Teasdale Prize for gymnastics); Debating Society; School
Shooting Eight; School Orchestra (1st violin)
- Pre-war: In Hamburg (learning German); Manchester Old
Retfordian's Association (Committee) & Retford Old Boys'
Association; Working in father's office
- WWI: Army (Gunner, 13 & 12th Batt, Machine Gun Corps,
France; Cheshire Regt, 2nd Lt, France); RFC (appointed Flying
Officer (Observer), 9 March 1917)
[NOTE: Elder brother Roy,
(KEGS 1907-?), served in the RNR on HMS Indefatigable in the
Mediterranean]
- d. 6 April 1917; Observer on 23 Sqn, shot down over Pronville,
5 April 1917 (FE2b, A805), died of wounds in German hands;
Commonwealth War Grave, Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de
Calais; Retfordian Obituary, Autumn Term 1917, p.94; Named on KEGS
War Memorial
- b. 11 May 1899, Retford
- Avete: Autumn Term 1906 (day boy); Valete: Spring Term 1915
- WWI: Army (Durham Light Infantry); RFC (2nd Lt); RAF (shot
down, 14th July 1918, 85 Sqn, SE5a, C6490, PoW, Mentioned in
Reports for valuable services whilst in captivity); RAF (2nd Lt)
- Post-war: Marshall & Son, Market Square then Cannon Square
- WWII: Shopkeeper; Royal Observer Corp; Special Constable
- d. 9 August 1962, Retford
- b. 24 January 1891, Lincoln
- Avete: January 1906 (boarder); Valete: Christmas Term 1909
- School activities: Speech Day (piano duet, scene from Henry V,
rendition of Hugo's "L'Expiation"); Head Monitor; Football
(captain 2nd XI); School Shooting Eight (Bisley, 1907); Debating
Society; School Orchestra (piano); School Play ("Ici On Parle
Français" later performed at Town Hall)
- Pre-war: College of the Resurrection, Mirfield & Leeds
University (BA); Deacon, Diocese of Southwell (Parish of Glossop);
Ordained and made Assistant Curate at Old Glossop Parish Church;
Priest
- WWI: Army (Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class); Chaplain to the
RAF (Cairo); Army (Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class)
- Post-war: Vicar of St. Cyprian's Church, Nottingham (1920);
Emigrated to Argentina (1927); Emigrated to Brazil (1931); OBE
(1953)
- d. 5 June 1956, Strangers' Hospital, Rio de Janeiro
(Archdeacon in Brazil and Chaplain of Christ Church, Rio de
Janeiro)
Eric Neish PATERSON (Eric) |
- b. 21 December 1888, Didsbury
- Avete: Autumn Term 1903 (boarder); Valete: Autumn Term 1906
(boarder)
- School activities: Sports Day steward & competitor
(athletics, cycling & swimming); Speech Day (prize winner
including two Conduct Prizes voted for by the boys, recitation of
Shakespeare's "Deposition of Richard II" & scene from
Moliere's "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme," scene from Corneille's "Le
Cid"); School Shooting Eight (winning the first National Rifle
Association's Frankfort Shield at Bisley, August 1906; Marksman);
Football (1st XI & Colours)
- Pre-war: Manchester Old Retfordian's Association & Retford
Old Boys' Association; Surveyor's assistant
- WWI: Army (2nd Lt, The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), Egypt
& France, wounded, lower left leg amputated, artificial limb
fitted, posted to Cycle Battalion!); RFC (2nd Lt, Equipment
Officer); RAF (Lt, RAF Sealand)
[NOTE: Brothers Edward
Douglas (KEGS 1901-1903), and
Ronald Simpson (KEGS 1906-1907?),
did not (apparently) serve in the military during the war.
Ronald was training as a doctor, Douglas was rejected for military
service and became a pastor]
- WWII: Territorial Army Reserve of Officers, Army Cadet Force
(2nd Lt)
- d. April-June 1982, Congleton/C. District
- b. 18 June 1899, Durham
- Avete: Spring Term 1914 (day boy); Valete: pre-Autumn Term
1915
- School activities: Football (1st XI, captain South House);
Cricket (1st XI, captain South House)
- Pre-war: Beckett's Bank, Retford (Cannon Square - now location
of Bassetlaw Council Contact Point)
- WWI: RFC (Cadet, UK & Cairo); RAF (mid-air collision
during flying training, Egypt); Army (Temp 2nd Lt, Notts &
Derby Regt, Egypt)
- Post-war: Beckett's Bank (becoming Westminster Bank), Retford,
then Buxton & Macclesfield
- d. unknown (post-1976, no England/Wales entry found to
December 1983)
Alfred Edgar PEATFIELD
(Edgar) |
- b. 20 January 1896, Retford
- Avete: Easter Term 1908 (day boy); Valete: post-Christmas Term
1911
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics); Speech
Day (prize winner); Cricket (1st XI)
- Pre-war: Apprentice at W. J. Jenkins, Retford
- WWI: RFC (Joined RFC at Retford; 2nd Air Mechanic (engines),
No.5 Reserve / Training Sqn then 19 Sqn, Castle Bromwich &
France); RAF (engine mechanic, 19 Sqn, France)
- Inter-war: W. J. Jenkins & Co, Retford
- WWII: ? (wife
& daughter
on Civilian Electoral Roll in Retford; eldest son
(Lt, 2nd Bn, RM Engineers, Far East) on Service Electoral Roll; no
Edgar)
- Post-war: Published 3-volume "Teach Yourself Mechanical
Engineering" series, still in use today (e.g. currently available
on a Thai University's library list!), plus "Teach Yourself
Practical Concreting"; RAFA member
- d. September 1986, Scunthorpe and Barton-upon-Humber District
- b. January-March 1897, Carlton-in-Lindrick
- Avete: Summer Term 1909 (day boy); Valete: Summer Term 1912
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics)
- WWI: RFC (discharged, 1915, hit by propeller); returned to
Carlton
- d. 3 February 1964, Nottingham?
- b. 11 April 1899, Conisboro', Doncaster
- Avete: Autumn Term 1913 (boarder); Valete: Autumn Term 1916
- School activities: School Orchestra (piano); Sports Day
competitor (athletics); Speech Day (prize winner); Prefect;
Football (1st & 2nd XI, Colours, vice-captain The House,
captain Merton House); Cricket (1st XI, Colours, captain Merton
House); School Concert (solo vocal & piano duet)
- Pre-war: Sheffield University (Engineering)
- WWI: Army (Sheffield OTC/West Yorkshire Regt); applied for
RFC, discharged "Medically unfit" (October 1918)
- d. July-September 1975, Falmouth District
Richard Arthur ROBINSON
(Dick) |
- b. October-December 1893, Grimsby
- Avete: Christmas Term 1909 (boarder); Valete: Easter Term 1912
- School activities: Football (1st XI & Colours); Monitor;
Editorial Committee (The Retfordian); Shooting; Debating Society;
Cricket (1st XI)
- WWI: Army (Artists Rifles OTC); RFC (2nd Lt); Army (Lt, MT,
ASC/RASC, France)
- WWII: Commercial clerk
- d. January-March 1968, Cleethorpes District
- b. 11 June 1893, Conisbro', Doncaster
- Avete: Summer Term 1905 (boarder); Valete: Christmas Term 1910
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics - winner
Leslie Cup & Rose Bowl for best all-round athlete, single
& doubles tennis - "best player in the School"); Speech Day
(prize winner - Cricket Bat for highest average); Football
(vice-captain 1st & 2nd XI, Colours); Cricket (vice-captain
1st XI & Colours - elder brother, Stephen Oswald Sharp,
captain); School Orchestra (1st flute); Hockey (1st XI); Shooting;
Monitor; Debating Society
- Pre-war: Agricultural student (Wye College); Retford Old Boys'
Association; Bought fruit farm, Pershore, Worcester
- WWI: Army (Lt, 12th (Service) Batt, Worcester Regt); RFC
(Flying Officer, 42 Sqn, France/Italy); RAF (Capt., Bronze Medal
for Military Valour (Italian) & DFC, 42 Sqn,
France)
[NOTE: Elder brother, Stephen Oswald (KEGS
1902-1909), Lt, 13th York and Lancs,
was killed in France, 1 July 1916 "leading his men into action".
He is named on the KEGS War Memorial. Bob's daughter, born shortly
after, was named Stephanie in memory of his late brother]
- WWII: RAF (Flt Lt, Admin & Special Duties Branch (Admin
& Misc Duties) )
- d. April-June 1949, Staincliffe District, West Riding
Francis Eric SHORT (Eric) |
- b. 20 November 1898, Chesterfield
- Avete: Summer Term 1912 (boarder); Valete: Summer Term 1913
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics &
swimming); Gymnastics; Cricket (1st XI); Football (1st XI); School
Folk Dancing Team (Sword dancing); Debating Society; School
Shooting Eight; Hockey (1st XI); Cross-country (paper chase)
- WWI: Army (Sheffield University OTC); RFC (2nd Lt, Flying
Officer); RAF (Lt)
- d. October-December 1957, Chesterfield
- b. January-March 1896, Retford
- Avete: Spring Term 1905 (day boy); Valete: Christmas Term 1912
(day boy)
- School activities: Speech Day (prize winner); Sports Day
steward & competitor (athletics, swimming, cycling &
gymnastics); Debating Society; Scout (bass drummer in band)
- Pre-war: Retford Old Boys' Association
- WWI: Army (Sherwood Rangers Imperial Yeomanry, Egypt (at
Gallipoli?); 20th Hussars, OCB, UK); RFC (Temp 2nd Lt); RAF (2nd
Lt (A&S) )
- Post-war: RAF instructor, 24 Sqn (Flt Lt), resigned; Working
in garage (Oxford)
- d. 13 April 1927, Headington District, Oxfordshire (motorbike
run over by lorry)
Harold Cecil STOCKDALE
(Cecil) |
- b. 5 March 1889, Ingoldsby
- Avete: Autumn Term 1902 (day boy); Valete: Summer Term 1904
(day boy)
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics)?; Speech
Day (prize winner)?
- Pre-war: Emigrated to USA (1904); US citizen (1912); wool
buyer/sorter
- WWI American Flying Corps (France)
[NOTE: Elder brother
Joe, ex-KEGS, served with the Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders during the war]
- WWII: Draft Card issued (US)
- Post-war: Wool buyer, Newton, Massachusetts
- d. January 1966, Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Walter Winks STRAW (Walter) |
- b. 16 September 1899, Worksop
- Avete: Christmas Term 1912 (day boy); Valete: Summer Term 1916
- School activities: Debating Society
- WWI: Army (RAMC); RFC (3rd Mechanic); RAF
[NOTE: Elder
brother William, (KEGS 1910-?), recorded as
in training with the 4th Leicesters during the war]
- Post-war: Straw's Grocers (family business, Worksop);
Institute of Certified Grocers; Moved to 7 Blyth Grove, i.e. "Mr.
Straw's House" (1923)
- WWII: Grocer; Fire Watch Warden
- d. 16 December 1976, Worksop
- b. April-June 1898, Chesterfield
- Avete: Easter Term 1912 (boarder); Valete: Summer Term 1914
- School activities: Speech Day (prize winner); Sports Day
competitor (swimming); School Folk Dancing Team (Sword dancing);
Cross-country (paper chase); School Orchestra (2nd violin);
Football (1st XI & Merton House)
- Pre-war: Sheffield University
- WWI: RFC (2nd Lt, on probation); RAF (2nd Lt (A)
)
[NOTE: Twin, Leonard Gladstone,
was also a boarder at KEGS, then served with the Army in France
during the war]
- Post-war: Sheffield University
- d. unknown (post-Summer Term 1919)
George Valentine Thorpe THOMSON
(Val) |
- b. 14 February 1899, Retford
- Avete: Spring Term 1907 (day boy); Valete: Summer Term 1910
(to Felsted School)
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics)
- WWI: RFC Naval Wing (RNAS) (Probationary Flight Officer); RNAS
(Flt Sub-Lieut); RAF (Lt (A) )
- Inter-war: Founding member of Royal New Zealand Territorial
Air Force (Lt); RAF (Flt Lt, RAF Gosport; Torpedo Bomber Flight,
RAF Donibristle; RAF Leuchars (Training Base); 100 (Torpedo
Bomber) Sqn, RAF Donibristle; RAF Leuchars (Training Base); School
of Naval Co-Operation, RAF Ford; Adjutant, RAF Lee-on-the-Solent);
FAA (Lt Cdr (A), HMS Furious)
- WWII: FAA (HMS Furious; HMS Vulture; HMS Garuda, Lt Cdr (A)
& Lt Cdr Flying)
- Post-war: Retired, April 1948 (Lt Cdr (A)); emigrated to South
Africa May 1948
- d. 16 May 1961, Mafuteni, Manzini District, Swaziland
Allan Reginald TRACY (Rex) |
- b. 1889, Auckland, New Zealand
- Avete: Autumn Term 1898 (day boy); Valete: Autumn Term 1902
(day boy)
- School activities: Speech Day (scene from Moliere's "Le
Bourgeois Gentilhomme" & solo during National Anthem)
- Pre-war: National Telephone Company clerk (Liverpool);
Building contractor
[NOTE: Father
recorded as an engineer employer in the building of flats]
- WWI: Army (ASC/2nd Lt, Queen's Own Worcester Hussars (aka The
Worcestershire Yeomanry); RFC (from Retfordian Active Service
List); Army (Lt, Worcestershire Yeomanry)
- d. 30 June 1947, Meliden, Flintshire
Thomas Sanderson WALKER
(Tom) |
- b. July-September 1885, Retford
- Avete: unknown; Valete: unknown
- Pre-war: Retford Old Boys' Association; Assisting/running
family business (ironmongers),
exempt military service until 1917
- WWI: RFC; RAF (Sgt, 1st Air Mechanic, Repair Park, No. 2
Emergency Landing Ground, Nr Liege, France)
[NOTE: Brothers
Edward (Ted) (KEGS 1898-?),
Sydney Watkin (KEGS 1901-?) and
Robert Hodgson (Bob) (KEGS 1905-?),
served as a gunner (RGA), with the Education Staff in Nigeria and
as a Lt in the 14th Yorks and Lancs (taken PoW) respectively
during the war]
- Post-war: Returned to run family business in Market Square,
moving to new shop on Carolgate in 1924 (ironmonger, bar iron
merchant, sports outfitter, china & glass dealer); Freemason;
President of Retford Traders' Association
- d. 31 October 1925, Retford
John Percy WIDMANN (Percy) |
- b. 4 March 1894, Sheffield (moved to 4 Highland Grove,
Worksop, 1907)
- Avete: Christmas Term 1908 (day boy); Valete: Summer Term 1911
- School activities: Football (1st XI & Colours); Speech Day
(prize winner)
- Pre-war: Germany, Belgium (Brussels, then at steel works in
Antwerp during German artillery shelling), Spain ("business
training")
[NOTE: Father was
German, naturalised British, "clerk at steelworks" in 1911]
- WWI: Royal Naval Division (Wireless Section); Army; RFC
(transport service); RAF
[NOTE: Younger brother William
Swinnerton (Willie),
ex-KEGS, was serving as an engineering apprentice at the Yorkshire
Engine Company, Sheffield, then enlisted with "a Middlesex
Regiment"]
- Post-war: Father appointed Cuban Consul in Sheffield! (1922;
d. 1925); Tax Clerk, Inland Revenue (1926)
- d. 13 January 1974, Hathersage, Derbyshire
Eric George L. WILLIAMS
(Eric) |
- b. July-September 1898, Didsbury, Manchester
- Avete: May 1912 (boarder); Valete: Spring Term 1915 (boarder)
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics); School
Orchestra (1st violin); School Folk Dancing Team (Sword dancing);
School Shooting Eight (Rifleman's Certificate, Junior Challenge
Cup of Retford Miniature Rifle Club, second place Colonel's Cup);
Cricket (2nd XI & Umpire); Football (2nd XI); Prefect
- WWI: Applied to RNAS (Wireless Section) rejected; Army (Cpl,
Machine Gun Corps/Tank Corps, France - injured in eye by shrapnel
when tank destroyed by direct hit)
- Post-war: "Anxious to return to complete his articles as a
Surveyor"
- d. unknown (post-war)
[NOTE: Older brother follows]
Reginald Robert WILLIAMS
(Rex) |
- b. 17 December 1895, Didsbury, Manchester
- Avete: pre-July 1910 (boarder); Valete: Easter Term 1913
- School activities: Sports Day steward & competitor
(athletics); Scout (Patrol Leader); Monitor; Drawings published in
The Retfordian; Debating Society
- Pre-war: Retford Old Boys' Association
- WWI: RNAS (Mediterranean; returned to start flying training at
Wormwood Scrubs; 1st Air Mechanic, Scotland; Leading Mechanical
Engineer, Egypt; Chief Air Mechanic, Mudros; Aircraft Carrier HMS
Empress, on anti-submarine patrols throughout Mediterranean); RAF
(Chief Air Mechanic, on HMS Empress escorting fleet through
Dardanelles to Constantinople after Armistice was signed)
- Post-war: At leading motor works (Manchester); Civilian
Pilot's Licence (1926, Lancashire Aero Club)
- d. January-March 1964, Solihull District
Harry Robert WILSON
(Robert) |
- b. April-June 1897, Tuxford
- Avete: Christmas Term 1909?; Valete: Easter Term 1912?
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics)
- WWI: Army (Field Ambulance, 2/1 Notts & Derby Regt, MBFA);
RFC (Observer)
- d. unknown (no Commonwealth War Grave entry found)
- b. 25 September 1893, York
- Avete: Easter Term 1911 (boarder); Valete: Christmas Term 1912
- School activities: Editorial Committee (The Retfordian);
Monitor; Hockey (vice-captain 1st XI & Colours); Sports Day
competitor (athletics, single & doubles tennis); Speech Day
(scene from Sheridan's "The Critic", prize winner, two Cricket
Bats for highest average); Cricket (vice-captain 1st XI &
Colours); School Shooting Eight (winning member of Team
Competition for the School arranged by Retford Rifle Club);
Football (1st XI & Colours); Debating Society
- Pre-war: Retford Old Boys' Association; Leeds University;
"Accepted the offer of an opening in a Tea Plantation in Assam,
under the Imperial Tea Company"; Laid up with concussion, August
1914-Summer 1915
- WWI: Army (Lt, Inns of Court OTC; Scottish Horse; MT ASC,
France); RAF (Lt, Flying Branch)
- d. January-March 1973, Worthing District
Henry Bernard WORDSWORTH
(Bernard) |
- b. January-March 1892, Pitsmoor, Sheffield
- Avete: Spring Term 1901 (day boy); Valete: Christmas Term 1908
- School activities: Sports Day competitor (athletics); Speech
Day (prize winner, recitation of John Farmer's "Forty Years On")
- Pre-war: Engineering apprentice; Sherwood Rangers Imperial
Yeomanry (joined 1910/11)
- WWI: Army (Sgt, Sherwood Rangers Imperial Yeomanry, Egypt,
Gallipoli, Salonika); RFC (Air Mechanic, Salonika); RAF (Cpl
Mechanic, Salonika)
- d. 26 March 1960, Norton, Sheffield
- b. 28 April 1899, Erdington, Warwickshire
- Avete: Autumn Term 1907 (boarder); Valete: Christmas Term 1911
- School activities: Debating Society
- Pre-war: Scholarship at Christ's Hospital; Emigrated to work
on farm as "pupil," Winnipeg, Canada (March 1913); Drug clerk (on
enlistment)
- WWI: Army (Private, 15th Canadian Reserve Battalion; 152nd
Over-seas Battalion, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force;
France); RFC (Temp 2nd Lt, Flying Officer, 28 September 1917)
- d. 1 November 1917; Joined 70 Sqn, Ypres, 18 October 1917;
Left aerodrome at 14.20 on Offensive Patrol and at 14.25 his
aircraft (Sopwith Camel, B2305) spun and crashed at La Lovie;
Commonwealth War Grave, Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium; Retfordian Obituary, Autumn Term 1917,
p.95; Named on KEGS War Memorial; Mother
presented School with inscribed Cromwell clock (Autumn Term 1918),
current location unknown (not at Retford Oaks, or in Nottingham
Archives)
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