X L I . F E B R U A R Y , 1915. N o . 369 V O L .

C O N T E N T S . P A G E

E D I T O R I A L ... 8 l

S C H O O L N E W S ... 82

O . B . N E W S ... 83

O B I T U A R Y ... 83

O . B . S O C I E T Y ... 83

T H E R E V . G . H . W A R D , P R E S E N T A T I O N T O . . . ... 83

S E R M O N B Y ... 84

R E Q U I E M F O R S O L D I E R S A N D S A I L O R S ... 86

C O N C E R T ... 87

L I B R A R Y ... 89

A R M Y A N D N A V Y ... 90

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S . . . ... 90

E D I T O R I A L .

y ^ L T H O U G H the year 1915 is now a m o n t h

o l d , we must preface our i n t r o d u c t o r y

remarks by wishing- al l prosperi ty to our readers.

A n d a m o n g them t w o come very prominent ly

before our m i n d — n a m e l y , our late Headmaster

and our new Headmaster. To b o t h of them we

extend our g r e e t i n g and heartfelt wishes for their

happiness and prosperi ty d u r i n g this year—a year

which w i l l be l o n g remembered by a l l of us

s imply on account of the changes which are t a k i n g

place in this l i t t l e w o r l d of ours at B l o x h a m , not

to mention the far greater changes in the great

w o r l d outside. It may be remembered t h a t we

promised in a previous number to publish an

article r e c o r d i n g M r . W a r d ' s period of service as

Headmaster. The Provost had undertaken to

w r i t e i t , but unfortunate ly he has been la id up

w i t h an at tack of influenza, and now that he is

convalescent he has received orders to hold himsel f in readiness to go to France or elsewhere w i t h the b a t t a l i o n , of which he is chaplain. Consequently the article remains u n w r i t t e n , and we hope that our readers w i l l accept this explanation as an excuse for its non-appearance. We feel incompetent to do justice to the subject ourselves, and probably most of our readers are sufficiently wel l acquainted w i t h the w o r k of the School under M r . - W a r d ' s g u i d ­ance to be able to appreciate the services he has rendered. D u r i n g his t ime at B l o x h a m the Gymnasium and Fives ' Courts have been b u i l t . It has not been possible for h i m to carry out the whole of his scheme for addi t iona l b u i l d i n g s , and the S w i m m i n g B a t h remains to be taken in hand as soon as sufficient funds are available.

O l d Bloxhamists of the period w i l l always

cherish pleasant memories of the H e a d , and those

w h o m circumstances compelled h i m to correct

w i t h r i g o u r can never say t h a t the punishment he

administered was unjust or undeserved. He felt

very keenly the responsibi l i ty of his pos i t ion, and

as occasion demanded he carried out the duties

of his office w i t h supreme tact , not u n m i x e d w i t h

great personal kindness to those w i t h w h o m he

was deal ing. I t w i l l always be the pride of

Bloxhamists t h a t the School has had in M r . W a r d

a type of schoolmaster not frequently to be found

in former ages, one who took a real interest, not

only in the mental development of those entrusted

to his care, b u t also in t h e i r s p i r i t u a l and m o r a l

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

welfare as well , The h a r d , severe, unsympathetic

schoolmaster has almost, i f not quite, disappeared

f r o m the ranks of the scholastic profession, and

g iven place to a very different type ; and we can

honestly claim that M r . W a r d was as good an

example of the new type as anyone could wish to

meet.

To the Rev. R. M. Grier we beg to extend our

loyal greet ing. He is rapidly w i n n i n g his way

into the hearts of us a l l , and we feel assured that

the future of the School w i l l be safe in his hands.

This number contains reproductions of photo­

graphs o f M r . W a r d and M r . Grier, which w i l l

doubtless be of interest to our readers.

It is a great de l ight to have M r . Shaw a m o n g

us again. It w i l l be remembered t h a t he was

here for a year or so, and left about eighteen

months ago to take up w o r k at St. Edward's

School, Oxford. In the meantime he has been

ordained, and is r e t u r n i n g to take his place on

the staff as classical master, and not , as formerly ,

as music-master. M r . C. T. B lanshard, late

Scholar of Queen's College, O x f o r d , and the Rev.

C. E. Burgess, Hat f ie ld H a l l , D u r h a m , have also

joined the staff. The former gained F i r s t Class

H o n o u r s in the N a t u r a l Science School, at Ox­

f o r d , and has for some years been an army coach.

The latter is an old Denstonian, and has recently

returned f r o m A u s t r a l i a , where he was Vice-

Principal of the Theological College at Brisbane.

A record appears elsewhere of the death of M r . J . T. R. Pastfield, who was k i l led in batt le , on December 21. He was w i t h us for one year only , and obtained a commission in the 5th Bat ta l ion Middlesex Regiment. So far as we k n o w he was the first of the many connected w i t h the School who have been in the firing line to be k i l l e d . We take this o p p o r t u n i t y o f offering our sincere condolences to his f a m i l y .

We regret to say that Colr.-Serjt. Gr inter has

been compelled by i l l -heal th to absent himself

f r o m his duties in the g y m n a s i u m and on the

parade g r o u n d . He w i l l be away al l the term

u n d e r g o i n g medical t reatment at a home in N o r ­folk . M a y he soon recover and be f i t to resume his w o r k .

S C H O O L N E W S .

T H E f o l l o w i n g programme o f music was given

in Chapel on Sunday afternoon, December 13 :—

1. O r g a n — " S o n g w i t h o u t W o r d s " ( in E M i n o r ) M e n d e l s s o h n

2 . S o n g — " B y the W a t e r s o f B a b y l o n ".. A . D v o r a k 3 . V i o l i n a n d O r g a n 4 . O r g a n — " T h e A n s w e r " W o l s t e n h o l m e 5. C a r o l s — N o . 2 — " B l e s s e d be t h a i M a i d M a r i e . "

N o . 5 — " C o m e , l i s t e n t o m y s t o r y . " N o . 2 5 — " U n t o u s i s b o r n a S o n . "

6 . O r g a n — " B a r c a r o l l e " Offenbach 7. H y m n 38 w i t h " F a u x B o u r d o n . " 8 . S o n g w i t h C h o r u s — " N a z a r e t h " G o u n o d 9 . C a r o l No. 1 0 — " G o o d K i n g W e n c e s l a s . "

10. O r g a n — " M a r c h e M i l i t a i r e " S c h u b e r t

T H E f o l l o w i n g have left : — R . L . H a r r i s — F o r m

V I . , Senior Prefect, Lance-Corporal i n O . T . O ,

colours for footbal l i s t X L , senior colours for

gymnas ium. H . C . B r o o k s — F o r m V . , j u n i o r

colours for g y m n a s i u m . j . H . B u r b a n k — F o r m

I V . H . H . L . H u n t — F o r m I V . J . E . P h i l b r i c k

— F o r m I V .

T H E f o l l o w i n g new boys have arr ived :—-Form

I V . , J . R . B o l t o n . F o r m I I I . — E . C . B u t l e r ,

C . A . Farebrother. F o r m I I . — B . L . Phelps.

F o r m I . — A . B r o w n , C . H . E g e r t o n .

R. M . C O O M B E S has been appointed Senior

Prefect, and H i l l has been promoted to be a pre­

fect.

F O O T B A L L . — T h e D o r m i t o r y M a t c h was played

at the very end of last t e r m , and resulted in an

easy v i c t o r y for D o r m i t o r i e s I . and I I I . , the goals

being 10—o.

H O C K E Y . — I t has been possible to arrange only

t w o matches at present for this t e r m , both w i t h

Magdalene College School, O x f o r d . The f irst

match w i l l be played at B l o x h a m , on February

20, and the other at O x f o r d , on M a r c h 20.

C A P T . C H I L D and L i e u t . Al len have been spend­

i n g the Christmas holidays at P o r t s m o u t h , assist­

i n g in the w o r k of t r a i n i n g officers for the new

a r m y .

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 83

O . B . N E W S .

O R D I N A T I O N . — O n Sunday, December 20, by

the Archbishop of Y o r k , in the Cathedral Church

of St. Peter, Y o r k , Rice A l f o r d Evelyn H a r r i s ,

B.A., to the Priesthood.

H . C. R E A D E R ( I 899-1903) is serving in the A n t i - A i r c r a f t Detachment of the R.G.A. at W a l k e r - o n - T y n e .

L E T T E R S have been received f r o m K. A. Mac­

kenzie (1903-10), and H . J . P. B u r r y (1910-11),

who are in France, the former serving in the

A.S.C., and the lat ter in the W i l t s h i r e Regiment .

He appears to have had an e x c i t i n g t ime in the

trenches.

St. J . M . Y O U N G (1900-5) is a prisoner at Gus-

t r o w , in M e c k l e n b u r g , h a v i n g been captured w i t h

six others of the L o n d o n Scottish on A l l Saints

Day .

Several O l d Bloxhamists have been in the t h i c k

of the fighting, but we have not heard of any

casualties a m o n g them.

M r . Pastfield was the second son of M r . J. R. Pastfield, of Exeter, and was born on December 18, 1891. He was educated at Exeter School and Keble College, O x f o r d , t a k i n g his B.A. degree in 1913. He jo ined the staff at B l o x h a m in Septem­ber of the same year. On the outbreak of war he applied for a commission and was eventually gazetted to the Middlesex Regiment , w i t h which he went to the f ront early in December. The

f o l l o w i n g account is g iven by soldiers wounded in the same a c t i o n — " W e left Hazebrouck on the m o r n i n g of the 21st in motor busses, and went to La Bassee. F r o m there we marched three or four miles to some cross roads and entered some fields. About six o'clock in the evening we were ordered to take some trenches. O u r captain had been wounded and we were hes i tat ing, l o o k i n g r o u n d for our officers, and Lieut . Pastfield and his y o u n g fr iend, Lieut . W a i n w r i g h t , said, ' Come on, lads, we ' l l lead you. ' They d i d so, and short ly after both were s truck. Lieut . W a i n w r i g h t fel l , badly wounded. L i e u t . Pastfield went on, and after some murderous f i g h t i n g we took the trench. The Germans got into another posit ion about 15 yards away. Soon after this M r . Pastfield began to feel faint f rom his w o u n d , and a Lance-Cor­poral begged h i m to go to hospita l , b u t he said, ' I must go first and see if Lieut. W a i n w r i g h t is al l r i g h t . ' He went out , and reel ing and stag­g e r i n g f rom loss of b lood, he proved an easy target , being shot t h r o u g h the head."

O.B. S O C I E T Y .

T H E f o l l o w i n g have recently jo ined the

society : — G . Melv i l le S m i t h (1883-6), R. L.

H a r r i s (1911-14).

P R E S E N T A T I O N T O T H E H E A D M A S T E R .

A T the end of the concert on M o n d a y ,

December 14th, a beauti ful rose b o w l

was presented to the Headmaster and M r s . W a r d

by the School, and at the same t i m e the Staff

gave them a set of four very handsome silver

candlesticks. The Chaplain was deputed to ask

the Headmaster and Mrs . W a r d to accept the

g i f ts , which he d i d in a short speech, s a y i n g t h a t

a l t h o u g h he was frequently called upon to do

difficult th ings , which sometimes proved un­

pleasant as wel l , yet the diff iculty of his present

task was quite overshadowed by the pleasure it

gave h i m to be the spokesman of the School on

this occasion. H i s task was a double one ; first,

to exptess the regrets which every boy in the

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

School must feel at the departure of the Head­

master, and to assure h i m of their united good

wishes for his happiness and prosperity in his new

w o r k at H i l g a y , and as a token of their respect

and love to ask h i m to accept the rose b o w l for

w h i c h the boys had subscribed. The second part

of his task was to ask permission for the members

of the Staff (past and present), to associate them­

selves w i t h the School on this occasion in m a k i n g

their presentation of the candlesticks, as a token

of their respect and of their grat i tude to the Head­

master, for his u n f a i l i n g kindness and consider­

at ion to those under h i m .

The Senior Prefect ( R . L. H a r r i s ) , on behalf of

the School, then presented the rose b o w l , and

M r . C h i l d and M r . N u t h a l l the candlesticks.

Three cheers were called for by H a r r i s , which

were g iven w i t h musical honours.

The Headmaster, on r i s i n g to respond, was

greeted w i t h great applause. He said t h a t he

was leav ing B l o x h a m and w o u l d take away w i t h

h i m many happy memories. He knew i t w o u l d be

a great wrench, b u t the boys had made the

p a r t i n g very much easier than it m i g h t have been,

for they had done their par t loyal ly and wel l to

make the w o r k i n g of the School easy. It was a

great j o y to h i m to be able to leave the School in

such good condit ion and to k n o w t h a t i t w o u l d be

carried on by such an able successor as M r .

Grier, for whose appointment he was more t han k ­

ful than words could express. Under his g u i d ­

ance the School should go ahead and increase

considerably in numbers, and he knew that the

new Headmaster w o u l d have the support of the

Staff. He said he wished to take the o p p o r t u n i t y

of expressing his g r a t i t u d e to t w o or three

members of the staff in part icular , and f irst of al l

to M r . W i l s o n , who had never failed to support

h i m and help h i m in c a r r y i n g out his schemes for

the better management of the domestic arrange­

ments. N e x t was the Chaplain, whose o u t w a r d

a c t i v i t y was expressive of the influence for good

w h i c h his unseen w o r k had on the School. Also

he wished to bear witness to M r . Child's

tremendous power, as an organiser, and w o r k e r

and disc ip l inar ian. To his genius and energy

was due the wonderfu l effect w h i c h the O.T.C.

had had on the School, and he thanked the other

members of the Staff for the assistance they had

rendered d u r i n g the past term in s u p p l y i n g the

places of those of w h o m the war had deprived

them. He also expressed his indebtedness to the

School servants, upon whose labours behind the

scenes so much depended. As to the general tone

of the School he t h o u g h t he was leav ing it w i t h a

standard of m o r a l i t y higher than he had ever

k n o w n . He had a loyal and conscientious set

of prefects and the w o r k of the School on the

whole was most satisfactory. In t h a n k i n g the

boys for their present to himself and M r s . W a r d ,

he said he w o u l d miss them very much and w o u l d

often t h i n k of them and wonder how each one was

t u r n i n g out.

S E R M O N .

The following is the substance of the Sermon preached by the Rev. G. H. Ward on the Third Sunday in Advent, December I J , 1914.

Is. xlii., 1.—" B e h o l d M y s e r v a n t w h o m I u p h o l d . "

W 7E have one very simple lesson put before us

in the teaching of the Collect, Epistle and

Gospel appointed for this week, v iz . , that God's

normal method of leading us onwards towards the

t r u t h is by means of ministers and messengers

w h o m He sends to teach us. The t r u t h is not

g iven to each one of us, for instance, by i n t u i t i o n ;

it was not announced in a l l i ts fulness at any one

t ime or to any one people. It was gradual ly

unfolded t h r o u g h a l o n g line of teachers, prophets,

apostles and ministers , f irst to a nat ion , then to

a l l people. We can trace the development of the

t r u t h a m o n g God's chosen people of I s r a e l ; we

can see how they first grasped the great t r u t h ,

w h i c h , as a n a t i o n , they have impressed upon the

rel igions of the w o r l d , t h a t God was one God, the

Creator and Ruler of the universe. We can

fol low the development of their re l ig ion as it

became more and more clear to them that God

1 was a m o r a l being, t h a t He loved the good and

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 85

hated the evi l , t h a t r i g h t and w r o n g were

essential features of a l l real service of H i m ; and

then we see the gradual deepening of the s p i r i t u a l

character of re l ig ion u n t i l i t reaches its consum-

ation in the teaching of our L o r d , where h u m i l i t y

is above power and mercy, higher than just ice.

The unfo ld ing of the t r u t h is, for a l l of us, to be a

gradual process and we are to look for it t h r o u g h

the teaching of God's accredited ministers and

messengers. We say in the Collect for this week

" O L o r d Jesu Chris t , W h o at T h y first c o m i n g

didst send T h y messenger to prepare T h y way

before Thee, g r a n t that the ministers and stewards

of T h y mysteries may l ikewise so prepare and

make ready T h y w a y , " and in the Epistle we read

" Let a man so account of us as of the ministers

of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of G o d , "

and in the Gospel " Behold I send My messenger

before thy face, which shall prepare t h y way before

thee." Clearly we are, each one of us, in shaping

our lives and f o r m i n g our conceptions of the

t r u t h , to give great w e i g h t first of a l l to the

teaching of those ministers under w h o m God has

placed us indiv idual ly . Remember that the

prophets often d i d not see al l the greatness of the

t r u t h they declared ; many a prophecy, clearly

fulfi l led in our Lord 's life and w o r k , seemed at

first to have a mere local and l i m i t e d appl icat ion.

Teachers direct us; we must f ind out the f u l l

meaning of the t r u t h s they teach for ourselves,

in our o w n lives, by our o w n experience. Even

St. John the Bapt is t had only a d i m vision of the

great t r u t h he taught . ' ' A r t T h o u He that should

come " h e asks, " o r d o w e look for a n o t h e r ? "

The messages come in v a r y i n g degrees and

v a r y i n g forms, God suits them to t imes, to

nations, to indiv iduals . Each one must ask for

himself, what message is God sending me ? W h a t

t r u t h am I to learn f rom the ministers He has sent

to teach me? A n d for al l of you here the lesson

surely is clear; the message for you is the message

that Bloxham stands for the great t r u t h that

Catholic t r a d i t i o n is the safest of a l l guides in l i fe,

that the way we are to w a l k is the way the saints

have t r o d ; that if we are to reach the highest

good possible for each one of us we are not to say,

Does this seem reasonable? Is t h a t h e l p f u l ?

Does this appeal to me ? B u t we are to say, Is this

what the Saints of God in H i s holy Church have

held and t a u g h t and practised ? " The path of the

j u s t is a sh in ing l i g h t t h a t shineth more and more

unto the perfect d a y . "

" Brothers we are t r e a d i n g W h e r e the Saints have t r o d . "

There is one feature of the message gradual ly

unfolded by the teachers and prophets of Israel

that persistently escaped the notice of those to

w h o m they spoke and w r o t e . Men had learnt

f r o m them to expect and l o n g for One who was to

come, the promised Messiah and Saviour, but

almost universal ly their hopes were fixed on a

v ictorious leader, a t r i u m p h a n t k i n g , w h o was to

conquer and rule the w o r l d . Passages l i k e t h a t

in our text " B e h o l d My servant w h o m I u p h o l d , "

and many s imilar ones p o i n t i n g to a suffering

Christ , were overlooked or explained away. They

had yet to learn the lesson w h i c h our L o r d t a u g h t

us in His life and words , t h a t the most perfect

h u m a n i t y is to be found not in power but in

service. He came " not to be ministered u n t o ,

b u t to m i n i s t e r . " He " t o o k upon H i m the f o r m

of a servant , " and we are to be as He w a s — " t h e

disciple is not above his Master , but everyone

that is perfect shall be as his master . " L e t us

take that overlooked message, which our L o r d

sets so v i v i d l y before us, as another simple lesson

for to-day, the d i g n i t y and beauty of a life of

service and sacrifice. Chr is t ian i ty is for us a l l a

call to service, service in the home, service of the

country , service in the C h u r c h , service of man­

k i n d , this is the first step for everyone who w o u l d

be " a s his Master ." T h i n k of the fa i th fu l

servant, how watchful for his master's wishes,

how quick to forestall his needs, his t ime always

at his master's disposal ; loyal ty , faithfulness,

meekness, patience, always prominent in his

character. Here is a standard to set before

ourselves in the service of our Master. H o w

near do we come to it ? Y o u are soon g o i n g home

for the holidays, days of pleasure and happiness,

86 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

I hope, for a l l of y o u , but remember the message.

Y o u are sent to serve, not to get a l l the happiness

and pleasure that you can, b u t to give them.

Remember that a l l service is Chr is t l ike , every act

of service is a development of the Christ- l i fe in

you. Value too the services of others who

minister to you, be grateful and appreciative, t r y

and see h o w C h r i s t l i k e a l l such service makes

them, and remember our Lords words, ' ' Blessed is

the servant w h o m his L o r d when he cometh shall !

f ind so d o i n g . "

A n d in conclusion I w o u l d ask your prayers for

myself, that in the new w o r k to which I have been

called, I may myself be able to put into practice

the lessons I have been t r y i n g to leave w i t h you

this m o r n i n g . I w o u l d ask you to pray that I

may be able above a l l to commend the Cathol ic

F a i t h and practice to those amongst w h o m I am

to minister , t h a t I may be able to persuade them

to learn by experience, as many of you have

learnt, w h a t blessings it contains for us al l . As

the Psalmist says, " O taste and see how gracious

the L o r d i s . " A n d secondly I w o u l d ask you to

pray that I may learn t h a t lesson w h i c h anyone

who has been a headmaster for sixteen years must

surely need, t h a t I am no longer called p r i m a r i l y

to rule but to serve, and to make myself as far as

by God's grace I can, " the servant of a l l . " M a y

God bless you and uphold you and keep you in

H i s love and make you H i s fa i thful soldiers and

servants unto your life's end.

R E Q U I E M F O R S O L D I E R S A N D S A I L O R S .

^ ~ ^ N M o n d a y , December 14th, at 10 a . m . , the

H o l y Eucharist was solemnly celebrated

w i t h special intent ion for the repose of the souls

of our soldiers and sailors who have been k i l led in

the war. T h e service was precisely the same as

that now usually held on A l l Souls' Day , and was

attended by several vis i tors f rom the neighbour­

hood, who appreciated h a v i n g the o p p o r t u n i t y of

j o i n i n g w i t h us in p e r f o r m i n g the last Chris t ian

duty to our countrymen. One of them wrote a

few days l a t e r — " W e had been l o o k i n g f o r w a r d

to the ful f i lment of the i n v i t a t i o n to the School

Chapel, especially those of us who have lost

relatives and friends in the great combat. A n d

after our experience of the gorgeous Eucharist at

the Engl i sh Church U n i o n Festival last summer,

we felt sure that an equally solemn and u p l i f t i n g

Mass for the Dead in this winter of our anxiety

and sorrow, w o u l d be wel l w o r t h the journey.

N o r were any of us disappointed. A l l the

aspirations and the g l o r y of this splendid service

were summed up in the verse—

" Chr is t , enthroned in highest heaven,

Hear us c r y i n g f rom the deep,

For the fa i thful ones departed,

For the souls of a l l that sleep ;

As T h y kneel ing Church entreateth,

H e a r k e n , Shepherd of the sheep.

" On behalf of a l l those present, I should l ike

to record our g r a t i t u d e and appreciation. It has

come to my knowledge that there are many others

who w o u l d l ike an occasional i n v i t a t i o n to the

Sung Eucharist a t B l o x h a m S c h o o l . — H . M . "

The service began w i t h the i n t r o i t , " Rest

eternal g r a n t to t h e m , O L o r d ; and may l i g h t

perpetual shine upon t h e m , " which was sung to

the ancient pla insong as arranged by the Rev.

J . B . Croft in " T h e Plainsong o f the H o l y

C o m m u n i o n . " It is diff icult to describe the mar­

vellous pathos of this set t ing , w h i c h has come

d o w n to us t h r o u g h the centuries and at once puts

one into the r i g h t frame of m i n d for the w o r k of

pleading the Sacrifice of the death of Christ for

souls of the fa i th fu l departed. I t br ings home to

one the great t r u t h of the C o m m u n i o n of Saints in

a wonderful manner ; and no one can be present

at such a service, so reverently rendered, w i t h o u t

being deeply impressed. We frequently come

into touch w i t h t w o popular ideas, both of which

seem to miss the t r u t h as to the state of the

departed ; one regards death as the end of

personal existence, the other makes death the

instantaneous passing of a soul f rom a state of

imperfect ion to one of perfection and g l o r y . B u t

the Chris t ian Church has always t a u g h t that

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 87

death is indeed the end of a state of trial, but

only the beginning of a state of gradual purif ica­

t i o n f r o m the stains of s in. A Requiem Eucharist ,

such as we had on December 14th, and have had

on previous occasions, br ings out , as n o t h i n g else :

can, the true relat ionship between Church m i l i t a n t

and Church expectant. It emphasises the solem­

n i t y of death and the hope of a speedy puri f icat ion

and blessed resurrection to eternal life.

C O N C E R T .

" ' I ' ' H E best sing-song we have had for a l o n g

t i m e . " This was the general verdict on

the concert at the end of last t e r m . A new

departure was made in the s i n g i n g of the

N a t i o n a l A n t h e m at the b e g i n n i n g of the pro­

gramme instead of at the end, and we venture to

express the opinion t h a t it is far better to have it

so. We were del ighted to see so many per­

formers who put in an appearance on the p l a t f o r m

for the first t i m e , and we congratulate them on

their several performances, w h i c h promise wel l

for the future. The p r o g r a m m e seemed a l o n g

one, and was most excellently arranged by M r .

Al len, whose energy in m a k i n g the enterta inment

a great success is beyond our power of expression.

After the N a t i o n a l A n t h e m had been sung we were

informed that a three-cornered contest w o u l d take

place between Lyle , Coombes and the piano.

This was fol lowed by a song f rom M r . C h i l d , ;

rendered in his usual hearty style, the chorus being

taken up cheerily by the assembled mul t i tude .

Then came an a m u s i n g l i t t l e rec i tat ion by H a r r i s ,

concerning a certain hal f -hundredweight of coals.

It was his f irst appearance, and we much regret

that we shall not have the pleasure of hearing

h i m again. He should cul t ivate his a r t , for he

shows undoubted abi l i ty in this department of

entertainment. N e x t came the Chaplain w i t h

" T w a n k y - d i l l o , " a quaint l i t t l e fo lk-song w i t h a

chorus which always catches on. H u n t treated

us to a c h a r m i n g v i o l i n solo, very creditably

executed. M r . Al len repeated one of his popular

coon songs w i t h an echo and chorus. The echo

in this instance was W i l l i a m s , w h o d i d his part

excellently, s i n g i n g f r o m the other end of the room. It was his f irst performance, and we hope his voice w i l l not break too soon, for we al l w a n t to hear h i m again. R o w l a n d sang the old fami l iar " T a r p a u l i n J a c k e t , " and acquitted himself admi r­ably ; his pronunciat ion of the words is quite good, and when he is older his voice should be very useful. W i l l i a m s was evidently a tri f le nervous when alone on the p l a t f o r m , but he sang " O n o J o h n , " very wel l . Then Lyle had another contest w i t h the piano, single-handed this t i m e ; we were t o l d that the music was to have taken part , but it was barred ! However , he succeeded in m a k i n g the piano produce a very cheering melody, called " Scherzino." M r . Al len's song, " T h e Dream " ( a n o r i g i n a l composi t ion, w i t h a chorus, which we p r i n t elsewhere) evoked loud applause, b u t he refused to repeat it as he had woken up. Bonnewell gave us a pleasant sur­prise on his first appearance as a song-singer. In t ime he o u g h t to produce b i g th ings f r o m his b i g lungs. At any rate his f i rst performance, " The Poacher," was quite good and was wel l received. M r . Chi ld fol lowed w i t h " Father O ' F l y n n , " a song which Bloxhamists of former generations always expected to hear at School concerts whenever the Founder was present. M r . Chi ld is not a w h i t behind the Founder in the rendering of i t . H u n t gave us another v i o l i n solo, and then Rowland and a special chorus sang " W i d d i c o m b e F a i r . " The old favouri te west country fo lk-song was much improved by the special chorus, the i n d i v i d u a l members of w h i c h represented the characters whose names recur in the refrain ; Bonnewell as ' A r r y ' A w k e , was p a r t i c u l a r l y good. Another o r i g i n a l song, also pr inted in this number, was sung by M r . C h i l d , and greeted w i t h w i l d applause. In a n n o u n c i n g the song, M r . Al len to ld us that the words were by accident, but we feel safe in assuming t h a t he himself was responsible for them. At any rate they are too good to be lost, and so we hand them d o w n to posterity.

The r e m a i n i n g items on the p r o g r a m m e were a duet by M r . Al len and W i l l i a m s , a new version of " E x c e l s i o r " w i t h the expressions " I don ' t

88 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

see w h y , " and " W i l l you shut up now, please,"

cleverly w o r k e d in ; and the song, " Go to Sea,"

by the Chaplain, the chorus of which seems to

have caught on, j u d g i n g f rom the heartiness w i t h

which i t was sung. This b r o u g h t the concert to

an end. We wish , in conclusion, to express the

School's gra t i tude to al l the performers, and par­

t i cu lar ly to M r . Al len, whose energy and u n f a i l i n g

fund of h u m o u r c o n t r i b u t e d so much to our

enjoyment. We great ly hope t h a t future s ing­

songs may come up to the p i tch of excellence

which was undoubtedly attained on this memor­

able evening. The f o l l o w i n g was the pro­

g r a m m e : —

1 . T h e N a t i o n a l A n t h e m . 2 . P i a n o D u e t — " U n d e r the L i n d e n T r e e "

C o o m b e s a n d L y l e 3 . S o n g — " R o u t e M a r c h i n g - " M r . C h i l d 4 . R e c i t a t i o n — " T h e H a l f - H u n d r e d " H a r r i s 5 . S o n g — " T w a n k y dillo " ... ... T h e C h a p l a i n 6 . V i o l i n S o l o — " G i p s y S e r e n a d e " H u n t 7. S o n g — " I u s e d to s i g h " ... M r . A l l e n a n d W i l l i a m s 8. S o n g — " T a r p a u l i n J a c k e t " ... ... R o w l a n d 9 . S o n g — " O N o J o h n " ... ... . . W i l l i a m s

10. P i a n o S o l o — " S c h e r z i n o "... ... . . ... L y l e 11. S o n g — " T h e D r e a m " . . ... ... M r . A l l e n 12. S o n g — " T h e P o a c h e r " ... ... ... B o n n e w e l l 13. S o n g — " F a t h e r O ' F l y n n " M r . C h i l d 14. V i o l i n S o l o — " A l i a T u r k a " ... ... ... H u n t 15. S o n g — " W i d d i c o m b e F a i r "

R o w l a n d a n d S p e c i a l C h o r u s 16. S o n g — " R u m o u r s " M r . C h i l d 17. S o n g — " W i l l y o u s h u t u p n o w , p l e a s e "

M r . A l l e n a n d W i l l i a m s 18. S o n g — " G o t o S e a " T h e C h a p l a i n

T H E D R E A M .

1 V T O W listen to me, and I ' l l te l l you a tale

Of a horr ible dream I had ;

I dreamt I ' d gone to the W a r Office,

A n d Kitchener said : " My lad !

I hear the Corps at B L O X H A M S C H O O L ,

Is the best around for miles ;

Just leave the W a r , and take the Corps

To camp in the South Sea Isles."

Chorus— T h e n the serjeant, he cried " ' t i o n , " O, mother ! the fun's b e g u n — [your boot, Y o u must never salute w i t h your head in N o r laugh when the captain smiles ;

N o w move to the r i g h t in elevens, A n d form sixes and sevens,

F o r you're off to-day, knees up al l the way, To camp in the South Sea Isles.

We started away at the break of day,

W i t h Serjeant Coombes in f ront ;

H i s rifle lock wrapped up in a sock,

H e ' d borrowed that day f rom " B u n t . "

The N.C.O. 's wore horr ib le clothes,

Of purple , and green, arid red ;

A n d the buglers blew for a note or t w o ,

A n d then they danced instead.

Chorus.

So on we went , t i l l we'd passed t h r o u g h K e n t ,

A n d came to the channel shores ;

But the sea to leap was formed too deep,

So we crossed it on a l l fours ;

We did our best, and crawled out west,

A n d j u s t reached Beachy H e a d —

W h e n the sea turned p i n k , we began to s i n k —

A n d I woke up in my bed.

Chorus.

R U M O U R S .

X I O W s i n c e t h e w a r started, I 'venoticedeachday,

Some freshfunny t h i n g that the " R u m o u r i s t s " say.

S i n g i n g " Toddle oddle oddle chip chap chi chooral r i lay . "

S i n g i n g " T o d d l e oddle oddle chip chap chi chooral r i l a y . "

At f irst ' twas the Russians were seen very p l a i n , One m i l l i o n or so came t h r o u g h E n g l a n d by t r a i n .

S i n g i n g , etc., etc.

I k n o w they were Russians great b u r l y b i g chaps, For t h o u g h 'twas in A u g u s t , they'd snow on their

caps. S i n g i n g , etc., etc.

The next was the Germans by Zeppelins w o u l d land

Ten men at a t i m e , to invade old England.

S i n g i n g , etc., etc.

T H E B L O X H A M I ST. 89

T h e n , I ' m t o l d , that the Germans to Calais have sent

A g u n that w i l l knock Dover r i g h t out of Kent.

S i n g i n g , etc., etc. Some say that the Kaiser to the moon w i l l soon

r u n , Because he cannot get his " Place in the Sun."

S i n g i n g , etc., etc. W h e r e these rumours or iginate I ' m at a loss, B u t those who believe them should wear the " I r o n

Cross."

S i n g i n g , etc., etc.

If these rumours go o n , we shall hear very soon T h a t " Snape's" in command of the B l o x h a m

Platoon.

S i n g i n g , etc., etc.

Then we shall be t o l d , if we have any luck,

T h a t the Chaplain's w h i t e pigeons have hatched out a duck.

S i n g i n g , etc., etc.

N o w here is a " R u m o u r , " on which you can depend,

A n d that is, this song has now come to an end.

S i n g i n g , etc., etc.

L I B R A R Y .

J ^ j N D E R the w i l l of the late Rev. C. Chetwynd

A t k i n s o n , D . D . , we have received the

f o l l o w i n g books as a bequest to the School. D r .

A t k i n s o n was an Assistant Master at B l o x h a m

(1879), and died about t w o years ago. The books

w i l l be labelled " D r . Atk inson 's Bequest," and

w i l l , so far as possible, be kept together.

My Novel (3 vols.) LordLytlon Devereux

Rienzi

Pelham

H a r o l d

Alice

W h a t w i l l he do w i t h it ? (2 vols

A Strange Story ...

Paul Clifford . . . . ...

Leila. Calderon. Pausanias

The Disowned

The Parisians (2 vols.)

Ernest Maltravers ... ... ... Lord Lytton The Last Days of Pompeii ... , ,

N i g h t and M o r n i n g ... ... , ,

Zanoni ... ... ... ... ,,

F a l k l a n d . Zieci ... ... ... ,,

Kenelm C h i l l i n g l y . . . ... ... , ,

Godolphin ... ... ... ... ,,

Eugene A r a m ... ... ... ,,

The P i l g r i m s of the Rhine ... , ,

Lucret ia ... ... ... ... ,,

The Cantons ... ... ... ,,

The Elements of D r a w i n g ... John Ruskin The A r t of E n g l a n d ... ... , ,

The Poetry of Archi tecture ... , ,

Essay on L i t e r a t u r e and Let ters . . . , ,

Selections f rom the W r i t i n g s of

John Ruskin (2 vols .) . . . ... , ,

Let ters to a College F r i e n d ... , ,

Letters to the Clergy .. ... ,,

The H a r b o u r s of E n g l a n d ... , ,

Poetical W o r k s (6 vols.) ... ... Lord Tennyson The Vis ion ; or H e l l , P u r g a t o r y

and Paradise Dante, trans, by Rev. H. F. Cary Greek Testament (4 vols.) . . . ... Henry Alford Jeremiah : H i s Life and Times ... T. K. Cheyne I n t r o d u c t i o n to the Book of Isaiah , ,

The One-vol . Bible Commentary J . R. Dummellow D i v i n e Immanence. . . ... ...J.R. Illingworth Christ ian Ethics .. T. B. Strong

The Apostol ic Fathers ... ...Bishop Lightfoot

Aspects of the O l d Testament ... R. L. Ottley

The Impregnable Rock o f H o l y Scripture ... ... W. E. Gladstone

A N e w H i s t o r y of the Book of C o m m o n Prayer F. Proctor and W. H. Frere

Ancient E g y p t and Assyria ... G. Maspero M a n u a l of E g y p t i a n Archaeology , ,

The D a w n o f C i v i l i z a t i o n — E g y p t and Chaldea ... ... ... ,,

The Struggle o f N a t i o n s — E g y p t , Syria, and Assyria ... ... , ,

Gothic Architecture Pugin Sea-Fishing ( B a d m i n t o n L i b r a r y ) C y c l i n g ... ... ••• ,, Cours ing and Falconry , , , , S h o o t i n g — F i e l d and Covert , , , , S h o o t i n g — M o o r and Marsh , , , ,

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

ARMY. The i n f o r m a t i o n g iven is the latest that we possess.

The m a r k * is placed before the names of those who have been in the O . T . C . at B loxham.

N A M E . W H E N A T

S C H O O L . R A N K . N A M E O F R E G I M E N T .

B I D L A K E , H . C . K . 1 9 1 2 - 1 4 2 n d L ieut .

B U R R Y , H . J . P 1910-11 Private 2 n d Batt . W i l t s h i r e Regt.

E G E R T O N , H . W . 1886-92 2 n d Lieut. Inspector of Mechanical T r a n s p o r t

F I E L D E R , G E R A L D ... 1906-08 Trooper Berks. Yeomanry

F I E L D E R , G R O V E 1905-08 Trooper Hants . Yeomanry

F F R E N C H , N . G 1908-1 I 5th Batt . Rifle Brigade

* G E P P , A . W 1908- I I Private Royal W e s t K e n t Regt. (Queen's O w n

* G E P P , F . G . I 9 I O - I 3 Pr ivate Royal W e s t K e n t Regt. (Queen's O w n

H A R R I S , M . W I 9 0 2 - 5 Private 31st Batt . Canadian I n f a n t r y

H A R R I S , R . W I906-9 2nd L i e u t . 4II1 Batt . W e s t Y o r k s Regt.

M A C K E N Z I E , K . A . ... I 9 0 3 - I O Private A r m y Service Corps

M I L E S , H . G . M A S S Y ... I90O-O3 Lieut . R.A.M.C.

P E R C I V A L , A . S . F . ... I 9 0 7 - I O Private Public School Brigade

P E R C I V A L , G , J . F . 1806-08 Private Winchester Rifle Brigade

R E A D E R , H . C 1899-03 Lieut. Royal Garrison A r t i l l e r y

ROYAL NAVY.

N A M E . W H E N A T

S C H O O L . R A N K . S E R V I C E .

* B E N N E T T , T . W . 1904-11 Petty Officer N a v a l A i r s h i p Service

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S .

W e beg t o a c k n o w l e d g e w i t h t h a n k s the receipt o f the following c o n ­t e m p o r a r i e s :—The Lancing- College Magazine, The Framlinghamian. The Chehnsfordtan, The Lily, The St. Edward's School Chronicle, The Pauline, The Brackleian, The Abingdonian, The S.S.M. Quar­terly Paper.

" T H E B L O X H A M I S T " is published 10 m o n t h s in the y e a r : no J a n u a r y or S e p t e m b e r N u m b e r s a r e published.

C o n t r i b u t i o n s for the M a r c h N u m b e r should be sent to the E d i t o r before F e b r u a r y 20th, 1915. writ ten on one side of the p a p e r only.

The Annual Subscription is 5s. fiost free. A l l literary contributions should be sent to the Editor, but a l l P o s t Office O r d e r s should be sent to the Treasurer, C . J . W I L S O N , E s q . , p a y a b ' e a t B l o x h a m P o s t Office.

P r i n t e d for A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L . B l o x h a m , b y C H E N E Y & S O N S , " R a i l w a y G u i d e " Office, C a l t h o r p e Street , B a n b u r y .

V O L . X L I .

E D I T O R I A L

S C H O O L N E W S

O . B . N E W S ...

O B I T U A R Y

T H E W A R

F I V E S T O U R N A M E N T

A R M Y A N D N A V Y

H O C K E Y

D E B A T I N G S O C I E T Y

C H E S S

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S

M A R C H , 1915. N o . 370

E D I T O R I A L .

\ ^ 7 H E N w e began t o w r i t e our E d i t o r i a l w e

* " feared that this number of T H E B L O X H A M I S T

w o u l d be rather less interest ing t h a n usual , and

we made the compla int , so often made before, of

lack of copy. N o w , however, we have received a

number o f extracts f r o m letters w r i t t e n b y 2 n d Lieut. W . W . W a r d , w h i c h w e p r i n t elsewhere,

and we feel certain that they w i l l not fa i l to

interest our readers.

School news is scarce, o w i n g p a r t l y to the

weather we have been experiencing, and p a r t l y to

the unwonted amount of sickness w h i c h has been

prevalent a m o n g us. The g r o u n d has been in such

a state of so lut ion that very l i t t l e hockey has been

played, and only one of the few matches which had

been arranged has been played. A n d even when

hockey has been possible the number of players

has been small on account of the influenza colds

which have been g o i n g the round of the School.

T h i s state of affairs has enabled us to have another Fives T o u r n a m e n t . W e venture t o t h i n k t h a t this excellent game is not played as much as it m i g h t be ; there exists a very fa ir number of enthusiasts who persevere in t h e i r efforts to become adepts at the game, b u t we should l ike to see a greater number t a k i n g p a r t . Fives is certainly a splendid game if one has only a l i m i t e d t i m e to devote to physical exercise ; the constant and varied movement is an admirable

specific for those incl ined to be and we

recommend the game also to those w h o suffer f rom chilblains.

Ear ly in the t e r m a chess club was s tarted, and

the game has certa inly become popular ; h o w

l o n g its p o p u l a r i t y w i l l continue remains to be

seen. We remember some years ago t h a t great

keenness was manifested in stamp col lect ing ,

some ardent philatel ists (the smaller fry) even

t a k i n g the t rouble to cut out reproductions

of stamps f r o m dealers' catalogues and paste

them into disused note-books. We do not mean

by this reminiscence to cast any aspersion on the

newly-formed chess club and its members. I n ­

deed we cannot imagine that " The Noble Game "

could come to an u n t i m e l y end. We welcome

the a r r i v a l of so intel lectual a pursui t and hope

it w i l l have a l o n g life amongst us.

Preparations for the sports are proceeding.

Doubtless some surprises awai t us on Easter

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

M o n d a y ; a t w o years' in terva l produces con­

siderable change in the athlet ic a b i l i t y of anyone,

and more especially in the case of a g r o w i n g boy.

L e t us hope for a fine day for the event.

Unless greater interest is t a k e n in the D e b a t i n g

Society, that august i n s t i t u t i o n w i l l rap id ly r e t u r n

to the m o r i b u n d condit ion f r o m which i t was

rescued last t e r m . We expressed the hope then

that i t w o u l d be t h o r o u g h l y revived and set upon

its legs, and do i ts d u t y in c u l t i v a t i n g the

orator ica l powers of the present generat ion.

Can it be t h a t there are no such powers amongst

us ? O u t on the suggestion ! B u t seriously, it

w o u l d be a most lamentable ca lamity if the

debates really ceased ; their educational value is

very great and serious subjects need not always

be chosen for discussion.

A fearful and wonderfu l erection, calculated to

inspire awe in the bravest, has made its appear­

ance in the far corner of the cr icket field. At

f irst we were fi l led w i t h a l a r m , for i t looked as i f

a number of executions by h a n g i n g were about to

take place. O u r fears were al layed by the

assurance that the authori t ies had engaged a

band to f i l l up the intervals d u r i n g the sports,

and this was the band stand. T h i s statement,

however, proved incorrect , and w i t h many

apologies for his error, our i n f o r m a n t said he

had learnt t h a t swings were being provided for

boys be longing t o D o r m i t o r y N o . I V . W e have

since learnt on unimpeachable a u t h o r i t y t h a t the

s tructure in question is intended for the purpose

of h a n g i n g (so our f irst idea was not altogether

w r o n g ! ) dummies on w h i c h cadets may make

v io lent assaults w i t h bayonets. Some exercises

in the a r t of bayonet f i g h t i n g have indeed been

in progress for some t ime past in the g y m n a s i u m ,

and now t h a t the elementary points have been

mastered, the i n s t r u c t i o n is to be continued out-

of-doors. Moreover something approaching the

real t h i n g is also about to be taken in hand, and

a marvellous protect ive equipment for the com­

batants ' personal safety has been procured.

As we were about to go to press we have learnt w i t h deepest regret of the death of Bishop

Richardson, and we are p o s t p o n i n g the issue of

this number in order to p r i n t some account of one

who as a master was k n o w n to Bloxhamists of a

former generat ion, is held in honour by many

of the present generat ion, and was w e l l - k n o w n by

Churchmen generally as a most perfect example

of w h a t a Chr is t ian gent leman and Catholic

Bishop should be. H o w true is the sentiment

expressed in the words of our m o t t o — J u s t o r u m semi/a lux splendens.

S C H O O L N E W S .

IT has been proposed t o start a N a t u r a l H i s t o r y

Society, and Messrs. Burgess and Blanchard are

w i l l i n g t o undertake the conduct o f i t ; the one

for zoology, the other for botany. The H e a d ­

master has k i n d l y offered a prize for the best

collection made in the neighbourhood d u r i n g the

summer t e r m .

M R . J . R. P A S T F I E L D has k i n d l y g iven to the

O.T.C. the s i g n a l l i n g apparatus w h i c h belonged

to his son.

A very successful s ing-song took place on

Shrove Tuesday, under the excellent management

of M r . Al len. It was a great pleasure to see M r .

Shaw at the piano once more, and to l isten to the

marvel lous music he produced. M r . Burgess is

also a great acquisi t ion on the p l a t f o r m ; his t w o

songs were vastly e n t e r t a i n i n g , and received w e l l -

deserved applause. M r . Blanchard c o n t r i b u t e d an

a m u s i n g r e c i t a t i o n . Ly le , in addi t ion to his

u n t i r i n g exertions as acccompanist, volunteered

to s ing , and d i d so w i t h great credit to himself.

We must also say a w o r d in praise of Rowland 's

render ing of " S i s t e r Susie s e w i n g shirts for

S o l d i e r s " ; he d i d the infant i le l isp to perfection.

W i l l i a m s ' contr ibut ions were much appreciated,

and Bonnewell gave a good account of himself.

The remainder of the p r o g r a m m e was supplied by

performers w i t h whose s i n g i n g most of our

readers are fami l iar , and of w h o m we are not

l ike ly t o t i r e . W e have g o t i n t o the habi t o f

expecting an o r i g i n a l verse or t w o to be added to

the popular songs, and we are not often

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 93

disappointed. The author is not always w i l l i n g

to a l low his compositions to be published. The

f o l l o w i n g was the p r o g r a m m e :—

1. N a t i o n a l A n t h e m 2 . P i a n o D u e t — " S c e n e d e B a l l e t " . . . C o o m b e s a n d I . y l e 3 . S o n g — " F u n i c u l i F u n i c u l a "

B o n n e w e l l , R o w l a n d a n d C h o r u s 4 . S o n g — " Y o u n g H e r c h a r d " . . . M r . C h i l d a n d W i l l i a m s 5 . R e c i t a t i o n — " T h e H e a t h e n C h i n e e " . . . M r . B l a n c h a r d 6 . S o n g — ' 1 T h e B a t t l e s h i p s o f E n g l a n d " L y l e 7 . S o n g — " T h e r e ' s a L a n d " T h e C h a p l a i n 8 . S o n g — " T h e A d m i r a l ' s B r o o m " M r . A l l e n 9 . P i a n o S o l o — " A R u s s i a n D a n c e " M r . S h a w

10. S o n g — " W e d i d n ' t w a n t t o f i g h t " W i l l i a m s 11. S o n g — " T h e B a b y o n the S h o r e " M r . B u r g e s s 12. S o n g — " S i s t e r S u s i e " R o w l a n d 13. S o n g — " G o t o S e a " T h e C h a p l a i n 14. S o n g — " H o w a r e Y o u ? " B o n n e w e l l 15. S o n g — ' ' T u r m u t H o e i n g ' ' W i l l i a m s a n d C h o r u s 16. S o n g — " T h e R a g t i m e S o l d i e r M a n " M r . A l l e n 17. P i a n o S o l o — " T a r a n t e l l e " M r . S h a w 18. S o n g — ' T h e V i l l a g e P u m p " M r . B u r g e s s 19. D u e t — " T h e T w i n s " M r . C h i l d a n d M r . A l l e n 20. S o n g — " E n g l a n d ' s B a t t l e H y m n " M r . C h i l d

O.B. N E W S .

T H E Rev. S . E . L . Ske l ton, M . A . (Master

1887-91), late Vicar of Ashby-de-la-Launde, L i n ­

coln, has been appointed Rector of Orlestone,

Kent.

V I S I T O R S . — J a n u a r y 30-31, V . Marsden-Jones

(1906-11) ; February 22-27, A. German (1912-13);

February 28, H. G. H i n n e l l (1905-8).

M A R R I A G E . — O n Tuesday, M a r c h 2, at Christ

Church, Lancaster Gate, W . , by the Rev. Nevison

Lorra ine , Prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral ,

A r t h u r Sydney W a l l e r (1897-9) of Salisbury,

Southern Rhodesia, to M a r y Guthrie , daughter

of Sir George and L a d y Truscot t .

M a n y of our readers w i l l remember M r .

W a r r i n e r , w h o up to a few years ago was a con­

stant and fami l iar f igure on our cricket g r o u n d

in the capacity of umpire at matches played

against local teams. H i s name is the 228th on

the School Register, and he was at the School

f r o m 1867 t i l l 1871. He was chairman of the

Banbury A g r i c u l t u r a l Association and A g r i c u l t u r a l

Correspondent to H i s Majesty's Government.

M r . M o w b r a y was the son of the founder of the

w e l l - k n o w n f i r m of booksellers in O x f o r d . He

was only at the School for a short period, 1863-4.

He l ived in O x f o r d , where he practised as an

architect.

I t is w i t h great sorrow that we record the death

of an old and good fr iend of the School, Bishop

Richardson. He was second master f r o m 1876 to

1879.

94 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

On the day of the funeral there was a Sung

Requiem in the Chapel at 9 a.m., and later in the

day the Chaplain, M r . W i l s o n , and M r . Shaw,

together w i t h R. M. Coombes and D. S.

Coleman, represented the School at the interment

w h i c h t o o k place at St. T h o m a s ' Church, O x f o r d .

The f o l l o w i n g letter, in answer to an i n v i t a t i o n

to come to B l o x h a m for the C o n f i r m a t i o n , was

received f r o m the Bishop about a m o n t h before

his death :—

" My dear brother, let me heart i ly t h a n k you

for al l the kindness of your letter . I am distressed

indeed to te l l you t h a t I am afraid I must decline

the very k i n d i n v i t a t i o n which the Bishop and you

have given me. I have been almost constantly in

bed since November 18th, and there I w r i t e this .

T r a v e l l i n g tires me, and I am so much of an

i n v a l i d as to be scarcely fit to be anyone's guest.

Y o u a l l have my very best wishes, and I hope the

School w i l l f lourish. V e r y k i n d greet ings to M r .

W i l s o n , who I hope is w e l l , and to anyone who

may remember me. Spare me a prayer.

" Ever affectionately yours,

" W . M . R I C H A R D S O N , B p . "

W e r e p r i n t the f o l l o w i n g account o f h i m from

The Church Times:—

We regret to announce the death of the R i g h t

Rev. W . M . Richardson, D . D . , formerly Bishop

of Zanzibar, w h i c h occurred on Saturday, M a r c h

6 t h , at St. Anselm's House, Cambridge, of which

he was chaplain. By his death, it is t rue that ,

a l t h o u g h no blood relative is left bereaved, yet up

and d o w n the c ou n try there are m a n y — p r i e s t s

and l a y m e n — w h o w i l l realize an unusual sense of

loss in the passing of a much-beloved fr iend.

W i l l i a m Moore Richardson was born in October,

1844, and was the only chi ld of his parents—his

f a t h e r — a naval o f f i cer—dying at sea when his son

was scarcely more than an infant. He was

educated at Rossall, and at M e r t o n College,

O x f o r d , of which foundat ion he was a Postmaster.

He graduated in mathematica l honours, and was

ordained by Bishop Selwyn, of Lichf ie ld , in 1869,

w i t h a t i t l e to Chr is t Church, W o l v e r h a m p t o n ,

where he was associated w i t h the late Canon

Body. In 1876 he became second master of A l l Saints' School, B l o x h a m , a church school of nearly t w o hundred boys, founded by the late P h i l i p E g e r t o n , but he only remained there a couple of years. Schoolmastering was not his metier, t h o u g h he had s t r o n g leanings towards i t . He went back to his pastoral w o r k at Dorchester (Oxon) , u n t i l he was appointed to his college l i v i n g at W o l v e r c o t e , and, later, by the same patrons, to t h a t o f Ponteland in N o r t h u m b e r l a n d . Here i t was that his last l i v i n g r e l a t i v e — a n aged a u n t — d i e d , and his t h o u g h t s , which had l o n g been set that way, turned to the mission-field.

i A t the same t ime a Bishop was wanted to fill the See of Zanzibar, which had l o n g been vacant since the death of Bishop Smythies ; and so it came about that he was consecrated for t h a t diocese in St. Paul's Cathedral on St. Peter's Day , 1895. A l t h o u g h of robust heal th, he was of the same age as Bishop Smythies at the t ime of his death, and there were some who t h o u g h t , not w i t h o u t reason, that a younger man should have been selected. As it turned out they were not far w r o n g , for the t r y i n g c l imate of East Afr ica , combined w i t h the difficulties of a missionary j u r i s d i c t i o n , which had been w i t h o u t a head for a considerable t ime, and was passing t h r o u g h a period of no l i t t l e diff iculty, proved too much for his s t r e n g t h , and after five years he resigned and came home, not w i t h o u t leav ing his m a r k upon the diocese. He subseqently became an Assistant Bishop in the Scottish Church, f irst to the late Bishop of Brechin, and afterwards to the late Bishop of St. Andrews , and here, f rom all accounts, he spent perhaps the happiest period of his life. F o r the last t w o years, on the i n v i t a t i o n of the W a r d e n , he jo ined the c o m m u n i t y at St. Anselm's House, Cambridge, as chaplain, t a k i n g a whole-hearted interest in the welfare of t h a t i n s t i t u t i o n ; his last audible words being a prayer for i ts future welfare and for those engaged in u p h o l d i n g the w o r k carried on there. Frequent bouts o f i l l -health, i n v o l v i n g much p a i n , had been his lot for the past year and more, and when death came it was as a happy release to the t i r e d , w o r n - o u t

I body.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 95

We have recorded but the bare facts of a l o n g

life. Of the man himself i t may be said t h a t , whi le

t a k i n g l i t t l e part in the greater affairs of Church

and State, he yet had an excellent j u d g m e n t and

was never in doubt as to his o w n l ine of conduct.

He shrank f r o m controversy, b u t in the earlier

years of his m i n i s t r y endured i t w i t h courage at

the t i m e of the Protestant r iots at East Brent and

B r i s t o l , and later, about 1878, in the horr ib le

ag i ta t ion against members of the Society of the

H o l y Cross, to which Society he held w i t h u n ­

s w e r v i n g loya l ty , t h o u g h his name, w i t h others,

was posted in every v i l lage in Oxfordshire in the

vilest terms. B u t w h a t w i l l always stand out in

the forefront by those who knew h i m was his very

lovable disposit ion and saintliness of character.

T h e secret of the L o r d was his, and so he l ived,

exercising a remarkable influence on indiv iduals ,

par t i cu lar ly on y o u n g men, and whether i t was

schoolboy or undergraduate, r a i l w a y g u a r d or

p loughman, soldier or sailor, ar istocrat or plebeian,

not one who came in touch w i t h h i m failed to

recognize his genuine piety, and to fa l l under the

charm of a s ingular ly beauti ful personality.

A very unfamil iar s ight was witnessed on W e d ­

nesday last, when both the U n i v e r s i t y cities of

Cambridge and O x f o r d , one may almost say, v ied '

w i t h each other in p a y i n g homage to , and s h o w i n g

respect for, the saint ly Bishop as he was laid to

rest. At St. Anselm's House there was a celebra­

t i o n of the H o l y C o m m u n i o n , choral ly rendered,

at 9.45, at w h i c h the Rev. G. A. Weekes, T u t o r of

Sidney Sussex College, was celebrant, fol lowed

by the B u r i a l Office, w h i c h was said by Canon

Randolf , of E ly , the W a r d e n reading the lesson.

Both the Bishop of E l y and Bishop H i n e had

desired to take p a r t , but were detained on Con­

firmation tours. The chapel is a small one, and

only a few could be a d m i t t e d .

At the close of the service the body was taken

into the g a r t h , where a stat ion was made, and as

it left Brookside, Nunc Dimittis was sung. On a

wheeled bier, w i t h six undergraduates (some in

O.T.C. uni form) as pall-bearers, and an officer in

k h a k i bear ing the cross leading the way, the body

was borne to the s ta t ion. The W a r d e n of St. Anselm's, bear ing the Bishop's m i t r e , and a number of old friends and members of the U n i v e r ­sity , fol lowed the bier. There was no w o r l d l y pomp, but the salutations which the procession received everywhere, f rom soldiers and civi l ians al ike, was one more proof t h a t the Chris t ian re l ig ion , where it is really C h r i s t i a n , is nearly always recognized, and, where it is recognized, is always respected.

At O x f o r d , where the b u r i a l took place in St.

Thomas's Churchyard the same afternoon, the

scene was even more s t r i k i n g . A large choir ,

w i t h numbers of the clergy, met the body at the

s tat ion, and w i t h a l l the solemn adjuncts of

Catholic usage, bore it to the church s i n g i n g Dies Irae, passing t h r o u g h throngs of people, to many

! of w h o m the Bishop must have been personally

k n o w n . At the church—so closely l inked w i t h the

earliest days of the O x f o r d M o v e m e n t — t h e inter ior

was f i l led to its u t m o s t capacity. T h e V i c a r of

the Parish said the Office. The Bishop of O x f o r d ,

who read the Lesson, was placed in the chancel,

as was also the Bishop of Brechin, P r i m u s of the

Scottish Church. M a n y fami l iar faces were seen

on al l sides, both of those of the U n i v e r s i t y and of

friends of the U . M . C . A . A m o n g them were the

Ven. Archdeacon H o u b l o n , the Rev. D r . James,

President of St. John's, the Rev. D r . Spooner,

W a r d e n of N e w College, M r . A. C. M a d a n , of

Chr is t Church, Sir John W. B. Ridde l l , Bart ,

(representing the E . C . U . ) , Canon Clayton, V i c a r

\ of St. M a r y ' s , the Rev. Duncan Travers , the Rev.

I E C. Henley, representatives of Pusey House, St.

Thomas's Sisterhood and B l o x h a m School, and

many others.

As at Cambridge, where the keynote of the

service was " P r a i s e to the H o l i e s t , " so here at

O x f o r d it was " Glory be to Jesus " — t h e teaching

of a devoted life thus summed-up in these hymns.

Passing into the churchyard , the c o n c l u d i n g

prayers were said by the Rev. F. J. B r o w n , vicar

of Steeple Aston, and the eventide h y m n was sung ;

the sweet note of a t h r u s h in the tree above the

grave h e r a l d i n g the approaching spr ing , as i t

96 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

were, w i t h its joyful song of the Resurrect ion.

The Bishop gave the blessing, and the vast con­

course dispersed.

A N O T E .

" A h , he was a real Father , he was," said a

peasant w o m a n , on being t o l d that he had passed

behind the V e i l . She had received Conf irmat ion

at his hands. To assist at his Mass, to be

present at any sacred funct ion, when he presided,

to see and hear h i m bless an aged man or a l i t t l e

ch i ld , reminded one of the Bishop of the Church

in Cecilia's house, so finely delineated by M r .

Pater in Marius the Epicurean. " He (Marius)

had never seen the pontif ical character, as he

conceived i t — s i c u t unguentum in capite descendens in oram vestimenti—so fu l ly realized, as in the

expression, the voice and manner of a c t i o n . "

W i t h Bishop Richardson i t was j u s t the natura l

outwardness of a solemn and awful inwardness,

of a tender devot ion to the great Pastor P a s t o r u m ,

in whose name and power his apostolic functions

were ful f i l led, and i t reached direct ly , s w i f t l y ,

sacramentally, the souls of those to w h o m he

ministered. A n d then his beauti ful and brother ly

h u m i l i t y ! " W i l l you hear my confession, my

L o r d ? " said a p r i e s t ; " Y e s , dear brother , and

w i l l you hear mine ? " One could never suggest,

however indirect ly , to h i m the d i g n i t y of the

priest ly and ponti f ical office w i t h o u t , so to say,

finding h i m s m i t i n g his breast, w i t h a Domine non sum dignus on his lips. A n d again , his constant

anxiety to share the labour of others, above a l l on

the Lord 's D a y ; his h o r r o r of g i v i n g servants the

trouble of b r i n g i n g h i m hot water early in the

m o r n i n g ; his d e l i g h t f u l l i t t l e devices for prevent­

i n g his boots f r o m being cleaned for h i m on

Sundays. It al l spelt love, the love of serving

others, rather t h a n of being served by them.

W i t h chi ldren his presence was t h a t of a great

w a r m sun, b r i g h t and c o m f o r t i n g , but never

scorching. " Please ask dear W " so he

w r o t e f rom his bed on February 15th, " to forgive

me^ in these c i rcumstances , "—the t h i r t e e n t h week

of almost constant bedfastness-—"for not d o i n g

his l i t t l e s u m s . " T h e c h i l d was his frequent

correspondent, and they exchanged, f r o m t i m e to

t i m e , l i t t l e a r i t h m e t i c a l puzzles. W e l l , he left his

blessed m a r k in one small v i l lage , doubtless in

many more ; and there w i l l be not a few simple

f o l k , the length and breadth of the l a n d , who w i l l

say a Paternoster for his dear soul. " Give me

a prayer , " he was w o n t to w r i t e . — R e q u i e s c a t in pace.

T H E W A R .

WE believe the f o l l o w i n g l ist of o ld B l o x h a m ­

ists who are at present in or near the

f i g h t i n g - l i n e , is fa i r ly complete. Doubtless there

are others of w h o m we have not heard.

H. A. R. M a y (1872-9)

St. J . A. Cox (1883-5)

H . N . Cain (1910-13)

H. J. P. B u r r y (1910-11)

N . W . Bradshaw (1905-8)

C. A. B r o w n (1904-5)

T. E. B r o w n (1907-9)

F. E. L. Riddle (1903-11)

C. B r o w n (1909-11)

E. A. B r o w n (1910-11)

E. T o w n s o n (1904-7)

T. R. T a y l o r (1902-6)

E . W . T a y l o r (1902-6)

K. A. Mackenzie (1903-10)

C. T. Keble (1909-11)

W . W . W a r d (1905-6)

A. E. Lascelles (1881-2)

W . E . Hudles ton (1884-9)

E. G. Peecock (1908-11)

G. V. Jones (1900-6)

L t . Col. A. E. Lascelles (1881-2), i s t Batt .

Worcestershire Regiment , and Major W . E .

Hudles ton (1884-9), R . A . M . C . , were mentioned in

Sir John French's dispatch, published on February

18th.

L t . Col . St. J . A. Cox (1883-5), Royal I r i s h

Regiment , who was mentioned in a previous

dispatch, has been awarded a Companionship in

the Order of St. Michael and St. George.

Several O l d Bloxhamists , w h o enlisted in the

ranks , have recently obtained commissions ;

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 97

among- them are T. Thomas (1908-9), 9 t h Bat t .

O x f o r d and Bucks. L i g h t I n f a n t r y ; W. B .

C o m p t o n - H a l l (1911-14), 3rd Bat t . Royal W e s t

K e n t R e g i m e n t ; C. G. M. M o r r i s (1903-10);

C. B. V. H o d g s o n (1909-11), 20th Batt . Manchester

Regiment.

T. G. Bowler (1906-11) and J. S. Boissier

(1904-8) have been promoted Lieutenants in their

respective regiments.

M. E. S. Boissier (1895-8) has been promoted

to the r a n k of L ieutenant-Commander , R . N .

The f o l l o w i n g extract f r o m Sir John French's

dispatch w i l l be of interest to our readers, when

they recollect t h a t the officer in command of the

A r t i s t s ' Rifles, L t . Col. H. A . R. M a y , i s an O l d

Bloxhamist . There are other O.B's also in the

Bat ta l ion . Col. M a y has been w o r k i n g w i t h the

Volunteer and T e r r i t o r i a l Forces for many years,

and we have no doubt t h a t his enthusiasm and

energy have b r o u g h t his B a t t a l i o n to that state of

efficiency which has led Sir John French to make

use of it in the way he describes :—

' ' I wish to add a w o r d about the Officers T r a i n i n g

Corps. The presence of the A r t i s t s ' Rifles (28th

B a t t a l i o n , The L o n d o n R e g i m e n t ) w i t h the A r m y

in France enabled me also to test the value of this

organisat ion.

" H a v i n g had some experience in peace of the

w o r k i n g of the Officers T r a i n i n g Corps, I deter­

mined to t u r n the A r t i s t s ' Rifles (which formed

part of the Officers T r a i n i n g Corps in peace t ime)

to its leg i t imate use. I therefore established the

bat ta l ion as a T r a i n i n g Corps for Officers in the

field.

" The cadets pass t h r o u g h a course, which i n ­

cludes some t h o r o u g h l y pract ica l t r a i n i n g , as a l l

cadets do a tour of 48 hours in the trenches, and

afterwards w r i t e a report on w h a t they see and

notice. They also v is i t an observation post of a

battery or g r o u p of batteries, and spend some

hours there.

" A commandant has been appointed, and h e

arranges and supervises the w o r k , sets schemes

for practice, administers the school, delivers

lectures, and reports on the candidates.

" T h e cadets are instructed in a l l branches of

m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g suitable for p latoon commanders.

" Machine-gun tactics, a knowledge of w h i c h is

so necessary for a l l j u n i o r officers, is a special

feature of the course of i n s t r u c t i o n .

" W h e n first started the school was able to t u r n

out officers at the rate of 75 a m o n t h . T h i s has

since been increased to 100.

" R e p o r t s received f r o m D i v i s i o n a l and A r m y

Corps Commanders on officers who have been

trained at the school are most sat isfactory."

Several letters have arr ived f r o m O l d B l o x h a m ­

ists at the f ront . We p r i n t elsewhere an inter­

esting letter f r o m the Provost , who went out a few

weeks ago and is d o i n g Chaplain's w o r k at one of

the casualty c lear ing stations.

E. S. Bliss (1904-6), Queen's O w n Oxfordshire

Hussars , wri tes on February 11th : — " I hoped to

have called to see you when I had my three days'

leave, b u t the t i m e went so quickly . We have

been r i g h t back f r o m the fighting l ine for a t i m e ,

rest ing. We came up again a week last Sunday

and expect to go to the trenches in a day or t w o .

I very often t h i n k of you a l l at School and wonder

how you are g e t t i n g on. I t is very different be ing

out here f r o m being at B l o x h a m , b u t I mean to

do my d u t y to my C o u n t r y and School. T h e

B r o w n s are a l l w i t h us s t i l l , but they are not in

the same troop as I am. We have been pract i s ing

a l o t of n i g h t attacks and t h r o w i n g hand-grenades

since we have been up here. To-day we have

been up close to the lines d i g g i n g trenches, and

we can hear a l o t of very heavy g u n and rifle fire

to-n ight . We sleep in a loft over a cow-house,

and we have a l l our horses under cover. It is

g e t t i n g quite w a r m in the day-t ime, but i t i s very

cold at n i g h t . "

H . J . P u l l e n - B u r r y (1910-11), 2nd W i l t s h i r e

Regiment , w r i t i n g on January 21st, says :—

" I have not experienced much fighting yet.

W h a t w i t h a few shells and bullets f lying over

me I am quite used to it now. . . . It is very

wet and m u d d y in the trenches, besides be ing

dreadful ly cold. We l ive on bully-beef, cheese,

j a m and biscuits. Bread when we can buy i t . "

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

K. A. Mackenzie (1903-10), 2nd Cavalry D i v ­

is ion, Supply C o l u m n , is driving- a l o r r y c a r r y i n g

hay. He writes on January 2 5 t h . — " We have

quite a good t ime on the whole, but of course the

life is r o u g h . It is a good experience being out

here, and I find the French t a u g h t me by M r .

W i l s o n comes i n very useful. . . . I heard

you had started an O . T . C . I t h i n k it is a very

good t h i n g to have as it gives everyone a certain

amount o f t r a i n i n g . "

R. H. Pearce (1907-9), was on board H.M.S. Lion in the H e l i g o l a n d f ight and in the N o r t h Sea

batt le on January 24th. Apparent ly , " he saw

l i t t l e of the act ion as he was d o w n below sending

messages to the firing line. B u t for the Lion being cr ippled, he t h i n k s another t w e n t y minutes

w o u l d have witnessed the destruct ion of one or

t w o more enemy ships."

No. 10 Casualty Clear ing Stat ion,

B r i t i s h Expedi t ionary Force,

February 25th, igi$. My dear H e a d ,

I hope al l goes wel l w i t h y o u at B l o x h a m , and

that problems are s o l v i n g themselves s lowly but

surely—as we hope they may be here ! I seem a

l o n g way f r o m the old rout ine l i fe, but I don' t

t h i n k I really am. I landed at H a v r e on the 10th,

and g o t up here on the 14th, by various routes,

w i t h t w o nights in the t r a i n . On my second n i g h t

an A.S.C. Lieutenant la id himself out to make me

comfortable, b r o u g h t me tea at al l hours, and

finished up by g i v i n g me eggs and bacon in the

carriage. I finished my journey by car, on roads

that w o u l d make a motor is t at home s q u i r m , b u t

no one seems to m i n d a n y t h i n g here. I had

nearly t w o days at Rouen, on the way, and

rejoiced in the Cathedral and its services. I found

my w o r k a l l ready for me here, and a very

fr iendly medical staff, six doctors, a dentist , and a

most excellent quartermaster , under Major

M a r r i o t t , o f the R . A . M . C . W e have various

bui ld ings scattered a b o u t — a n old disused sou-

prefecteur, a school, a chapel, and a derelict

theatre w i t h a wooden b u i l d i n g t h r o w n in. The

f ield ambulances collect a l l the " c a s u a l t i e s , " and

send them to us and we wash, feed, clothe, and

dress wounds, and send them in motor a m b u l ­

ances to the ra i l head for the Red Cross t r a i n , and

so they pass away d o w n to the base. As fast as

we get t h e m , we " clear " them again, as it is not

our business to keep t h e m , but to clear the f r o n t

of sick and wounded. Numbers vary very much

according to what is g o i n g on, and we have j u s t

had t w o very quiet days, but usually one has j u s t

about enough to do to v is i t al l men in the short

t ime they stay, and they come in succession at a l l

hours. They come in plastered w i t h m u d , and

generally wet t h r o u g h from the waist d o w n w a r d s ,

but almost invar iab ly cheerful, especially the

wounded. It is a very real j o y to be of the least

use, and seems t o - j u s t i f y one's absence f r o m so

much at home. Of course, as the l ine moves, we

move automat ica l ly , but we must keep near r a i l

head. We have 400 stretchers, and are g e t t i n g

more. I t h i n k the whole medical service is

wonderful ly organised, and the wounded get a l l

possible a t t e n t i o n .

Give my respects to the Chaplain, and te l l h i m

I have r u n against one O. L . , who is in the

Gordons. We are attached to the second army.

There are about 80 m o t o r ambulances here and

every conceivable sort of m o t o r t r a n s p o r t f rom a

bus or l o r r y to a m o t o r bike.

I t ' s a strange l i fe , s ingular ly free f r o m al l

excitement, and men seem to go into the trenches

and come out l ike w o r k m e n on a j o b and w i t h as

l i t t l e emotion. " W e ' v e g o t to see this beastly

j o b t h r o u g h , and we mean t o , " about represents

the Expedi t ionary Force.

A l l good wishes to B l o x h a m , yourself and the

family.

Y o u r s very sincerely,

H . K . S O U T H W E L L .

Serjeant B i l l i n g t o n , w h o m many O l d B l o x h a m ­

ists w i l l remember, and who since leav ing us has

been an A r m y Scripture reader, f irst in I r e l a n d ,

and then for a l o n g t ime stationed at Devonport ,

is now in France w o r k i n g amongst the sick and

wounded at Headquarters , N o . 1 Base of the

B r i t i s h Expedi t ionary Force.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 99

Extracts from some letters from 2nd Lieutenant

Walter Ward, R.M.A., ist Howitzer Battery.

February 2 0 t h — W e t o o k t w o days disembark­

i n g and g e t t i n g a l l ready. On the m o r n i n g

of the next day we started off at 8 and got

about a mi le , then came to a most terrif ic h i l l ,

about t w o miles l o n g , out of the t o w n , and i t i s

pavee (cobble-stones) the whole way. The tractors

weigh about eleven tons each, and some d r a w t w o

or three waggons of about ten tons each, and

when they get on a steep slope of pavee the wheels

s imply buzz r o u n d , sending up showers of sparks,

and there you stick. We started off after that by

u n h i t c h i n g the tractor and a t t a c h i n g the w i r e rope

on its w i n d i n g d r u m , then sending the tractor on

and p a y i n g out the rope. Then we put blocks

under the wheels of the t ractor and hauled up the

waggons. Y o u can get about 100 yards at a t ime,

and it is a fa i r ly slow j o b . W i t h one load the

w i r e broke whi le they were w i n d i n g , and the

t rucks immediate ly started to r u n d o w n a one in

six slope, s t r a i g h t into another t r a c t o r , about 200

feet below. It was an e x c i t i n g moment, but the

rear w a g g o n , after r u n n i n g t h i r t y yards, ran up

on to the pavement, and made a b i g hole there,

and turned r o u n d ; the other t ipped up, and shed

about hal f i ts load, w h i c h was, l u c k i l y , only i r o n

plates, and then stopped r i g h t across the road on

t w o wheels, only held f r o m f a l l i n g over by the bar

a t t a c h i n g i t to the other. I t t o o k a couple of

hours g e t t i n g them sorted out again. We f inal ly

solved matters by h i t c h i n g t w o tractors on to each

load, and by p u t t i n g a dozen b i g bolts in each

wheel, so that they gr ipped the pavee. It made a

b i t of a mess of the stones, s imply scrunching them

up. We found other pavee hi l ls on the way, but

managed to get to , about twenty- four

miles f rom where we started, about 8 o'clock, in

spite of l i t t l e t h i n g s l ike h a v i n g to stop at pubs

for d r i n k s of 100 gal lons of water , and fifty of

petro l .

February 2 3 r d . — W e have gone off now to an

empty chateau, about four miles f rom G . H . Q . , to

practice m o u n t i n g the g u n . W e started a t the

j o b on Sunday at 9, and w o r k e d a l l day t i l l 7 ;

then we started at 7.45 on M o n d a y , and had only

t w e n t y minutes for lunch at 3, and then went on

t i l l 11. To-day we started at 8, and got done at

2, and then had to begin immediately and take it

: to pieces again. There have been an enormous

number of b i g bugs over to see us, i n c l u d i n g

eleven generals and their attendant staffs yester­

day, and seven to-day, a m o n g them General

French, and later on the Prince of W a l e s . I had

to t a l k to them all to-day. One funny t h i n g was,

I refused to a d m i t the Prince of W a l e s . We had

orders only to a d m i t staff officers, and the sentry

came to te l l me that t w o officers wanted to come

i n , and I t o l d h i m to go back and say w h a t

our orders were. So he had to w a i t outside t i l l

some general came a l o n g and come in w i t h h i m .

February 2 6 t h . — W e have moved on f r o m G . H . Q .

to a t o w n about t w e n t y ki lometres further on, and

do you k n o w the very first person I saw was the

Provost . He is attached to the 10th Casualty

Clear ing Sta t ion , w h i c h has a very b i g b u i l d i n g

here. I w e n t to tea w i t h h i m , and, afterwards,

he gave me w h a t I have been l o n g w a n t i n g — a

hot bath. I also passed some of the Q . O . O . H .

on the road, and saw Bliss, b u t was not able to

stop and speak to h i m . We had a very bad day

on Wednesday. We had got the g u n mounted

the day before, and had to get it d ismounted to

start a t daybreak. At f i r s t a l l went w e l l , u n t i l

the carriage, w h i c h weighs about six tons, and is

a very top-heavy load, ran d o w n the incl ine and

overturned. L u c k i l y , i t was a good place, and

we were able to get i t up again in about t w o

hours, w h i c h was very quick . B u t when we

started to take the loads out d o w n the dr ive , we

found that the frost had absolutely cut the surface

up, and there was n o t h i n g below. Three times

in about 200 yards we had the carriage axle deep,

and nearly over, and t h a t a l l means d i g g i n g i t

out and manoeuvring of t ractors , so as to get one

to p u l l sideways to support i t , and another to

d r a g it out . Near ly every load was the same,

and once the t r a c t o r sank in more than four

feet, in spite of its 2-ft. wheel. The result was,

1 t h a t we had to w o r k on and on a l l n i g h t , w i t h

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

three-quarters-of-an-hour off at 4.30 a . m . , when it

g o t too d a r k to do a n y t h i n g . The men were

nearly dead, but the only ones who g r u m b l e d

were those f rom the other gun who came to help

us, as they hadn't g o t to go off for a week or two.

We have g o t a very good bi l let here n o w , w i t h

the manager of the gas w o r k s , who has a very nice

house. I share the room w i t h one of the others

here, and the f irst n i g h t I slept on the floor on my

valise ; but t o - n i g h t , I see they have p u t me up a

camp bed. So now we are a l l h a v i n g meals

together , and they have lent us a room to sit i n .

We d r a w fuel and l i g h t i n g and also the o r d i n a r y

men's rations. The men are most awful ly wel l

fed. In a l l the letters I have censored, they t a l k

about absolutely n o t h i n g else, except a lack of

cigarettes. B u t t h a t w i l l be a l l r i g h t soon, as

they are b e g i n n i n g to get a cigarette ra t ion o

t h i r t y cigarettes a week. I have been censoring

letters hard tor an hour, and am feel ing very

sleepy now. Have j u s t heard that we go s t r a i g h t

off t o - m o r r o w to our g u n posit ion.

M a r c h 3 r d . — W e have been h a v i n g a l o t of

hard w o r k , pract ical ly never in bed before 12, and

often not t i l l 2, and once or twice not at a l l ; b u t

the w o r k has an intense var ie ty , and I am very

happy and as f i t as a fiddle. One absolutely loses

account of days and t i m e , and after a p a r t i c u l a r l y

beastly t ime, in a day or t w o one has forgot ten

al l about i t except to l a u g h over i t . In the last

week some of the t h i n g s I have done include the

f o l l o w i n g : — F e t c h i n g up a m m u n i t i o n and shells

w e i g h i n g three-quarters of a ton each, in t w o

3-ton lorr ies , w h i c h included g e t t i n g them badly

ditched once, t h r o u g h a si l ly old French General

who w o u l d n ' t get out of the way in his car, when

the roadway was only about seven feet wide w i t h

about three feet of m u d on either side. H o w ­

ever, I had the satisfaction of p o i n t i n g out a way

to h i m and saying it was perfectly safe, and then

seeing h i m go r i g h t i n , and the car nearly t u r n

over, and then p u l l i n g h i m out again. C o m i n g

back, as I had my lorries very over-loaded, and

expected every minute that the shells w o u l d drop

t h r o u g h the b o t t o m , w h i c h was only half-inch

p l a n k i n g , I made the lorries go at six miles an

hour, and went on ahead in a car and cleared al l

the traffic out of the way. My next j o b was to

r u n over to (about 50 miles) in a car for

some stores which had been lost, w i t h orders not

to r e t u r n t i l l I had t h e m , and to steal them from

the other g u n , i f I couldn' t get them otherwise.

1 got them a l r i g h t and started back about seven,

and g o t delayed three hours on the road by a

puncture, and a fool of a y o u n g chaffeur who

d i d n ' t k n o w h o w t o mend i t , g e t t i n g i n about

2 a. m. f inally. T h e n I had to superintend the

l a y i n g of t w o telephone wires of about three

miles in a l l , and j u s t as we had finished, we saw

a horseman gal lop across a field, w h i c h was the

only place where we hadn' t got the w i r e up on

poles or trees, and break the l ine, and we had to

go back and repair i t . Then I had to go to the

C.R.A. of our D i v i s i o n and get observation posts

a l lot ted to us. There is a b i g h i l l , wooded on our

side, fu l l of observation posts, most a w f u l l y

cleverly d u g i n , w i t h communicat ion trenches

over the crest. Y o u have to be t a k e n up there at

f irst , and introduced, and have to learn the ropes

as there are several places t h a t you may be seen

f r o m as you pass, and if the enemy sees any

movement it nearly always draws a few shells.

The back part of the wood is fu l l of shell holes,

but there is n o t h i n g there, and they never seem

able to get j u s t on the crest. O u r d u g out is a

perfect l i t t l e g e m , w i t h a splendid v iew of a very

f ine landscape. L u c k i l y i t j u s t takes in the

amount covered by the 25 degrees t r a i n i n g of our

g u n . O u r present target , or rather future , as we

s tar t f iring t o - m o r r o w , is slap in the middle, and

is, as I always said it w o u l d be, a church tower.

It is pract ica l ly the only observation post the

Germans have in the neighbourhood, and is

surrounded by a v i l lage f u l l of Germans, so even

i f we can't h i t i t , we o u g h t to do some damage.

We have taken immense trouble to make our

g u n invisible f r o m aircraf t , and have an elaborate

erection over head of b r u s h w o o d , etc., and have

painted the g u n a l l the colours of the ra inbow,

d a r k red, green, b r o w n and yel low. Yesterday

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . I O I

they sent up an aeroplane to report on i ts v i s i ­

b i l i t y , and the report was f a i r l y favourable. We

have an aeroplane fitted w i t h wireless to observe

for us, and if the weather is not suitable, my

chance, as observation officer, comes i n , w i t h

i n s t r u m e n t a l observation. We have g o t a very

decent bi l let in a t o w n near, a whole house to

ourselves.

M a r c h 8 t h . — A t last we have fired ; yesterday

was our f irst shot, note the d a y — a n d the target

was a church tower. O u r shoot ing was extremely

accurate, and every one was very pleased w i t h i t .

We were a l l personally congratu lated by General

French yesterday, and General S m i t h - D o r r i e n

to-day, not to ment ion the Prince of Wales and a

French and Belgian general. The f irst r o u n d was

30 yards r i g h t and 100 yards short , the second was

20 yards r i g h t and 20 yards over, and knocked the

tower about a b i t , and we could easily have h i t i t

w i t h a t h i r d r o u n d , b u t as we were out to see w h a t

we could do, we changed to a new target , which

was three cottages together. T h e f irst round h i t

one of them and knocked it to smithereens. T h e

second was f ired w i t h o u t any a l terat ion and went

about 20 yards over the remains, and d i d n ' t do

any damage. T h e n we stopped. To-day we

f ired at another church w i t h an enormously s t r o n g

tower. The first shot was 300 yards short and

50 yards r i g h t . The second h i t the tower half­

way up and knocked d o w n e v e r y t h i n g above

where it h i t , except a l i t t l e b i t of the far left-hand

corner. The t h i r d we landed in the square about

50 yards behind the tower , b u t couldn' t see the

damage. I was up both times in our observation

post, w h i c h was d irect ly on the l ine , and w i t h a

telescope of 21 diameter, could see everything .

I t i s very t h r i l l i n g up there. Y o u hear the order

to " s t a n d b y , " and the next t h i n g you get the

report on the telephone " g u n fired." A b o u t six

seconds afterwards you hear the report , and

almost at the same moment hear the shell shriek­

i n g t h r o u g h the air l ike a t r a i n over your head.

T h e n you w a t c h and at f irst t h i n k i t must have

fallen w i t h o u t your n o t i c i n g i t , b u t j u s t as you

are g i v i n g i t up, about 30 seconds after f i r i n g ,

you suddenly see a great flash, and then a m i x t u r e

of black and w h i t e smoke and dust b u r s t i n g up

for about 50 yards in every direct ion, and about

10 seconds after there is a terri f ic detonat ion ; b u t

as observation officer you probably miss t h a t as

you are l o o k i n g so hard at the burst , w h i c h

lasts about 30 seconds, and then the dust takes

another 30 seconds to settle and let you see the

damage. The accuracy of the g u n has surprised

even those people who have had most to do w i t h

i t , and is such t h a t they are g o i n g to put us on to

some trenches only 170 yards in f r o n t of our own.

After that we shall be switched on to tackle hostile

batteries.

F I V E S T O U R N A M E N T .

T h e F i g u r e s i n B r a c k e t s a r e the H a n d i c a p s .

A. B. (o) D. W. T. Cain ( - 1) The Headmaster

R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t W . H . H i g g s

C. D .

(o) The Chaplain ( + 6) A. E. Lewis

W. C . Lester-Smith J . A . L . Champneys

E. F.

( + 6) W. G. Rowland ( + 8) R. W. Ferris

J. E. W r i g h t S. German

G. H . •

(o) H. S. Bonnewell ( + 4) D. S. Coleman

W . E . H i l l C . H . T u c k e r

First Round—

A beat B (10—15, l5~7. 1 5 — I O )

C beat D ( 1 5 — 1 , 15—1)

E beat F (15—13, 15 —12)

G beat H (15—3, 15—12)

Second Round—

G beat C (15—3, 15—12)

A beat E (15—7, 15—9)

Final— A beat G (15—8, 15—7)

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

ARMY. T h e i n f o r m a t i o n g iven is the latest t h a t we possess.

The m a r k * is placed before the names of those who have been in the O . T . C . at B loxham.

N A M E . W H E N A T

S C H O O L . R A N K . N A M E O F R E G I M E N T .

B A R R O W , L . A . H . ... 1907-12 2nd L i e u t .

B R I G H O U S E , R . W . ... 1890-2

* D A V Y , P . F . 1906-1 I 30th Batt .Canadian Expedi t ionary Force

F O R T E S C U E , T I9OO-2 2nd Lieut . O x f o r d and Bucks. L . I .

G U E S T , T . H 1886-9 Lieut . Y o r k and Lanes. Regt.

G O L D R I N G , E . C . I907-9 A u s t r a l i a n I m p e r i a l Force

H A R S T O N , S . H . Austra l ian I m p e r i a l Force

P E R C I V A L , H . F . 1874-6 Citizens Defence Corps

S K E L T O N , D . S . 1890- R . A . M . C .

S K E L T O N , E . G . 189T-9 Captain Gold Coast Regt.

S M I T H , C . H 1883-9 Worcestershire Y e o m a n r y

S M I T H , J . C . 1899-19OO Public Schools B a t t . Middlesex Regt.

ROYAL NAVY.

N A M E . W H E N A T

S C H O O L . R A N K . S E R V I C E .

T H O M P S O N , W . B . ... M1912-13 Royal N a v a l Div is ion .

H O C K E Y .

B L O X H A M S C H O O L V I S I S H . C .

T H I S match was played o n Saturday,

M a r c h 6 t h , on the St. John's College g r o u n d

at O x f o r d , and resulted in an easy w i n for our

opponents, the goals be ing 10—3.

Isis had a s t r o n g team o u t , i n c l u d i n g several

Indians , w h o were a m o n g their best men. Play

settled d o w n in the School hal f of the g r o u n d

immediate ly , and our opponents scored four goals

in the f irst five minutes. Once W a l d e n cleared

b r i l l i a n t l y , b u t it seemed as i f the School team

found their opponents a lmost uncanni ly q u i c k

Certa inly Isis were remarkably smart in m a r k i n g

their men, t h o u g h as soon as our fellows g o t used

to the strangeness of the g r o u n d and manner of

play, there was a considerable improvement . Isis

continued to attack after their f o u r t h goal , but at

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

last Lester-Smith cleared w e l l , and the bal l was

transferred to the other hal f of the field. H i l l d id

some good w o r k , and the School forced a corner.

N o t h i n g resulted of any prof i t , and in a minnte or

so the bal l was again in the School half. Isis

pressed hard for a whi le , and another goal was

scored. S t i l l the at tack was pressed, and b o t h

H i l l and S i d n e y - W i l m o t saved w e l l . Isis were

twice penalised, g i v i n g some rel ief ; then we

conceded a corner, f r o m w h i c h W a l d e n managed

to clear. The School rushed the bal l into their

opponents' t e r r i t o r y , b u t they were back on the

defence in a short t i m e , and some very hot w o r k

took place in the School circle. A penalty was

awarded against us, but the danger was averted

for the t i m e , and after Isis had again been

penalised, the School managed to get some relief

f r o m the constant defence w o r k . Once more the

School carried the ba l l a l o n g , this t ime in fine

style, and Cain nearly scored. The at tack was

kept u p , and after some s l o g g i n g w o r k in the

centre of the f ield, in which the keen and accurate

w o r k of the Isis halves was a pleasure to see, the

School got into their opponents ' circle, and Cain

shot the f irst goal . Cheered by their success, the

School kept at the a t t a c k , but were driven

back. Isis now made a serious a t t e m p t to score

again, but were penalised. H a l f - t i m e came w i t h

the play in our half, W a l d e n h a v i n g stopped

several shots wel l .

H i t h e r t o , the weather had been above reproach, but in a few minutes after hal f - t ime rain began to fa l l , and i t was w i t h the u t m o s t dif f iculty t h a t any further notes were kept. Cain scored a good goal , b u t the at tack was soon taken up again by Isis , and W a l d e n , after s t o p p i n g a hot shot remarkably wel l , was defeated by the next a t tempt . He was unfortunate too in being temporar i ly knocked out , but was not obl iged to leave the g r o u n d . Isis scored again w i t h a good diagonal shot, and then the School made another successful a t t e m p t , Bonnewell scor ing. A l l t h r o u g h the second hal f the rain kept c o m i n g d o w n heavily, but the g r o u n d being a wel l drained one, play continued to be very fast. T i m e came w i t h Isis we l l in the lead, the score being 10—3.

Bonnewel l and Cain w o r k e d hard and well a l l

t h r o u g h the game. H i l l and S i d n e y - W i l m o t were

also noticeable for occasional good w o r k , b u t the

p r e v a i l i n g weakness of the team seemed to be an

i n a b i l i t y to get r i d of the bal l when they had

stopped i t . T i m e and again g r o u n d was lost by

an opponent f o l l o w i n g up hard and catching our

man before he got r i d of the b a l l .

Team : — H . R . W a l d e n (goal) ; N . Parsons,

C. Lester-Smith (backs) ; R. M. Coombes, W. E

H i l l , R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t (halves); R. W . Pearse,

H . S . Bonnewel l ( c a p t ) , D . W . T . Cain , W . H .

H i g g s , D. S. Coleman (forwards).

D E B A T I N G S O C I E T Y .

A M E E T I N G of the society was held in the

^ L i d d o n R o o m , on Sunday, M a r c h 7 t h , at

which there were present : — M r . Burgess (Presi­

dent, in the cha ir ) , R. V. Lyle (Vice-President),

R. M. Coombes ( H o n . S e c ) , the major i ty of the

members, and a large number of v is i tors .

The Chairman called upon the H o n . Sec. to

read the minutes of the last meeting. These were

read and signed. The House then proceeded to

the debate, the m o t i o n being " T h a t , in the

opinion of this House, modern dress is neither

comfortable, healthy, nor picturesque."

The C h a i r m a n called upon W a l d e n to propose

the m o t i o n . He commenced by v i v i d l y sketching

the tr ia ls and inconveniences to which people are

subject nowadays by the freaks of modern dress.

He said t h a t women had to take short u n n a t u r a l

steps o w i n g to the t ightness of their sk i r ts , t h a t

hat pins were a constant source of danger, t h a t

boots were too smal l and gave one corns. In fact

he seemed to t h i n k t h a t modern dress was far

too t i g h t , and therefore not comfortable or healthy.

Lyle then rose to oppose the m o t i o n . He said

that ordinary dress was not uncomfortable , and

athlet ic dress was certainly comfortable. He

pointed out that modern clothes performed al l their

functions. They keep us w a r m in w i n t e r and

cool in summer. Therefore they were decidedly

healthy. As regards their picturesqueness, he

said that a l t h o u g h fashions have ug ly features, a l l

exhibi t some beauty.

104 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

H i l l , speaking for the m o t i o n , said that w omen

have more reason to feel uncomfortable than men

because they have more v a r i a t i o n as regards

their clothes. H i s ideal was summed up either

in the toga, or else in the dress of the South Sea

Isles, both on account of their s impl ic i ty . These

t w o , he said, far excelled the modern frock coat

and w h i t e sh i r t in every respect.

R o w l a n d then rose in favour of the m o t i o n .

He said t h a t modern dress was the result of

improvements . T h a t there were no more i m ­

provements w h i c h could be made for the increase

of comfort . He pointed out that there were many

socks and ties of picturesque shades, w h i c h were

being w o r n at the present t ime.

The C h a i r m a n then asked if anyone else wished

to address the House. No one w i s h i n g to do so,

the Vice-President t o o k the chair, and the Presi­

dent spoke. He compared modern dress w i t h

that of the M i d d l e Ages. He spoke f rom experi­

ence, for he had acted in Shakesperian plays, and

had found the dress most uncomfortable. M o d e r n

dress was much more comfortable . He agreed

that a t o g a w o u l d be very healthy, but had the

speaker t r i e d w e a r i n g a toga on a w i n d y day ?

A cassock was bad enough ! He also agreed

about South Sea dress being comfortable, b u t it

was only suited to certain cl imates. He stated

t h a t men's clothes were healthy, b u t women's were

not. He t h o u g h t t h a t men's clothes were not at

a l l picturesque. They consisted of cy l inders;

a cylinder on a man's head, t w o on his arms, t w o

on his legs ; and a cylinder was not at a l l beauti ful .

The m o t i o n was then p u t to the vote, and

carried by six votes to three.

C H E S S .

A C H E S S Club was started at the b e g i n n i n g

^ of this term. President, The Headmaster ;

Vice-President, M r . C. T. Blanshard ; H o n . Sec.

W . H . H i g g s ; other members o f c o m m i t t e e —

W. E . H i l l and A. L . Stephens. There are

already over t w e n t y members, a l l of w h o m

entered for a tourney, d iv ided in t w o sections, as

fol lows '.—

I . — H i g g s , 8 out o f 9 , los ing only t o Moles-w o r t h ;

Coleman, i , beat Powel l ; Coombes, 5, lost to M o l e s w o r t h , R o w l a n d

and H i g g s , game w i t h W a l d e n u n ­finished ; had he w o n this , he w o u l d have t ied w i t h

M a r t i n , 6, lost to H i g g s , Coombes and M o l e s w o r t h ;

Col l inson, 1, beat Powel l ; W a l d e n , 2, 4 to play ; S i d n e y - W i l m o t , 2, 4 to play ;

M o l e s w o r t h , 8, los ing none, 1 to play ;

R o w l a n d , 3, beat Coleman, Coombes and Powel l .

I I . — M r . B lanshard ( g i v i n g odds o f R o o k ) , 8 , lost to Stephens ;

H i n n e l l , 1, beat Coulson ; Stephens, 7, lost to Eve and Bowler ; Hughes , 3, beat H i l l , H i n n e l l and Coulson ;

H i l l , 3, beat H i n n e l l , Coulson and Cain ;

Cain, 6, lost to M r . Blanshard, Stephens and H i l l ;

Lester-Smith, 1, beat H i n n e l l ;

Eve, 1, beat Stephens, 4 to play.

Bowler, 7 , lost to Cain and M r . Blanshard.

The three top scorers of each section w i l l p lay

off for i s t , 2nd, and 3rd places. They are M r .

Blanshard, H i g g s , M o l e s w o r t h , Bowler , M a r t i n

and Stephens.

As soon as the first r o u n d of this tourney was

over, entries were received for a k n o c k - o u t t o u r ­

ney. The d r a w i n g for this is as fol lows :—

Stephens v. H i g g s ; Coulson v. H i n n e l l ; Cole­

man v. W a l d e n ; Eve v. Hughes ; Lester-Smith

v. H i l l ; Powel l v. R o w l a n d ; Cain v. M r . Blans­

hard ; M a r t i n v. M o l e s w o r t h ; Bowler , a bye.

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S .

W e beg-to a c k n o w l e d g e w i t h t h a n k s the receipt o f the fol lowing c o n ­t e m p o r a r i e s :— The Hurst Johnian, The Cuthbertian, The Lancing College Magazine.

" T H E B L O X H A M I S T " i s publ ished ( n o r m a l l y ) 1 0 m o n t h s i n the y e a r : n o J a n u a r y o r S e p t e m b e r N u m b e r s a r e published.

C o n t r i b u t i o n s for the A p r i l N u m b e r s h o u l d be sent to the E d i t o r before A p r i l 10th, 1915. writ ten on one side of the p a p e r only.

The Annual Subscription is 5s. post free. M e m b e r s of the O l d B l o x h a m i s t S o c i e t y a r e supplied w i t h copies. T h e S e c r e t a r y i s the R e v . H . R . W I L L I M O T T , t o w h o m m e m b e r s s h o u l d send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s . O t h e r s u b s c r i b e r s t o T H E B L O X H A M I S T should send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s t o C . J . W I L S O N , E s q .

P r i n t e d for A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L , B l o x h a m , b y C H E N E Y & S O N S , " R a i l w a y G u i d e " Office, C a l t h o r p e S t r e e t , Banbury' -

V O L . X L I . A P R I L , 1915. N o . 371

C O N T E N T S . E D I T O R I A L

S C H O O L N E W S

O . B . N E W S

O B I T U A R Y . .

C O N F I R M A T I O N

A T H L E T I C S P O R T S . . .

H O C K E Y

C R I C K E T F I X T U R E S

C H E S S

A R M Y A N D N A V Y ...

T H E W A R

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S

E D I T O R I A L .

IT was our i n t e n t i o n to have published this

number of T H E B L O X H A M I S T d u r i n g the Easter

h o l i d a y s ; for various reasons, however, the

intent ion was not carried out .

So far as the weather is concerned the summer

term has had a most propit ious commencement,

and we sincerely hope that it w i l l continue as it

has begun ; a l t h o u g h we have frequently heard it

said by people in the neighbourhood t h a t we

really need a good d o w n p o u r of r a i n at least once

a week d u r i n g the summer at B l o x h a m , to keep

the g r o u n d in good condi t ion both for cr icket and

the proper g r o w t h of crops.

In another respect we have started badly.

One of our number developed measles before he

had been a week on the premises. We hope the

disease w i l l not spread, but we have our fears.

A considerable change has been made in the

evening t ime-table. A v o l u n t a r y tea is now pro­

vided immediate ly after school at 3.30 ; prepar­

at ion begins at 6.0 and continues t i l l 6.50 A t 7.0

the evening meal is served ; preparat ion begins

again at 7.45, and chapel is at 8.30. There

seems to be some divers i ty of opinion as to the

advantages to be derived f rom the change, b u t

this arrangement has been adopted in recent

years by several other schools w i t h good results ,

so perhaps i t w i l l be attended by the same success

here.

For some t ime past we have enjoyed the

s ight of various flags flying f rom the staff on the

cricket f ield on occasions. The U n i o n Jack is

displayed on al l occasions of nat ional interest ;

the St. George's flag goes up on a l l festivals in

the Church's calendar ; and the School flag is

hoisted for School functions and on match days.

B u t we understand that the proper place for a

f lagstaff is a b u i l d i n g . We have no tower on

which to erect one and so a staff is to be fixed on

the gymnasium shortly. It w o u l d be very nice

to see a flag always flying, but the expense of

upkeep is considerable.

S C H O O L N E W S .

W E beg t o t h a n k the f o l l o w i n g for gi f ts o f

f lowers for the Chapel decorations at Easter :—

M r s . H i n d e , M r s . Bonnewel l , M r s . B u r t o n , M r s .

H i g g s , Mrs . Deane, A. E. F o r d h a m , C. A. Bernays.

i o 6 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

O U R hearty congratulat ions t o R . W . Pearse,

who has passed the Senior O x f o r d Local E x a m ­

i n a t i o n w i t h i s t Class H o n o u r s and D i s t i n c t i o n i n

L a t i n and French.

T H E f o l l o w i n g have received i s t X I . hockey

colours : — W . C. Lester-Smith, R. Powel l , H. R.

W a l d e n , W . H i l l , R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t , W .

H i g g s , N. Parsons, D. S . Coleman, R. M.

Coombes.

W . H . H I G G S and D . W . T . Cain have been

promoted to be prefects.

T H E f o l l o w i n g have left : — R . W . Pearce—

F o r m V I . , i s t X I . F o o t b a l l . A . B . W i l l i a m s -

F o r m V I . , i s t X I . Cr icket , 2nd X I . F o o t b a l l , j J . S . V e s e y - B r o w n — F o r m V I . , Prefect, i s t X I .

C r i c k e t , Serjt .-Bugler, O . T . C . F . C . B o w l e r -

F o r m V . , i s t X I . F o o t b a l l , Junior Gymnasium

Colours. S . S . G o l d r i n g — F o r m V. W. T. Jones j — F o r m I .

T H E f o l l o w i n g new boys have come : — F o r m

I I I . — A . L . Christopher, R . S . Payne. F o r m I I .

— W . A. H a m b l e t t , R . S . Lockey, G. F . M.

M c D o n a l d . F o r m I . — C . A g h a , R. B Coombes, |

C. G. G o w i n g , G. E. H o l t o m .

O.B. N E W S .

V I S I T O R S . — A p r i ^ 3 — 5 , C. T . Coleman (1908-14)

and E. P. H i g g s (1909-14) ; A p r i l 4, W. Shilson

(1899-1903), P. A. Boissier (1899-1903), and

A. E. S. Riddle (1903-9) ; A p r i l 5, F. H. W o o l -

l iams (1910-13), K. J. Cherry (1912-14), C. A. M-

Roberts (1904-12), W. L. H a l l ( ) , G. A.

Leadley-Brown (1890-4), A. L. B. Sproule (1908-

13), L . W . H . Bowler (1906-9), Rev. L . Riley

(M1904-10), J . A . Carter (1900-3), E . J . H a r v e y

(1906-13).

O . B . S O C I E T Y . — T h e f o l l o w i n g have recently

become members : — H . C . Reader (1899-1903),

W. Shilson (1899-1903), P. A. Boissier (1899-

1903), J . A. Carter (1900-3), W. E. C. H u d d e n

(1884-8), A. B. W i l l i a m s (1913-15).

C O N F I R M A T I O N .

THE Sacrament of Conf irmat ion was adminis­

tered on F r i d a y , March 19th, by the R i g h t

Reverend C. E. Corfe, late Bishop of Corea, w h o

very k i n d l y took the place of the Bishop of O x f o r d ,

who was unable to v is i t us this year.

The Bishop delivered a very i n s p i r i n g address

based on the w o r d s — " We w a i t for thy l o v i n g -

kindness, O God, in the midst of t h y t e m p l e "

(Psalm 48, 9 . ) — a n d exhorted his hearers to per­

severe in t r y i n g to a t t a i n perfection, g o i n g f o r w a r d

t h r o u g h life w i t h hope and confidence in the grace

of God, and cont inual ly renewing the supply of

grace by regular prayer and use of the Sacrament.

The f o l l o w i n g were confirmed : — D . Beath,

L . B u r t o n , J . A . L . Champneys, L . T . H i n n e l l ,

J . E . Hobley , W . T . Jones, W . J . K i r k b y ,

V. H. L l o y d , R. H. M o l e s w o r t h , R. R. Powel l ,

P . H. Prince, G. W. Saunders, J . E . W r i g h t .

A T H L E T I C S P O R T S .

WE were very f o r t u n a t e in h a v i n g a fine day

for the Sports on Easter M o n d a y , A p r i l

5 th , and a good number of v is i tors came to spend

the afternoon w i t h us and witness the various

events. We cannot c la im to have achieved any

very remarkable results, but the general results

were quite up to the average. The results of the

competit ions were as fol lows :—

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 107

Senior Steeplechase (2\ miles).— R u n on Saturday, M a r c h 27th.

i s t H. R. W a l d e n , 2nd F. C. Bowler , 3rd

W . E. H i l l . T i m e , 18 mins. 20 sees.

Junior Steeplechase (i\ miles).— i s t R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t , 2nd W. R. W r i g h t .

Steeplechase, under 13 years (\ \ miles). R. Thomas.

Throwing the Cricket Ball, Junior—

R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t . 62 yds. , 2 f t . 4 ins.

100 Yards, Senior— i s t D . W . T . Cain, 2nd W . G . R o w l a n d .

T i m e , i o f sees. 100 Yards, Junior—

i s t R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t , 2nd J. S. Clark. T i m e , 12 sees.

100 Yards, under 13.—

i s t R. Thomas, 2nd R. Day. T i m e , 14 sees.

Quarter Mile.— i s t D . W . T . Cain , 2nd W . G . Rowland.

T i m e , 62 sees. High Jump, Junior—

i s t R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t , 2nd W. R. W r i g h t .

H e i g h t , 4 f t . 1 i n .

Putting the Weight—

i s t H. S . Bonnewel l , 2nd W. C. Lester-Smith.

Distance, 31 feet.

Long Jump, Senior.—

i s t D. W. T . Cain, 2nd H. S . Bonnewell .

Distance, 19 ft. 3^ i n .

220 Yards, Junior. —

i s t J. S. C l a r k , 2nd R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t .

T i m e , 33 sees.

Mile.—

i s t H. R. W a l d e n , 2nd F. C. Bowler .

T i m e , 5 mins . 25 sees.

220 Yards, under 13—

i s t R. Thomas, 2nd S. A. R. K i d m a n .

T i m e , 37 sees. Long Ju?np, Junior.—

i s t R. C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t , 2nd W. R. W r i g h t . Distance, 14 ft. 9^ ins.

Dormitory Relay Race.— H . R . W a l d e n and W . G . R o w l a n d , D o r m i ­

tories I . and I I I .

Potato Race, under 13. — S. A. R. K i d m a n .

High Jump, Senior.— i s t F. C. Bowler , 2nd W. G. R o w l a n d . H e i g h t , 4 f t . 8 in .

Hurdle Race.— D. W. T. Cain. T i m e , 21 sees.

Sack Race, under 13.— R. Thomas.

Half-Mile.— i s t H. S . Bonnewel l , 2nd H. R. W a l d e n .

120 Yards Handicap.—

i s t D . W . T . Cain, scratch ; 2nd W . G . R o w ­

lands, scratch.

O.T.C Tug-of-War.—

W o n by No. 2 Section.

O. T. C. -Race. Sergt. W. C. Lester-Smith.

Senior Consolation Race, 220 Yards.—

R. W. Pearse.

D. W. T . Cain secured the Senior Champion­ship, and R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t the J u n i o r . The D o r m i t o r y Challenge Cup was w o n by D o r m i ­tories I . and I I I . , w i t h 177 marks as against 116 marks o f D o r m i t o r i e s I I . and V .

After tea, w h i c h was served to the vis i tors in

h a l l , the prizes were given away by M r s . Verey.

O u r thanks are due to those who made and carried

out the arrangements , especially to Messrs. Al len

and Burgess ; also to the V i c a r of B l o x h a m and

M r . W . H a l l , who assisted i n the capacity o f judges.

Special prizes were k i n d l y g iven by the f o l ­

l o w i n g : — T h e Rev. C. H. and Mrs . Verey (Senior Steeplechase), the Ladies of B l o x h a m (100 Yards, SeniorJ, Messrs. M a p p i n and W e b b (100 Yards, funiorJ, the Head Master and M r s . Grier

(Quarter Mile), C. T. B lanshard, Esq. (Long fump, Senior), E. H. Cain , Esq. (220 Yards,

108 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

Junior), T. A. B r o w n , Esq. (Mile), A. E. F o r d -

h a m , Esq., O.B. (High Jump, Senior), the

Masters (Hurdle Race), the Chaplain f HalJ-Mile).

H O C K E Y .

B L O X H A M S C H O O L V . M A G D A L E N C O L L E G E S C H O O L .

OUR second match was played on Wednesday,

M a r c h 24th, against Magdalen College

School, and resulted in a good w i n for the Schoo]

by 4 — 2 . Magdalen evidently found i t diff icult to

play on a muddy g r o u n d , as they were slow on

the bal l . Play settled d o w n in the Magdalen half

of the g r o u n d , and it was not very l o n g before the

School scored a goal t h r o u g h Cain after some

very good w o r k by the inside forwards. The

backs were then pressed but cleared very wel l .

After our f irst goal the School were encouraged

by their early success and played harder than ever.

T h e n , after some very hard luck, Bonnewell scored

w i t h a good shot. T h e n Magdalen started to

at tack, and d i d after some t ime score w i t h a very

easy shot. Powel l and S i d n e y - W i l m o t d i d some

good w o r k , and were always in their proper places.

The School pressed hard for the remainder of the

half, a l t h o u g h n o t h i n g resulted of any p r o f i t .

The School were u n l u c k y in being penalised

several t imes, which caused temporary relief for

the Magdalen backs, and after some s l o g g i n g in

the centre of the f ield, in which Lester-Smith

d i d w e l l , hal f- t ime came w i t h the score 2—1 , in

our favour.

Immediate ly on s t a r t i n g again we were on the

offensive, w i t h some smart w o r k by Cain and

S i d n e y - W i l m o t , the former scor ing our t h i r d goal .

Magdalen then made a desperate effort to equalise,

b u t were unable to on account of the excellent

resistance made by our backs. H o w e v e r , on

account of a s l ight misunderstanding in our

defence, Magdalen scored their second and last

goal . Near the end Bonnewell ran a l l the way up

the f ie ld and scored an excellent g o a l . In the

final stages the School had h a r d luck in not scor­

i n g again. So t i m e came, the School being wel l

ahead w i t h 4 to 2 in our favour.

The team played very well and t h o r o u g h l y

deserved their v ic tory . In the f o r w a r d l ine ,

Bonnewel l , Cain , and Coleman were good,

a l t h o u g h the others were noticeable for occasional

good w o r k . Lester-Smith and S i d n e y - W i l m o t were

a great success at half, and played very wel l .

Powel l , at back, was excellent ; he was quick on the

ball and cleared wel l . Parsons was good, a l t h o u g h

very slow. W a l d e n was good in goal , a l t h o u g h

he has not yet learnt that he must keep his legs

together when s t o p p i n g a bal l ; he is also weak

in clearing. Several t imes a lot of g r o u n d was

lost by not f o l l o w i n g up the b a l l , and so a l l o w i n g

the opposing back to have plenty of t i m e to clear.

H o w e v e r , the team as a whole must be congratu­

lated on their success.

Team : — H . R. W a l d e n (goal) ; R. Powel l and

N. Parsons (backs) ; R. M. Coombes, W. C.

Lester-Smith, R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t (halves) ;

D. S. Coleman, H. S. Bonnewel l (capt.), D. Cain ,

W . H i g g s , W . H i l l ( forwards) .

C R I C K E T F I X T U R E S .

S a t . , M a y 1 5 K e b l e C o l l e g e A w a y

S a t . , , , 2 2 M a g d a l e n C o l l e g e S c h o o l , O x f o r d H o m e

M o n . , , , 2 4 B l o x h a m C . C H o m e

S a t . , , , 2 9 B r a c k l e y School A w a y

W e d . , J u n e 2 A b i n g d o n S c h o o l A w a y

S a t . , , , 5 K e b l e C o l l e g e A w a y

W e d . , , , 9 I s i s C . C . H o m e

S a t . , , , 2 6 B r a c k l e y S c h o o l H o m e

T u e s . , , 2 9 M a g d a l e n C o l l e g e S c h o o l , O x f o r d A w a y

S a t . , J u l y 3 W a r w i c k S c h o o l A w a y

S a t . , , , 1 0 I s i s C . C . A w a y

W e d . , , , 14 A b i n g d o n S c h o o l H o m e

C H E S S .

THE main tourney ended as fol lows : — 1 , M r .

Blanshard ( g i v i n g odds of R o o k ) ; 2, A. L.

Stephens; 3 , W . H . H i g g s . The winners re­

ceived copies of a small text-book of the game.

T h e f inal issue of the knock-out tourney was :—

1, M r . Blanshard ( g i v i n g odds of R o o k ) ; 2,

R. H. W. M o l e s w o r t h ; 3, A. L. Stephens.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 109

ARMY. The i n f o r m a t i o n g iven is the latest that we possess.

The m a r k * is placed before the names of those who have been in the O . T . C . at B loxham.

N A M E . W H E N A T

S C H O O L . R A N K . N A M E O F R E G I M E N T .

A N S E L L , H . G . 1897-190O W a r w i c k s h i r e Yeomanry

F R I E N D , B. F I 9 O O - 3 2nd L i e u t . Royal W e s t K e n t Regt.

* L O N G , H . D 19IO-I3

M A L E T , G . C . W 1899-1903 2nd Lieut . 6th Bat t . Somerset L i g h t I n f a n t r y .

S K E E L S , E . R . S , 1884-6 A r m y Pay D e p a r t m e n t

S T E N H O U S E , V . D . 1884-8 Major W e s t Somerset Yeomanry

ROYAL NAVY.

N A M E . W H E N A T

S C H O O L . R A N K . S E R V I C E .

R O B E R T S O N , T . A . M . I904-5 Sub-Lieut . H . M . S . " N e w Z e a l a n d . "

T H E W A R .

THE f o l l o w i n g O l d Bloxhamists , whose names

have already appeared in our columns as

serving in the A r m y , have recently gained com­

missions as officers : — A . E. S. Riddle (1903-9),

3rd Bat t . O x f o r d and Bucks. L i g h t I n f a n t r y ;

R. E. Cunliffe (1906-9), 2nd Batt . Royal Berk­

shire Regiment .

W . W . W a r d (1905-6) , has been promoted t o

be Lieutenant.

Captain D. le Poer T r e n c h , R . F . A . (1893-8),

was wounded in September, b u t the casualty was

not reported t i l l A p r i l 17th.

F . H . M . Robertson (1904-5), 5th B a t t . Canadian cont ingent , contracted cerebro-spinal meningi t i s in the trenches, and died at St. Omer , on A p r i l 12th.

E. G. Belfield (1909-12), is w i t h the Expe­

d i t i o n a r y Force in T u r k e y .

G. V. Jones (1900-6), w r i t i n g f rom the f r o n t on

Sunday, A p r i l 18th, s a y s : — " O n l y a few weeks

ago I w r o t e to you f r o m W i t h a m . N o w I am in

B e l g i u m in the t h i c k o f the f i g h t i n g . We left

W i t h a m on M a r c h 22nd for F r a n c e ; we w e n t

s t r a i g h t up into the f iring line and have had great

experiences. I am now out of the trenches for

four days' rest, but go back again on Tuesday

evening. Grimes i s w i t h us. . . . W e have had

very few casualties, consider ing the b o m b a r d ­

ments we have been in ; only one man has died

f r o m wounds (German snipers never miss, they

are wonder fu l shots). I should l ike to describe

our journey f r o m the trenches to here, but i t

w o u l d be impossible. The n i g h t was as d a r k as a

cellar ; we marched single file, t o u c h i n g the man

in f r o n t , so as not to get lost, t h r o u g h m u d

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

12 inches deep, over dykes, streams, trenches,

fal len trees, shell holes fu l l of water , and under

fire whenever a star-shell was sent up. T h e

j o u r n e y was two-and-a-half miles ; we started at

11.30 p . m . , a r r i v i n g in our bi l let at 3.15 a .m. ; so

you can imagine what i t was l ike. We are a l l

very well and happy, but l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to

peace very m u c h . I have j u s t come f r o m H o l y

C o m m u n i o n , w h i c h was held in the garden of the

the farm where we are."

C. T. Keble (1909-11), writes under date

M a r c h 4 t h : — " I have been out here nearly four

months now, and am s t i l l keeping quite f i t . At

present I am attached to a Bat tery of the R.G.A.

The other day I t o o k a small part in w h a t is said to

have been the biggest bombardment in history ;

there was quite a noise, in fact I never heard such

a r o w in my life before. I expect you have read

about it in the paper. I am s i t t i n g in a reserve

trench to w r i t e this , most comfortable t o o ! I

have not come across any O.B. y e t . "

T. R. T a y l o r (1902-6), who is in E g y p t w i t h

the Hert fordshire Yeomanry , wri tes on M a r c h 18th

— " I have had T H E B L O X H A M I S T forwarded f rom

home, and am very sorry to see that M r . W a r d

has left. I am sure you a l l must miss h i m very

much ; the O.B. 's w i l l , I k n o w . A n y w a y , I wish

h i m God's blessing in N o r f o l k , and may the

new Head's w o r k be blessed at B l o x h a m .

" Ismai l ia was the centre of the fighting on the

Canal, and was shelled for a day, but w i t h o u t any

damage. I had my bapt ism of fire ; it is a weird

experience to hear the shells w h i s t l i n g overhead.

One burst w i t h i n t h i r t y yards of me, quite near

enough too ! I have the unique honour of being

the only member of the H e r t s Yeomanry who has

been under f ire d u r i n g the present war. The

f ighting was g o i n g on for t w o days a long an active

f r o n t of twenty-f ive miles, and it says something

for our defences, that only four T u r k s managed to

get on the W e s t B a n k of the Canal , and their

success was very short and sweet. The armoured

tugs and torpedo boats on the Canal played havoc

w i t h the pontoon br idge p a r t y , absolutely m o w i n g

them d o w n . The result was that the T u r k s were

dr iven back w i t h very heavy loss. T h e i r dead

must have been wel l over 1,000 (I was on the

battlef ield a f o r t n i g h t af terwards and we were

s t i l l b u r y i n g them) and over 900 prisoners. O u r

casualties were 18 k i l led and 57 wounded, which

speaks for itself, and shows h o w fine the defences

were, and how wel l the whole at tack was repulsed,

w i t h o u t the useless old-fashioned idea of g o i n g

out i n t o the desert to meet the enemy. It is not

t h o u g h t that another at tack can possibly be made

this year as the hot weather commences next

m o n t h , and one w o u l d also t h i n k they had seen

how hopeless the task is. A n y w a y , t h i n g s are

very quiet now, and we w o u l d welcome a l i t t l e

excitement again. We are a l l h o p i n g the

Dardanelles or Constantinople w i l l be our next

move. The regiment is s t i l l in Cairo, after be ing

up here for three w e e k s — t w o days too late to see

any of the f u n . I have not seen a n y t h i n g of

Rylands or T o w n s o n .

" O u r t w o pack sets of wireless here have been

sent out on some very i n t e r e s t i n g r e c o n n o i t r i n g

tr ips of five and six days at a t ime into the desert

w i t h the Camel Corps, both before and after the

T u r k s attacked. We call them the ' Wire less

Camel Corps. ' I should have loved to have gone

once or twice , but unfor tunate ly am tied d o w n to

the permanent land stat ion (a set of ins truments

commandeered off a German prize ship at

Alexandria) here at the base. The weather at

present is perfect, and this is a c h a r m i n g spot. I

wish I could send a week of this place to the poor

chaps in the trenches at the f r o n t and those

c a m p i n g at home. By al l accounts the w i n t e r has

been one of the w o r s t for wet and general u n ­

pleasantness for years, and bad enough to break

the hardiest const i tut ions .

" W i t h kindest regards t o a l l , and every good

wish to B l o x h a m and its new H e a d . "

The f o l l o w i n g i n t e r e s t i n g accounts f r o m W . W .

W a r d have been forwarded to us for p u b l i c a t i o n :—

France,

Wednesday, April 21st, 19/5.

At last I have got t ime to w r i t e a decent letter.

F i r s t of a l l , many happy returns of the day to

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 111

mother. I have got the Belgian people 1 was bi l let ted w i t h to make some lace for her and w i l l send it a long as soon as I can. We started m o v i n g the g u n last F r i d a y at 4 a.m., d ismounted, and got the g u n here the same n i g h t , d u g the p i t on Saturday, mounted the p l a t f o r m on Sunday m o r n i n g , and the g u n al l Sunday n i g h t , and were ready to fire again by 10 a.m. on Monday. I was sent off at about 8 o'clock on F r i d a y m o r n i n g to go and d i g the new p i t which the Major had gone on to choose. Here is an example of the sort of t h i n g that happens. He left us w a i t i n g in a t o w n near by t i l l 1 o'clock, then he came a l o n g and showed us a posit ion in an orchard. I said at once we could never get the g u n up there unless we made a road w i t h planks and bricks r i g h t across i t , b u t he said it was perfectly s t r o n g enough. However , he was soon refuted, as a j l o r r y came a long loaded w i t h t imber and stuck fast, and we had to unload it a l l , and even then we couldn' t get the l o r r y out t i l l we had d u g r i g h t d o w n and put planks under the wheels. However , he chose a posi t ion, and t o l d me to m a r k out the p i t , which takes qui te a l o n g t ime to do, as you have to get the l ine measured off and get your l ine of fire central , and then to get r i g h t angles, etc., l ike a tennis court. Just as I had finished m a r k i n g it a l l out , back he came and said he t h o u g h t the p i t o u g h t to be 20 ft. nearer the gate. I measured it out a l l over again, and we started to take al l the t u r f off and had d u g out a good deal of earth, when he came back again and said the p i t must be 50 yards fur ther back ; so we filled in that p i t and started to d i g another, i t was then about 6 o'clock. We had to wheel a l l the earth away f rom the new place about 50 yards, and we managed to b o r r o w 3 wheelbarrows f r o m different farms, but t w o of them broke up almost at once, and we had to go on w i t h one. The n i g h t was so dark that we had to l i g h t a fire alongside the pit to see a n y t h i n g at a l l . The p i t has to be 25 ft. square and 2 f t . deep and that means a good many cubic feet of earth. At 12 o'clock we got a message from the Major to knock off a l together as he had found an entirely new posi t ion. By then we were too weak to s w e a r — w e s imply laughed !

Then we had to find our b i l l e t , a farm about half-a-mile away, and I had to go and buy candles and get my p a r t y i n t o their barn. E v e r y t h i n g was p i tch dark and we kept f a l l i n g into the manure heaps in the middle of the f a r m yard. None of the men had any of their k i t or blankets and had had no food since lunch. I got on to a bed about 1 o'clock. Short ly after this there was a very heavy shower which made the roads awful ly greasy. At 2.15 I was aroused by the people w h o had arr ived w i t h the g u n and whose men had been on p r e t t y solidly f rom 4 a.m., and t o l d to arouse my men, as they were the freshest of any, and go out on the roads as three of the lorries had got ditched in the last t w o miles. The f irst l o r r y we came to we saw m o v i n g towards us and discovered that i t had been got out , b u t , j u s t as i t g o t to us,

I in i t went again. We d u g and g o t loads of br icks and planks to br idge the m u d and managed to get it out first shot. The second was a much worse j o b as the pavd edge of the road was rather raised up and the wheels s imply skidded instead of m o u n t i n g i t . We had to p u t br icks and planks and d i g three times before i t w o u l d come out . T h e n we had to

, w a l k back a mile-and-a-half to the last l o r r y and we found it was hardly in at a l l , and came out easily w i t h scarcely any help f r o m us I got back at 5.30 and found my bed bagged, so had to t u r n in on the floor w i t h o u t any blankets . The next n i g h t we d u g the proper p i t t i l l about 12, and the next n i g h t we mounted the g u n . I turned in at 1.30 as I had to be up next m o r n i n g to lay tele­phone wires, b u t the m o u n t i n g was f inished at 4.30 and everything was clear, and at 5.30 a Ger­man aeroplane came over. T h a t was the end of a pretty g o o d 72 hours ! The last three days we have been l a y i n g telephone wires. We are g o i n g to fire at a certain vi l lage which is g o i n g to be the theatre of a second sort of Neuve Chapelle business. The country a l l round us here is abso­lutely flat, so we have to go up p r e t t y near to observe. Both posts are j u s t a mile f r o m the trenches, mine is in an apple tree which is j u s t about to blossom. I have g o t a fine seat r i g g e d up there and a telescope lashed, and my telephon­ist is in a machine-gun emplacement in a second-

112 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

l ine trench, about 10 yards in f ront . If my place

gets shelled I shall observe f r o m the trench, w h i c h

is quite safe as it has got dug-outs a l l a long. T h e

other post is in a house, and we have knocked a

hole in the w a l l . We have now got 14 miles of

telephone w i r e out , and it has to be patrol led

every day as some of it goes t h r o u g h places w h i c h

are often under shell-fire. To-day we were l a y i n g

the line across a field near a road a long w h i c h

about a dozen civi l ians were d i g g i n g trenches.

They were in fu l l v iew f rom a v i l lage held by the

Germans, and suddenly we heard whiz-z-z-z and

we a l l ducked our heads, and then, bang ; it

burst in a field about 50 yards f rom us. A l l the

Frenchmen dashed off at once and started d i g g i n g

for the fuze. I went across and claimed it when

they got i t . Y o u could fo l low the t rack of the

fuze s t r a i g h t d o w n f r o m the crater, it was l ike a

mole hole, only blackened a l l round. They got i t

out at about 9 f t . i n , s lantways of course. I gave

the chap 3 francs for i t . Just before we had

finished g e t t i n g it out we heard another shell, and

a l t h o u g h I lay p r e t t y flat on the g r o u n d I couldn' t

help l a u g h i n g to see the chap who was d i g g i n g

f l ing himself head first in to the hole and w r i g g l e

d o w n t i l l only his feet showed. The shell was a

shrapnel and burst w i t h percussion and d i d n ' t do

any h a r m . It was j u s t 20 yards f rom us and only

10 ft. f r o m some of the Frenchmen at the trench,

in fact, it h i t one side whi le they were on the other

They d i d n ' t care a b i t t h o u g h . I hustled my men

a long w i t h the line and we had got on about 300

yards when another shrapnel came and burst in the

air j u s t over the Frenchmen, w o u n d i n g one of

them rather badly. I w e n t back and got the fuze

of the second shell for t w o francs, it is a very fine

one, quite intact , w i t h t ime r i n g and e v e r y t h i n g

complete. I saw a b i t of the base of the s h e l l —

they were 5 i n . I should t h i n k . I w a n t to send

them home, only they are so awful ly heavy, quite

9 lbs. I should t h i n k ; anyhow, they are quite nice souvenirs. I shall k n o w better t h a n to stand about near d i g g i n g parties in f u t u r e .

B e l g i u m , April 30th, 1915.

I was h o p i n g to have had a few days' leave but

we have j u s t heard we are g o i n g to move the g u n

next week and shall be very busy, so I am afraid

leave is postponed indefinitely. The new place

we are g o i n g to is r i g h t in the middle of a fa i r ly

b i g t o w n a few miles south-east of this , and we

shall be shel l ing in the direct ion of . We

had a Zeppelin over here last n i g h t at about 12

o'clock. I t came f rom the d irect ion o f " W i p e r s , "

where it dropped some bombs, and passed direct ly

over us and went towards B , where it dropped

six bombs and k i l led a good many c iv i l ians , and

was back here and out of range in ten minutes. I

was in Ypres this m o r n i n g ; it has been most fear­

ful ly shel led—about every f o u r t h house has been

completely demolished, and no part of the t o w n

has escaped. There is pract ical ly no glass left

anywhere. The c lo th hal l and cathedral are

absolutely p i t i f u l to see, and a l l round the square

the housesare completely destroyed. The Germans

must have put hundreds of thousands of shells

i n t o i t , for i t is astonishing to see what compara­

t ive ly l i t t l e damage the average i n d i v i d u a l shell

leaves behind i t , t h o u g h it must make a p r e t t y

t i d y dust at the t ime. I passed some fields where

there had been bat ter ies—and some where they

s t i l l were. There was pract ical ly no grass left and

you could hardly have found a spot t w o yards

square anywhere not p i t t e d w i t h holes. I can't

t h i n k h o w they manage to avoid being wiped out .

I t h i n k i t must be because they stay in a spot t i l l

the Germans have got the range and then go off

and leave dummies behind, w h i c h the Germans

shell l ike fury for a b i t , and then when they leave

off, back comes the battery .

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S .

We beg to a c k n o w l e d g e w i t h t h a n k s the receipt of the fol lowing c o n ­t e m p o r a r i e s -.— The Abingdonian, The Panline, The Lancing College Magazine (2), The Lily, The Brackleian, The Framlinghamian. The Hurst Johnian, The Denstonian, St. Edward's School Chronicle, S.S.M. Quarterly.

" T H E B L O X H A M I S T " i s published ( n o r m a l l y ) 1 0 m o n t h s i n the y e a r : n o J a n u a r y o r S e p t e m b e r N u m b e r s a r e published.

C o n t r i b u t i o n s for the J u n e N u m b e r should be sent to the E d i t o r before J u n e i s t , 1915, writ ten on one side of the p a p e r only.

The Annual Subscription is $s. post free. M e m b e r s of the O l d B l o x h a m i s t S o c i e t y a r e supplied w i t h copies. T h e S e c r e t a r y i s the R e v . H . R . W I L L I M O T T , t o w h o m m e m b e r s should send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s . O t h e r s u b s c r i b e r s t o T H E B L O X H A M I S T s h o u l d send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s t o C . J . W I L S O N , E s q .

P r i n t e d for A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L , B l o x h a m , by C H E N E Y & S O N S , " R a i l w a y G u i d e " Office, C a l t h o r p e Street , B a n b u r y .

V O L . X L I . J U N E , 1915. N o . 372

C O N T E N T S . E D I T O R I A L

S C H O O L N E W S

O . B . N E W S

O B I T U A R Y . .

C R I C K E T F I X T U R E S

O . T . C

A R M Y A N D N A V Y ...

T H E W A R

N A T U R A L I S T C L U B

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S

E D I T O R I A L .

THE present spell of hot weather extracts

even f r o m the E d i t o r the phrase, oft repeated

by many of his readers, " W h e w ! H o w hot it is ! "

and he ( l ike many of them) feels very much dis­

incl ined to take up his pen, even when he has

divested himself of his outer garments . W o u l d

it be considered unseemly if he fo l lowed their

example a b i t f u r t h e r , and appeared in g y m vest

and shorts to pursue his usual vocat ion ? B u t to

w o r k !

The Ascension Day holiday was spoi l t by a con­

stant downpour of r a i n , so after chapel we put

in a day's w o r k and were promised a whole hol iday

as soon as a suitable day presented itself. We

give an account elsewhere of the field operations

which took place on that day.

We continue to receive names of O.B's who

are serv ing w i t h the colours, but we feel certain

that there must be many yet of w h o m we have

not heard. We hope our readers w i l l let us k n o w

of any O.B. whose name has not yet been p u t on

the l ist ; also of promotions and casualties, and

especially the names of those w h o go to the f r o n t .

We are d o i n g our best to keep the r o l l up-to-date,

but it is diff icult to do so w i t h o u t help f r o m

outside.

O u r w o r s t fears w i t h regard to the i m p o r t a t i o n

of measles at the b e g i n n i n g of the t e r m have been

realised, and there are now some t w e n t y cases.

A l l the School cr icket matches have been scratched

in consequence, but we have played three or four

club matches. On W h i t s u n M o n d a y we secured

the v ic tory over a team representative of B l o x h a m .

An addi t ion is be ing made to the b u i l d i n g s ; not

a very noticeable one, for it is hidden behind the

h i g h w a l l opposite the old fives-court ; and it is

j u s t as wel l t h a t i t is. It is one of those hideous

erections made of weather-boarding w i t h a g a l ­

vanised i ron roof, suitable only for the purpose

for w h i c h i t is be ing constructed, namely the

storage of coal and coke.

T h i s is not meant as a h i t at the W a r Office

authorit ies . Necessitas non habet leges is equally

true in both cases.

We are g lad to notice the revival of interest in

natura l history. L i k e so many hobbies it comes

and goes, and in a number of cases the interest

only lasts a short t ime. It is of course impossible

for the major i ty to devote a great deal of t i m e

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

d u r i n g t e r m to these pursuits , b u t it is a good

t h i n g to begin to take interest in the affairs of

nature. In later years the study may be taken

up more seriously and systematical ly, and prove a

pleasant re laxat ion f r o m the ordinary business of

l i fe.

S C H O O L N E W S .

A F L A G - S T A F F has been erected on the g y m ­

nasium, for w h i c h we are indebted to M r . Chi ld .

A V E R Y nice clock has recently made its appear­

ance in the L o w e r L i b r a r y , and (Mirabile dictu ! ) keeps good t ime. I t i s f i t ted w i t h interchangeable

chimes, so that when we have heard enough of

W e s t m i n s t e r we can switch on a different tune,

provided always, that meddlesome fingers can

be kept f r o m i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h a somewhat com­

plicated mechanism.

F I R S T X I . colours have been given to W . E. H i l l

and C . T . Coll inson.

T H E A n n u a l Fest ival o f the N o r t h Oxfordshire

D i s t r i c t and the Banbury and Brackley Branch of

the E n g l i s h Church U n i o n is to be held here again

th is year, on Saturday, Ju ly 10th. The event is

awai ted w i t h keen interest. Perhaps some of the

O.B's may be able to f i t in a week-end v is i t j u s t

then.

T h e match , o r i g i n a l l y f ixed to take place in

O x f o r d on the same day, w i l l be played here.

O.B. N E W S .

V I S I T O R S . — J . H u n t (M1910-14), M a y 1—3;

J . T. Champion (1864-8), M a y 21—31 ; N. J . G.

Ravenor (1871-75) and W. G. A. Ravenor (1871-

80) , M a y 2 2 ; J. G. Cl i f ford (1910-12), M a y 24 ;

H. G. Ansell (1897-1900) ; G. M. Reid (1881-4).

O R D I N A T I O N S . — D e a c o n s — B y the Bishop of

L o n d o n in St. Paul's Cathedral , George Hel ier

D u h a m e l L o v e l l (1904-7), St. E d m u n d H a l l , O x ­

f o r d , and E l y Theological College. Licensed to

St. Mary ' s , Somers T o w n .

By the Bishop of Per th , A u s t r a l i a , George

H e n r y H i n d e (1879-86).

P r i e s t — B y the Bishop of Peterborough in his

Cathedral , A r t h u r Kenelm Swal low (1903-4),

B.A., U n i v e r s i t y o f London.

M A R R I A G E S . — H i n n e l l - G a r t s i d e — O n M a y 8 t h ,

at Baldock Parish C h u r c h , H e r t s , by the Rev.

Canon N a i r n , L ieut . H a r o l d Gudgeon H i n n e l l

(1905-8), 7th B a t t . Cheshire Regt . , elder son of

M r . and M r s . H . L . H i n n e l l , o f H i l l c r e s t , Alder-

ley Edge, to Sylvia Frances Evelyn Gartside,

3rd daughter of the late M r . Charles Gartside,

T o w n Clerk of A s h t o n , and M r s . Gartside, o f Glen

G a r t h , Ashton-under-Lyne.

C a m p b e l l — C r a i g — O n M a y 19th, a t H o l y

T r i n i t y C h u r c h , C u l m o r e , by the Rev. Canon A r m ­

s t r o n g , V i c a r o f Castlerock, County D e r r y ,

assisted by the Rev. J. M c A d a m s , Culmore ,

A r c h i b a l d Smollett Campbel l , elder son of Smol­

let t Campbel l , Esq., Commissioner of the

I m p e r i a l M a r i t i m e Chinese Customs, and of

M r s . Smol le t t Campbel l , Macas, China, to Theo

M a r g a r e t Denise C r a i g , daughter of the late M r .

and M r s . Gi lbert V . C r a i g , o f Culmore , L o n d o n ­

derry.

W i g a n — M o r g a n . — On A p r i l 2 0 t h , a t H o l y

T r i n i t y C h u r c h , C l i f t o n , by the V i c a r , assisted by

the Rev. C. J . W i g a n , brother of the b r i d e g r o o m ,

the Rev. H e r b e r t W i g a n , V i c a r o f Dunsden,

O x o n , former ly Chaplain o f A l l Saints ' School,

B l o x h a m , to H e t t i e , youngest daughter of the

late Rev. R. H. M o r g a n .

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

It is w i t h the deepest sorrow that we record the

death of F r a n k Riddle, who w i l l be remembered

by al l who have been at B loxham since 1903,

when he entered the School as a l i t t l e boy,

r e m a i n i n g for a much longer period than most

boys. He left in July , 1911, but s t i l l continued

to pay frequent visits to the School, so that to the

present generation he was more than a name. It

is exceedingly diff icult to express in a n y t h i n g l ike

adequate terms the greatness of his character—

great because so simple. O si sic omnes. H i s

name w i l l be handed d o w n to poster i ty as one of

w h o m we may be j u s t l y proud. Detai ls of his

death are l a c k i n g . Apparent ly he was engaged

in n i g h t operations w i t h his b a t t a l i o n , the 2nd

O x f o r d and Bucks L i g h t I n f a n t r y . On May 20th

he was reported miss ing , b u t on the 29th his

father received i n f o r m a t i o n that he had been

k i l l e d . This was fo l lowed by a k i n d and sympa­

thetic letter f rom the C O . , w r i t t e n immediately

after his body had been found, g i v i n g such par­

t iculars as were possible, and conc luding his letter

as fol lows : — " He had g o t on so well here, and

we were a l l so fond of h i m that we shall miss

his presence very m u c h . " W h i l e extending to his

father and brothers and sisters, a l l of w h o m have

been famil iar figures in the life of the School for

the last twelve years, our greatest sympathy in

their fami ly bereavement, we desire to assure

them t h a t their loss is ours also, and to associate

ourselves w i t h them in their great sorrow, t a k i n g

comfort (as we hope they do) f rom the knowledge

that a Chr is t ian gent leman has g iven his life in

defence of a great cause. In h i m our m o t t o once

more finds ful f i lment — Juslorum semita lux splendens.

As we go to press we have heard of the death

of V. Rylands (1902-6), who was k i l led in action

on June i s t . He left B l o x h a m rather y o u n g in

order to go to Shrewsbury School, but in spite

of h a v i n g joined a much larger and more famous

school, he always retained a great affection for

B l o x h a m , and signified it by becoming a member

of the O . B . Society. H i s contemporaries w i l l be

able to recall pleasant memories of a boy of h i g h

character, the development of w h i c h is amply

proved by the fact that he gained his p r o m o t i o n

to be Captain in his B a t t a l i o n (the 7th Manchester

Regiment) at the early age of 22, j u s t before he

left E n g l a n d for the Mediterranean.

C R I C K E T .

A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L V . K E B L E C O L L E G E .

' ~ H E opening match of the season was played

against Keble on M a y 15th, and resulted in

a d r a w in our fa,vour. The School batted first

and runs came freely. Cain and Bonnewell both

batted w e l l , and the lat ter declared w i t h the score

at 114 for 5 wickets. Keble had only a short t ime

at their disposal, and natura l ly tr ied to score fast,

but Cain's b o w l i n g was too good for such tactics.

K E B L E C O L L E G E .

T . E d w a r d s , b C a i n 6

B. K. D a v i s , c C o l e m a n , b B o n n e w e l l . . o

L . A . W . G r a v e s , b C a i n 1 1

R . R . K i m b e l l , r u n o u t 1 2

E. W i l l i a m s , b C a i n . ... 12

E . D i c k i n s o n , b C a i n 1 8

C. A. M. R o b e r t s , 1 b w, b C a i n 2

E . J . H a r v e y , not out 1 1

W . A . B a r u g h , not out 5

E x t r a s 7

T o t a l (for 7 w i c k e t s ) ... 84

G . D . L a n e a n d M a n l e y d i d not bat.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

B L O X H A M S C H O O L .

W . E . H i l l , b K i m b e l l 1 9

H. R. W a l d e n , r u n out : 6

C . T . C o l l i n s o n , b D a v i s 1 0

D . W . T . C a i n , b M a n l e y 4 5

R . A . G . R a v e n o r , b M a n l e y 3

H . S . B o n n e w e l l , not out 1 9

D. S. C o l e m a n , not out 5

E x t r a s 7

T o t a l (for 5 w i c k e t s ) 114

N . J . G . R a v e n o r , W . C . L e s t e r - S m i t h , W . G . R o w l a n d ,

R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t d i d not bat.

B o n n e w e l l

C a i n

C o l l i n s o n . .

A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L V . B L O X H A M C.C.

In our second match we defeated B l o x h a m on

our o w n g r o u n d , o n W h i t s u n Monday. W i n n i n g

the toss, the School batted f irst . The f irst t w o

wickets were g iven away, as both R o w l a n d and

Coll inson were r u n out. B u t Cain and R. Ravenor

made a good stand. The former's score of 63

showed some really good cricket . C o m p t o n - H a l l

made a useful first appearance. B l o x h a m made

103, of which B r y a n t and P o u l t o n h i t up the best

scores. The School b o w l i n g was good, and

Coll inson proved to be a useful change bowler.

The fielding was very good.

B L O X H A M C . C .

E . D r a n e , c W i l m o t , b C a i n 8

C. B r y a n t , c R. R a v e n o r , b C o l l i n s o n 25

W. M a l l e t t , c W i l m o t , b C a i n o

B. B e e s l e y , b C o l l i n s o n 17

G. N e a l , c C o m p t o n - H a l l , b C o l l i n s o n 4

G. B r i d g e s , 1 b w, b C o l l i n s o n 2

W . P o u l t o n , b C a i n 2 3

H. Mallett , c C o l e m a n , b B o n n e w e l l 4

W . H a l l , b C a i n 9

C . M a w l e , not out o

G. P o u l t o n , b C a i n 2

E x t r a s 9

T o t a l 103

B L O X H A M S C H O O L .

W . G . R o w l a n d , r u n out 1

H . R . W a l d e n , b W . M a l l e t 5

C . T . C o l l i n s o n , r u n out 4

R. A. G. R a v e n o r , c D r a n e , b P o u l t o n 21

D . W . T . C a i n , c H . Mallett , b W . M a l l e t t 6 3

H. S . B o n n e w e l l , b N e a l 12

R. W. C o m p t o n - H a l l , c W. M a l l e t t , b N e a l ... 12

D. S. C o l e m a n , b N e a l 4

W . C . L e s t e r - S m i t h , b W . M a l l e t t o

N . J . G . R a v e n o r , c B e e s l e y , b N e a l 5

R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t , not out o

E x t r a s 4

T o t a l 1 3 '

A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L V . K E B L E C O L L E G E , O X F O R D .

T h i s match was played on 5th July , and again

resulted in a d r a w , this t ime in our opponent's

favour. Keble batted first and their score was

chiefly due to the scores of Roberts and W a l t e r s .

At the same t i m e our f ie lding was not as good as

it should have been. W a l d e n d i d wel l as a w i c k e t

keeper, and both Cain and Coll inson bowled fa i r ly

we l l , but were not so successful as in the former

match. L i t t l e can be said for our b a t t i n g .

C o m p t o n - H a l l ' s innings was the redeeming spot,

and he seemed well-set when the stumps were

d r a w n K E B L E C O L L E G E .

R . R . K i m b e l l , b C a i n 1 3

C . A . M . R o b e r t s , c C o m p t o n - H a l l , b R . R a v e n o r 3 9

K . F . D . W a l t e r s , 1 b w , b C o l l i n s o n 4 8

E . D . D i c k i n s o n , not out 1 4

B . K . D a v i e s , b C a i n 9

G . D . L a n e , b C o l l i n s o n 1

P . F . S a u e r , b C a i n o

H . D . W e l l s , b C o l l i n s o n o

E . J . H a r v e y , b C o l l i n s o n 1

W . H . B a r u g h , not out 1

E x t r a s 1 0

T o t a l (for 8 w i c k e t s ) 136

T . R . R i t c h i e d i d not bat .

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 117

B L O X H A M S C H O O L .

W . G . R o w l a n d , b L a n e 1

H . R . W a l d e n , b L a n e 1

C . T . C o l l i n s o n , c K i m b e l l , b L a n e 1 6

D . W . T . C a i n , b K i m b e l l o

D. S. C o l e m a n , c H a r v e y , b K i m b e l l 9

R . A . G . R a v e n o r , b K i m b e l l S

R . W . C o m p t o n - H a l l , not out 3 6

W. C. L e s t e r - S m i t h , c D i c k i n s o n , b R i t c h i e ... 7

N . J . G . R a v e n o r , c D i c k i n s o n , b R i t c h i e 5

R. C. S i d n e y - W i l m o t , not out o

E x t r a s 3

T o t a l (for 8 w i c k e t s ) 83

W . H . H i g g s did not bat.

B O W L I N G A N A L Y S I S .

O v e r s . M ' d n s . R u n s . W ' k t s .

C a i n 11 1 52 3

C o l l i n s o n 16 2 50 4

S i d n e y - W i l m o t 1 o 8 o

R a v e n o r , R 5 1 14 1

O . T . C . S I G N A L L I N G .

THE weather on Ascension Day being- very

wet, the usual holiday was postponed and

was eventually g iven on F r i d a y , 21st May.

The School cont ingent took this o p p o r t u n i t y

tor field w o r k , the signallers w o r k i n g separately

f rom the remainder, as it had been decided that

they should form a line of stations across country

and spend the whole day in s i g n a l l i n g .

Parade was at 9.15 a.m., and short ly before 10 o'clock the signallers on bicycles moved off to their various stat ions, the f irst message being handled soon after 11 a .m.

There were six stations f o r m i n g an i r re gular

line between Fern H i l l and T a d m a r t o n , the stat ion

at the latter be ing on top of the Church tower.

Several messages were disposed of before w o r k

was suspended for the mid-day meal, which was

eaten on the various stations, so t h a t s i g n a l l i n g

could be resumed immediate ly afterwards.

The messages went very smoothly t i l l late in

the afternoon when heavy ra in made reading

diff icult , and w r i t i n g wel l n i g h impossible, the

message forms becoming almost " a solution of

the d i f f icul ty . " The weather, however, could not

damp the ardour of the signallers, and w o r k pro­

ceeded m e r r i l y u n t i l 5.15 p . m . , when they re­

assembled at T a d m a r t o n and proceeded home­

w a r d , one cadet being held back w h i l s t g o i n g

down hi l ls by a handkerchief attached to his

bicycle, the machine h a v i n g no brakes w o r t h

ment ioning .

D u r i n g the day sixteen messages were handed

in at the various stations, of these eleven were

sent quite accurately, four were not sent chiefly

because the ra in caused much waste of t i m e ,

w h i l s t the r e m a i n i n g one was sent, but a some­

what serious error crept i n t o i t d u r i n g trans­

mission. Of the messages correct ly sent, one

was in cypher and another in French, the re­

mainder being clear.

The l ine , commanded by L i e u t . C. A l l e n , was

composed of t w o terminals and four single trans­

mit ters as fo l lows :—

F . H . — L c e . - C p l . H i g g s , * Cdt. L loyd .

T . R . — C d t . C o l e m a n , * Sjt. Lester-Smith, Cdts.

W a l d e n , Bowden, K i r k b y .

B. P.—Cdts . Eve,* Stephens, Neale, H o l t o m ,

Hobley.

P .F .—Lce. -Cpl . C a i n , * Cdts. Stewart , Snape,

Giles, H o r d e r n .

L . M . — C d t s . L y l e , * S i d n e y - W i l m o t , C l a r k ,

W r i g h t , W .

C . T . — Cdts. Coulson,* M a r t i n .

* i/c S t a t i o n .

W h i l e the signallers were engaged on the

s i g n a l l i n g line the remainder of the corps were

occupied in m i n o r field operations, cons is t ing of

a march as in hostile country and scout ing work.

In the m o r n i n g the p a r t y marched by way of

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

South N e w i n g t o n and W i g g i n t o n t o H o l y W e l l

F a r m ; there they lunched, and later on were

sent out in small parties to obtain i n f o r m a t i o n as

to the positions of parties of enemy troops w h i c h

had been reported to be in the neighbourhood. A

certain amount of useful i n f o r m a t i o n was b r o u g h t

i n , but o w i n g to a misunderstanding p a r t of the

g r o u n d was not reconnoitred. The p a r t y re­

assembled at H o l y W e l l at 4.30 p .m. , and marched

home via Milcombe.

ARMY. The i n f o r m a t i o n given is the latest that we possess.

The m a r k * is placed before the names of those who have been in the O . T . C . at B loxham.

N A M E . W H E N A T

S C H O O L . R A N K . N A M E O F R E G I M E N T .

B O W D E N , T . G 1883-6 Captain 114th Br igade, R. F.A.

* B R O W N , J . S . V E S E Y ... 1908-14 21 st Batt . Royal Fusi l iers.

C O O K , C . R . 1910-12 6 t h Batt . Glos'ter Regt.

F E R G U S O N , T . E 1896-1903 Lieut . R . A . M . C .

M O R T O N , E . S 1902-9 Private R . A . M . C .

R Y E , A . N . 1888-92 2nd Lieut . Royal Guernsey A r t i l l e r y & Engineers.

R Y L A N D S , H . B . 1905-9 2nd L i e u t . 16th Bat t . Lancashire Fusi l iers .

S A L M O N , F . A 1885- 28th B a t t . L o n d o n Regt .

ROYAL NAVY.

W H E N A T N A M E . R A N K . S E R V I C E .

S C H O O L .

Assistant A R N O L , N I 9 0 3 - 6 Paymaster H . M . S . " Venerable . "

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 119

T H E W A R .

THE following- O l d Bloxhamists , whose names

have already appeared in our " A r m y L i s t , "

have recently gained commissions : — J . C. S m i t h

(1899-1900), 2nd Lieut . , 6 t h B a t t . Royal Fusil iers ;

C. G. M. M o r r i s (1903-10), 2nd Lieut . Royal

Berkshire Regiment ; E. A. B a r l o w (1906-10), 2nd

L ieut . , 9 t h Batt . K i n g ' s O w n Royal Lancaster

Regiment.

Ernest G. Boissier (1897-8) has been awarded

the Dist inguished Service Medal , and has been

promoted to the rank of Lieut .-Commander. We

regret to report that he has been wounded. News

has j u s t arr ived that E. T o w n s o n is at the Red

Cross H o s p i t a l at Siza, but no details are at

present k n o w n .

W e p r i n t three more letters f rom Lieut . W . W .

W a r d : -

France,

Thursday, May 6th.

We have j u s t made another move and now I am

in my observation post and we are g o i n g to f ire in

about half-an-hour. 1 was j u s t h a v i n g a hot bath

at 10 p . m . last Sunday when we got orders to dis­

mount the gun at once. We started at 11 and

were finished by 4 o'clock. I started about 4 to

r o l l up our cable, of which there was 15 miles ;

we got it al l in by 4 p . m . , and then I went on and

got the bil lets ready at the new place. The g u n

moved up the same n i g h t and we d u g the p i t

that day and mounted the gun on Tuesday n i g h t ;

meanwhile I chose my observation posts and la id

cable and had every t h i n g in the observation way

ready for firing by 5 a .m. on Wednesday. I was

very pleased, as people had been saying they could

mount the g u n quick enough, but that i t was no

good h u r r y i n g as you always had to w a i t three

days before the observation posts were ready ; this

t ime we were ready 8 hours before the gun. O u r

new posit ion is only 600 yards f rom g u n 2 and we

are both firing at different targets ; this m o r n i n g

we have to fire alternately as they w a n t the Ger­

mans to t h i n k there is only one g u n here. Gun 2

has j u s t f ired and we f ire in about 20 minutes. It

is very flat r o u n d here, I am observing f rom a

house 250 yards f r o m our trenches and about 600

yards from the Germans, s i t t i n g up in the top of a

barn on masses of s t raw, l o o k i n g out t h r o u g h a

broken ti le in the roof. We have got i t wel l

sandbagged in front as the roof is absolutely

r iddled w i t h bullets , and when the at tack comes

off of course bullets w i l l be flying pret ty freely . .

. . . . Just fired; a very good shot, p l u m p in the

middle of the town. F r i d a y — W e fired again this

afternoon and I watched the gun fire f rom j u s t

behind for the f irst t ime (as my o.p. can't see this

target we were f i r i n g at) . It is absolutely astound­

i n g the blaze it makes and how it shakes the

g r o u n d ; t w o large trees j u s t in front absolutely

reeled sideways and then d o w n came a huge

shower of blossom and leaves (we are in an orch­

ard) and a cloud of dust hid the gun. I can't say

m u c h , but you can take i t that something really

b i g is c o m i n g off here and you may probably read

about it before you get this letter , as another 12

hours w i l l probably see it well under way ; you may

be able to fix my posit ion by the news. I am

g o i n g off to sleep at my o.p. t o - n i g h t and probably

shall not get back to the g u n for a couple of days.

France,

May 12th, 1913.

W e l l , we had our b i g show on Sunday, but i t was

a fai lure in our neighbourhood, t h o u g h it seems to

have gone better d o w n south towards La Bassde,

and we are now on our way d o w n there, I believe.

We got orders at 12.30 last n i g h t to move and

started d i s m o u n t i n g at one o'clock, and everything

was ready by 10 this m o r n i n g , i n c l u d i n g wires.

It has been rather funny this move, as g u n 2,

which was only 500 yards away f r o m us, had

orders to move at the same t ime and started a

l i t t l e before us, and now at 12 midday, they have

j u s t about hal f f inished d i s m o u n t i n g and have

hardly got in any of their wire. They seem

120 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

rather annoyed about i t and look as i f they did not

t h i n k it at a l l nice of us to be so quick . We

reported at 11 this m o r n i n g to the general that

everything was ready to move, and he sent back

a message to congratulate us, e n d i n g — " n o w go

and make up al l the sleep you have lost . " N o w I

must te l l you al l about the show here. There is

no doubt about it that it was meant to be a b i g

affair, as over t w o - t h i r d s of the B r i t i s h Expedi t ion­

ary Force was d o w n in the southern 10 miles of

our area, and hundreds of guns. It doesn't

matter saying a l l this as they aren't here now.

The scheme was to capture t w o towns on a ridge

which runs paral lel to our trenches about t w o

miles away. They and the r idge are one of the

keys to L i l l e , as the Germans could not hold L i l l e

i f we got the r idge. We went to our observation

posts o v e r n i g h t and slept there, k n o w i n g that the

show was g o i n g to start at 5 a .m. My post is

150 yards f rom our trenches, so of course

we have to have the place we look out from

sandbagged. We had i t done a l l ready, but

decided to make it a b i t th icker , so we started

w o r k i n g at 2.30 a.m. and by 4 had everyth ing

f inished and were able to sit d o w n and w a i t u n t i l

5 o'clock. E v e r y t h i n g in the trenches was quite

quiet and you could see the German fires g o i n g for

breakfast. It was desperately e x c i t i n g as we knew

t h a t there were about 30,000 men less than a mile

behind us, spread over a f r o n t of about a mile. At

5 o'clock our g u n and g u n 2 fired, and that was

the signal for every single gun in the l ine to s tar t ;

the f ield guns and horse ar t i l l ery guns at the

trenches, and the heavier guns at the towns and

fort i f ied farms behind. I t was the most m a g n i f i ­

cent s ight , hundreds of shells b u r s t i n g every

minute over the trenches, shrapnel and h i g h

explosive, whi le every now and then there would

be a terri f ic black burst , h i d i n g everyth ing f r o m

view, of a 0/2 or 15-in. howitzer . A l l these were

b u r s t i n g w i t h i n 300 yards of us, and of course the

noise was so great that you could not hear each

other speak. I had to send my telephonist d o w n

to the cellar of the f a r m , so that he could hear on

the 'phone, and he sent up messages w r i t t e n

d o w n . I thanked my stars that I was on the

r i g h t side, and the shells were g o i n g the r i g h t

way. I once or twice saw our shells b u r s t i n g on

our o w n trenches, but I t h i n k our people had

cleared out before it started. This went on for 40

minutes and towards the end the Germans began

to reply a b i t , t h o u g h you could not hear their shells

c o m i n g for the noise. T w i c e my view was shut off

by a cloud of m u d and leaves from t w o German

5'9 shells which burst in the orchard j u s t in f ront .

At 5.40 al l our guns l i f ted and started firing at the

German trenches in rear, and then you could tell

the in fantry at tack had started by the ra t t le of

machine guns and rifles. My view on either side

was l i m i t e d , but in f r o n t I saw t w o companies of

our people, who came out about 100 yards to my

left and doubled up to our trenches, got across

them, and then turned to the r i g h t between the

trenches in order to spread out. They d i d n ' t go

very fast, a slow sort of double, some were even

w a l k i n g and they were quite bunched up together.

D i r e c t l y they were past our trenches I began to see

casualties, about every yard or t w o a man w o u l d

fa l l f o r w a r d flat and I saw some s i t t i n g up who

were wounded. After they had gone about 50

yards to the r i g h t they came to a hedge r u n n i n g

at r i g h t angles to the trenches w h i c h had obviously

been barb-wired and they were held up for a

minute and machine guns must have opened on

them as they began to fa l l al l over the place, one

on top of the other, but they soon got t h r o u g h

and went on and I lost s ight of t h e m . Then it

began to get too hot for me as bullets were c o m i n g

t h r o u g h the roof and h i t t i n g the sandbags, so I

g o t d o w n from my loophole, somewhat hastened

by a bul let w h i c h sang t h r o u g h rather near me

and made me duck so hurr iedly that I ripped my

coat on a nai l The next day I counted over 50

bodies in f r o n t of the hedge w i t h i n 200 yards of

me. The end of i t a l l was that our in fantry ad­

vanced r i g h t up to F s but got t e r r i b l y cut

up by the machine guns the whole way, some

battal ions being absolutely wiped out , and t h o u g h

they g o t i n t o the t o w n they were too weak to hold

on and were absolutely pushed back to their own

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

trenches again, where they now remain, and that

our o w n casualties have been at least t w o to the

German one. One rather horr ib le t h i n g was that

there were very few wounded b r o u g h t i n , as they

al l fell behind the l ine which the Germans hold

now, so Heaven knows what has become of them.

O u r casualties in this p a r t must be wel l over 6,ooo.

At about 7.30 we stopped f i r i n g at the f irst target ,

after 12 rounds, and I had orders to go off to our

other observation post to observe on a different

target , so I had to make my way back j u s t as the

enemy was s t a r t i n g to shell our reserves and the

the roads, b u t by keeping to the fields, we l l away

f r o m the roads I g o t back safely. On the way

back I picked up the fuze of one of our o w n

shrapnel which had burst about 100 yards behind

my post.

We fired another six rounds s t r a i g h t away a

our new target , and then wai ted about and at 11

a.m. had orders to fire t w o rounds at a cross road

and then report. We got t w o hits on the cross

road and reported them by five minutes past n>

and the general sent a c o n g r a t u l a t o r y message on

the speed and accuracy of our fire. We can n o w

fire at the rate of 20 rounds an hour, and when we

first came out here we could only fire four, and

the other guns now can only f ire eight. It is a l l

due to Boffey who is back w i t h us again , and w i l l

probably stay as l o n g as we have much m o v i n g

about to do. We are g o i n g south t o - n i g h t about

six miles as we d i d b o t h times before. N o w we

only need to go up about 2 miles n o r t h of Yyres to

have covered the whole f r o n t of the E n g l i s h A r m y .

I must stop now and you w o n ' t hear for 4 or 5

days if we get very busy. I got another lovely

parcel yesterday, t h a n k you so much for i t .

Wednesday, May 25th.

I have had the last t w o days off, which I was

not sorry for, and now there is pract ical ly n o t h i n g

to do b u t collect reports f r o m the line patrols . I

wonder i f you have found out where my observa­

t i o n post is f r o m my descript ion ? O u r t w o posts

are at the t w o places w h i c h are mentioned most

by " E y e w i t n e s s " in his accounts of the opera­

tions n o r t h of La Bassee ; mine is F • . I

am not at al l sorry not to have to go up there

aga in , as the last t ime I was up there they gave

it such a h o r r i d shel l ing, t w o batteries f i r i n g at

i t for six hours, about four rounds every t w o

minutes . It is the f irst t ime they have really

bombarded it for three months , and most of the

rounds fell in the v i l lage behind us, but we had

one r i g h t into the house, which knocked us a l l

d o w n , and smashed one of our telephones, t h o u g h

i t only blew out part of the back w a l l and d i d not

h u r t anyone. I t came t h r o u g h the roof, and was

the first one I have been really near t o . It was a

h o r r i d feeling to hear it c o m i n g nearer, and then

not to stop some distance away from one, but to

come r i g h t on u n t i l the sort of whizz ing sound

changes to a r u s h i n g noise. The burst knocked

us absolutely flat ; I had my back to it and so

was knocked on my face, b u t my t w o men were

facing it and one cut his head a b i t against the

w a l l , and we lay w a i t i n g for the bits and to see

how much of the house was g o i n g to fa l l d o w n .

We cleared out to our dug-out in the garden after

t h a t — i t was really only a chance shot that h i t our

p lace—and listened to the rest of i t quite comfort­

ably. O u r relief was three hours late that m o r n i n g ,

as they could not get t h r o u g h the vi l lage The

effect of the bombardment to me was to make me

fearfully sleepy. I went home and slept for the

rest of the day w i t h o u t w i n k i n g .

We are b e g i n n i n g to get plenty of a m m u n i t i o n ,

but they are g e t t i n g a b i t more charry of us ing it

except on something b i g . Gun 4, near here, has,

we t h i n k , been spotted by the Germans, as they

have had several smal l shells over, and t w o days

ago they had t w o 11 inch shells in the field they

are i n — o n e burst some way off, and the other was

a b l i n d and fell only t w o yards f rom their bil let .

They really deserve i t , as the g u n is very badly

concealed, and they always seem to have it

uncovered.

122 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

The letter fol lowing' , w r i t t e n by a member of

the Austra l ian Expedi t ionary Force, who is not

an O . B . , has been received : —

Here am I t r a v e l l i n g first-class on the R. M.S .

" Royal George, 1 ' on my way to M a l t a , where I

expect to be put into hospi ta l . D o n ' t w o r r y , as

my w o u n d is a s l ight flesh one in the t h i g h , caused

by the bul let of a T u r k who managed to h i t me

on Sunday afternoon, May 9 t h , whi ls t I was in

the trenches. I went to the dressing stat ion in

the evening, and f r o m there was sent to the Base

Field H o s p i t a l , slept the n i g h t there and the next

m o r n i n g was p u t on board this boat, together w i t h

700 other wounded, to be taken to Alexandria .

At t h a t p o r t , however, there was only room for

the serious cases, the hospitals be ing nearly f u l l , so

the rest of us are being taken on to M a l t a . I am

sending this letter on to E n g l a n d by the boat to

be posted as soon as it touches p o r t , so you o u g h t

to get it about the end of the m o n t h .

1 w r o t e a letter to you just before leaving Cairo,

w h i c h I expect you have received. Since then, I

have been t h r o u g h some most e x c i t i n g times.

After leav ing E g y p t we did not go s t r a i g h t to the

Dardanelles, but were anchored off the Is land of

L i m n o s for some days, where we had n o t h i n g to

do b u t grumble . On A p r i l 24th, we left L imnos

in the m o r n i n g and arr ived off the Peninsula of

Gal l ipo l i in the early hours of Sunday m o r n i n g ,

A p r i l 25th. I . was in the first boat to leave the

the ship, and we were met w i t h a very w a r m

reception in the shape of fire from the T u r k s , who

were s t r o n g l y entrenched in the heights overlook-

the beach. F r o m that t i m e , u n t i l I was wounded,

that is to say, for fifteen days I was in the t h i c k of

i t , but I am not g o i n g to t r y to describe a l l t h a t

happened. No doubt you have seen the accounts

in the papers of the doings of the Austra l ians in |

the Dardanelles C a m p a i g n , and that w i l l have

g iven you a better idea of what happened than

ever I could give you.

The l a n d i n g we made, under heavy f ire, was

about the most t r y i n g bapt ism of fire that any

troops could undergo. In my boat there were j

th i r ty- f ive men, and only eleven of us succeeded

in g e t t i n g ashore unhit . Once established in

trenches one was fa ir ly safe, and the life, a l t h o u g h

hard, was healthy, and up to the t ime of being h i t

I was feeling very fit indeed, w i t h a tremendous

appetite ; even now the appetite remains, and,

except for the discomfort of the w o u n d , I feel very

well indeed. The Austral ians have lost very

heavi ly ; my bat ta l ion , the 7 t h , after l a n d i n g , could

muster only about 500, i n c l u d i n g f ifty reinforce­

ments who jo ined us t w o or three days after the

l a n d i n g , out of 1,000. On the Saturday before I

was h i t we made an advance of 700 yards under

heavy rifle and shrapnel fire, so I expect there

are s t i l l less of us now.

I expect by the t ime you get this letter that the

w o r s t of the f ight ing in the Dardanelles w i l l a l l

be over, in fact, i t is possible that the T u r k s w i l l

have t h r o w n up the sponge by that t ime.

They seem to be brave enough, but that is

probably due to the presence of German officers.

They do not observe any of the rules of warfare ;

they do not object to us ing the w h i t e flag to get us

out into the open, and they seem to del ight in

shoot ing at our stretcher bearers and Red Cross

men. They are wel l armed, and must have plenty

of a m m u n i t i o n , j u d g i n g from the tremendous

amount they waste. Every n i g h t they kept up a

terrif ic fire on our trenches which did us very l i t t l e

h a r m , their object being to prevent us m a k i n g

any advance in the dark.

U n t i l I was wounded and had a chance to rest

I d i d not realise how hard I had been w o r k i n g .

Since I have been on board this boat I have done

n o t h i n g but sleep and eat, and s t i l l I don' t get

enough. I t i s g lor ious to go to bed k n o w i n g t h a t

one can sleep for hours w i t h o u t any fear of being

roused up to go on g u a r d , or take one's t u r n at

" look-out " in the trenches.

I have been w o n d e r i n g if D- is s t i l l at M a l t a ;

I don' t t h i n k he is, as I heard that the Fusi l iers

have taken the place on the Canal of some troops

who jo ined us in the Dardanelles.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 123

I w i l l w r i t e again later on, t e l l i n g you h o w

t h i n g s are g o i n g w i t h me. Y o u had better con­

t i n u e addressing letters to me in the old way ; I

m i g h t get them some t i m e or other

To r e t u r n to the subject of the w a r — e v e r since

we landed we have had remarkably good weather,

b r i g h t , w a r m days, w i t h cold n ights , but no rain

w o r t h speaking of, for w h i c h we have al l been

v e r y t h a n k f u l .

O u r food supplies were wel l kept up, so t h a t

there was never any serious shortage of food,

•which consisted chiefly of B u l l y beef and biscuits,

also tea, which was issued to each man who had to

get his o w n water (of w h i c h there was p l e n t y ) , and

b o i l it himself. Bacon was issued occasionally ;

t h i s also had to be cooked, and I was becoming

quite expert in c o o k i n g i t .

N A T U R A L I S T S O C I E T Y .

L E S T E R - S M I T H and C. G. M a r t i n have been

the most active in the botanical section. The

f o l l o w i n g f lowers have been found d u r i n g the last

m o n t h : — E u r y s i m u m orientale, orchis mascula,

orchis maculata, saxifraga g r a n u l a t a , ranuncu­

lus aquat i l is , ranunculus ficaria, ranunculus

parvi f lorus, w i t h hooked tubercules on its

achenes ; caltha palustr is , chel idonium maius,

fumaria officinalis, capsella bursa-pastoris, car-

damine pratensis, n a s t u r t i u m officinale, sisym-

b i u m o, s isymbium al l iar ia , sinapsis arvensis,

A specimen t h o u g h t to be " Arabis s t r i c t a , "

was submitted by M r . W. Lester-Smith, o f

O x f o r d , to the great county botanist , M r .

Claridge Druce (for this year president of the

Ashmolean Society), w h o pronounced it to be \

a garden escape, the w i l d form of this arabis

being u n k n o w n about here. V i o l a t r i co lor ,

geranium molle, geranium r o b e r t i a n u m , ilex ;

europeus, heracleum s p o n d y l i u m , g a l i u m m o l -

ugo, g a l i u m aparine, g a l i u m v e r u m , g a l i u m

saxatile, taraxacum officinale, t ragopodon pra­

tensis, senecio vu lgar is , senecio jacoboea, bellis

perennis, veronica chamoedis, mentha arvensis,

ajuga reptans, l a m i u m a l b u m , nepeta g lechoma,

myosotis palustr is , p r i m u l a v u l g a r i s , p r i m u l a veris,

urt ica dioica, scilla nutans, a r u m m a c u l a t u m ,

sinapsis alba, g a l i u m ul ignosum (water-bed

straw).

The f o l l o w i n g are some of the objects that have

been mounted for the demonstrat ion microscope

(a direct v iew ins trument) :—Feathers on scales

of (aJ South A f r i c a n , (b) Madagascan b u t t e r ­

f l ies , provided by G. V. H o r d e r n ; s t i n g of net t le ,

and bee ; pollen of t u l i p , l i l y , etc.; hairs f r o m

t a i l o f caterpi l lar , s h o w i n g m i n u t e hooks, o f f r o m

3,000th to 5 ,000th inch in diameter ; w i n g s and

antennae of aphis and ephemeris, etc. The great

difference in diameter in h u m a n hairs , also was

unexpected and interest ing. Samples of blood

cells, and the movements of freshly d r a w n blood

were watched w i t h interest. T h e microscope

magnifies 200 diameters.

Z O O L O G I C A L S E C T I O N .

A certain a m o u n t of interest ing w o r k has

already been done in the way of practical

zoology, under the superintendence of Messrs.

Blanshard and Burgess. A f r o g was captured

one day, and after i l l u s t r a t i n g the tenacity of life

which characterises the lower animals , was

pinned out on wax, and dissected under water.

T h e various muscles, nerves, blood vessels,

together w i t h the chief internal organs of diges­

t i o n and c i rculat ion were exhibited. A fur ther

dissection was carried out in the case of a grass

snake, b u t the post mortem age of the subject

rendered detailed invest igat ion somewhat dif f icult .

124 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

A more successful matter was the capture, k i l l i n g

and preserving in spir i ts of another grass snake,

which was carr ied out by W a l d e n , Lester-Smith ,

and Col l inson. T h i s is a fine specimen, and is

be ing taken care of, so as to form the nucleus of

a collection. Meanwhi le , members are reminded

that the Master 's house cannot be used for the

storage of w i l d beasts, whether alive or dead ;

and that collectors must make their o w n arrange­

ments for k i l l i n g or keeping l ive specimens before

they go f o r t h to the chase.

C. E. B.

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S .

W e beg t o a c k n o w l e d g e w i t h t h a n k s the receipt o f the following c o n ­

t e m p o r a r i e s :—The Cuthbertian, The Hurst Johnian, The Lancing

College Magazine, St. Edward's School Chronicle, The Pauline.

" T H E B L O X H A M I S T " i s published ( n o r m a l l y ) 1 0 m o n t h s i n the y e a r : n o J a n u a r y o r S e p t e m b e r N u m b e r s a r e published.

C o n t r i b u t i o n s for the J u l y N u m b e r s h o u l d be sent to the E d i t o r before

J u l y i s t . 1915, writ ten on one side of the p a p e r only.

The Annual Subscription is 5 s . post free. M e m b e r s of the O l d

B l o x h a m i s t S o c i e t y a r e supplied w i t h copies. T h e S e c r e t a r y i s the R e v .

H . R . W l L U M O i T , t o w h o m m e m b e r s s h o u l d send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s .

O t h e r s u b s c r i b e r s t o T H E B L O X H A M I S T should send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s

t o C . J . W I L S O N . E s q .

P r i n t e d for A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L , B l o x h a m , b y C H E N E Y & S O N S .

" R a i l w a y G u i d e " Office, C a l t h o r p e S t r e e t , B a n b u r y .

X L I . J U L Y , 1915. N o . 373 V O L .

C O N T E N T S . P A G E

E D I T O R I A L 125

S C H O O L N E W S 126

O . B . N E W S 126

O B I T U A R Y . . 126

C R I C K E T . . 127

O . T . C 131

T H E W A R 132

C H O I R H O L I D A Y 136

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S 136

E D I T O R I A L .

BY the t ime this number of T H E B L O X H A M I S T

reaches the hands of our readers we shall

have dispersed for the holidays. It seems to be

the general feeling t h a t i t w i l l be wel l to get away

as soon as possible after the O x f o r d Local E x a m ­

inations are over. Inc identa l ly we hope t h a t al l

concerned in that annual ordeal w i l l acquit them­

selves creditably and do their u t m o s t to mainta in

the h i g h standard which we have attained in

recent years.

In most respects this summer term has been

a very enjoyable one in spite of an unusual

amount of sickness. The weather has been

de l ight fu l , and w h a t has been lost in the way of

cr icket matches w i t h other schools and teams

f r o m outside has been made up for in other ways.

The mention of cr icket br ings a matter to our

m i n d about w h i c h we venture to express our

opinion. There always seems to be a much

greater interest taken in the D o r m i t o r y M a t c h

than in any other match. In past years we have

frequently noted that the D o r m i t o r y M a t c h has

been postponed because So-and-so is unable to

play or for some other reason, and the rest of

the School always seem to show greater enthu­

siasm on the occasion of these matches. Surely

this manifests a lack of esprit de corps. We do

not w i s h to see the D o r m i t o r y M a t c h relegated

to a posi t ion of insignificance, b u t the School

matches should be regarded in their proper l i g h t

and greater keenness taken in the achievements

of the School's representatives. We are f i r m

believers in the influence made on the players by

the plaudits of the onlookers.

It was a real pleasure to welcome the a r r i v a l

back amongst us of Col.-Sergt. Gr inter , after his

l o n g absence. T h o u g h considerably better t h a n

he was when he went away, he is not quite his

former self, and is only able to do a p o r t i o n of

his duties. We hope he w i l l regain his health

entirely d u r i n g the holidays, and be able to

resume his f u l l w o r k in September.

We should be l a c k i n g in generosity i f we failed

to express our sympathy w i t h M r . and M r s .

Solomon Ayres and their fami ly in their present

bereavement. T h e i r son, H a r r y , w h o a short

t ime ago was also a servant at the School, was

badly wounded in France early in July , and died

a few days later in hospital at N o r w i c h . H i s

body was b r o u g h t to B l o x h a m for b u r i a l , and the

School is grateful to have been al lowed to furnish

the f ir ing party and buglers to pay the last m i l i ­

t a r y honours.

126 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

One other matter demands our a t tent ion here.

The end of the summer t e r m always br ings a

certain amount o f regrets w i t h i t . W e begin t o

realize that faces, for some years fami l iar a m o n g

us, w i l l be sought for in vain when we re-assemble

in the a u t u m n . B u t this year we are b i d d i n g

farewell to t w o members of the staff, M r . Chi ld

and M r . A l l e n , whose places i t w i l l be hard to

fill. T h e i r absence may, perhaps, be only t e m ­

porary (we hope so !) , but nevertheless we shall

feel i t very m u c h . B o t h are g o i n g to do m i l i t a r y

w o r k . W e feel assured that they w i l l carry w i t h

them the best wishes of us a l l , and deep g r a t i t u d e

for the many w o r k s they have perfected here.

S C H O O L N E W S .

T H E f o l l o w i n g new boys have come d u r i n g the

t e r m : — H . E . D e w a r , B . L . I n g h a m , E . F .

W y k e h a m - M a r t i n .

W . C. L E S T E R - S M I T H and H . R. W a l d e n have

left to take up commissions in the army.

T H E Rev. G. H . B O W N , Pr incipal of St.

Stephen's House, O x f o r d , preached here on Sun­

day, Ju ly i i t h .

F I R S T X I . colours have been g iven to R. C.

S i d n e y - W i l m o t , R. A. G. Ravenor, H. R. W a l d e n ,

R . W . C o m p t o n - H a l l , W . G . R o w l a n d .

T H E A N N U A L F E S T I V A L o f the N o r t h O x f o r d ­

shire D i s t r i c t of the E n g l i s h Church U n i o n was

held here on Saturday, Ju ly i o t h . A large n u m ­

ber of v is i tors attended. T h e proceedings began

w i t h the solemn offering of the H o l y Eucharist at

11.45, after w h i c h the Rev. D r . D a r w e l l Stone,

P r i n c i p a l L i b r a r i a n of Pusey House, O x f o r d ,

preached. The v is i tors had luncheon in the H a l l ,

and in the afternoon there was a meet ing in the

Schoolroom, a t w h i c h M r . H . W . H i l l , Secretary

of the U n i o n , was the chief speaker.

F O U N D E R ' S D A Y was d u l y observed on Ju ly 14th,

be ing M r . Egerton's b i r t h d a y . T h e School

assembled in Chapel at 9 a .m. for the Commem­

orat ion of the Founder and H o l y Eucharist .

T h e rest of the m o r n i n g was occupied in various

ways, and at noon began a cr icket match against

B l o x h a m vil lage. The day closed w i t h Solemn

Evensong and Te D e u m , according to custom.

O N Saturday, J u l y 17th, w e again offered the

H o l y Eucharis t w i t h special i n t e n t i o n for the

souls of our soldiers and sailors w h o have fallen

in the war. On this occasion we had to number

a m o n g them f ive O l d Bloxhamists . The Officers,

N.C.O. ' s and Cadets of the O.T.C. attended in

u n i f o r m , some of them f o r m i n g a special choir

for the occasion. As usual , the service was sung

to the ancient p la insong, the only new feature

being the proper sequence, Dies irae, w h i c h was

sung after the Epist le . At the conclusion of the

Requiem the " L a s t p o s t " was sounded by a

bugler f r o m the organ loft.

O.B. N E W S . T H E f o l l o w i n g O l d B loxhamists have recently

visited the School : — T h e Rev. R. A. E. H a r r i s (1902-5), June 1 8 ; T . W. Bennett (1904-11), June 19 ; J. D. L o u n d (1909-13), June 26-27 > R. J. G. Read (1866-70), P. E. Read (1910-12), A. B. W i l l i a m s (1913-15), J u l y 9-12 ; E. P. H ' g g s (1909-14), July 13-15 ; T. Coleman (1876-8), J u l y 14.

R. W . P E A R S E (1913-15) has become a member

of the O.B. Society.

We hesitated to insert the above in our previous

number, as some doubt existed as to whether

Cunliffe had fallen in an act ion w h i c h t o o k place

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 127

early in May. N o w , however, there seems to be

no reason to suppose that it was otherwise. H i s

superior officer has w r i t t e n to his parents as

fol lows : —

" T h e machine g u n and shrapnel f i re was very heavy j u s t then, and I am afraid there is very l i t t l e doubt your son was k i l led that day. Capt. N u g e n t , who commanded your son's company, last saw h i m when he started over our o w n breastwork, and I can find no one who saw h i m afterwards. He must have advanced at the head of his platoon part of the way to the German trench and have been ki l led there. Y o u r son fell l ike many other officers of the brigade, g a l l a n t l y leading his men against the enemy. O n l y four out of twenty-four officers surv ived ."

R. E. Cunliffe was at school 1906-9, and on

leaving went into business in L o n d o n . He joined

the Queen's Westminsters about three years ago.

He went to the f r o n t w i t h his bat ta l ion about

Christmas, and after three months in the trenches

was given a commission in the 2nd B a t t . Royal

Berkshire Regiment. L o o k i n g back to the t ime

when he was here, we have pleasant recollections

of a cheerful boy always ready to enter into any

fun that m i g h t be g o i n g on, b u t always capable

of discerning in a moment a n y t h i n g t h a t was

w r o n g , and shunning i t . We can f ind no better

words in which to express his character than

those used by one who knew him well : — " He

had the m a k i n g of a fine fellow, and was a great

favourite w i t h al l of us. He died in service, and

I believe he served his generation as wel l as his

k i n g , and t h a t very humbly he sought to serve

the K i n g o f k i n g s . "

The f o l l o w i n g br ief account of the death of

R. V. Rylands, in G a l l i p o l i , which we announced

last m o n t h , has reached us. A fellow officer

wri tes : —

" He was taken f rom my company and attached

to B, and it was when my company and B were

ordered out on a certain n i g h t , b r i l l i a n t l y l i t by a

fu l l moon , to do an advance, that he was k i l l e d ,

and many others w i t h h i m . He was wounded in

the shoulder, b u t refused to go back, and went on

to the posit ion chosen, where he received a second

w o u n d , w h i c h proved f a t a l . "

We are asked to publ ish the f o l l o w i n g :— T a d m a r t o n Rectory,

Banbury ,

June 24th, 1915. Dear M r . E d i t o r ,

" A l t h o u g h the next issue of T H E B L O X H A M I S T

is not due for nearly a m o n t h , I should not l ike to

wai t t i l l then to ask you to convey, t h r o u g h its

pages, to al l members of the School, masters and

boys, both past and present, w h o m circumstances

have at any t i m e , and in any way, b r o u g h t into

touch w i t h my late dear son F r a n k and ourselves,

how very deeply we, his father, brothers and

sisters, appreciate the sympathetic message con­

tained in the latter part of the ' In M e m o r i a m '

notice of h i m which appeared in the June number

of your magazine.

" I feel happy to t h i n k that the summary of his

character there given is s imply and absolutely

true , and I can add my o w n emphatic test imony

that he always d i d his very best.

" T h a t this is said f rom no paternal prejudice in

his favour is, I t h i n k , made plain by the words of

one under whose command he served. — ' He

found no d u t y too much for h i m , and his one idea

was to help. ' I t rust and believe that the memory

of his b r i g h t example w i l l be a power for good in

the School for many a l o n g year to come."

Believe me, dear M r . E d i t o r ,

Yours very fa i thfu l ly ,

A R T H U R E . R I D D L E .

C R I C K E T .

A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L V . A D D E R B U R Y C.C.

' j ^ H I S was an exceedingly close match , and

was played on June 19th. A d d e r b u r y w o n

the toss and batted first. O u t of a t o t a l of 79,

M r . Cholmondeley made 46 and w o n the match.

We could not t u r n out our best team, but even

then, on a b a t t i n g wicket , we should have been

able to make up the score. O n l y three men

reached double f igures. We lost by seven runs.

128 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

A D D E R B U R Y .

R e v . C . F . C h o l m o n d e l y , b W i l m o t 4 6

H . B r y a n t , b R . R a v e n o r 4

R . H . J o n e s , b D . C a i n 9

C . E . B r y a n t , c C a i n , b W i l m o t 3

R . A . B e a s l e y , b R . R a v e n o r 2

J . B u t l e r , b R . R a v e n o r o

H . J o n e s , not out 5

H . F a l k n e r , b W i l m o t 2

F . E . J o h n s t o n e , c H i l l , b W i l m o t o

E. W o o d f i e l d , b W i l m o t o

E. H a l l , c S m i t h , b W i l m o t o

E x t r a s 8

T o t a l 7 9

B O W L I N G A N A L Y S I S .

O v e r s . M ' d n s . R u n s . W ' k t s . A v e r . C a i n 13 2 36 1 36 R. R a v e n o r 14 5 23 3 7.6 W i l m o t 9 4 12 6 2

B L O X H A M S C H O O L .

D . S . C o l e m a n , b C . C . B r y a n t 1

R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t , b E . Woodfield 1 7

H . R . W a l d e n , b E . H a l l 8

R . A . G . R a v e n o r , c F a l k n e r , b E . H a l l 1

D . W . T . C a i n , c B u t l e r , b E . W o o d f i e l d 1 3

R . W . C o m p t o n - H a l l , c a n d b H . B r y a n t 1 5

W . E . H i l l , c R . H . J o n e s , b H . B r y a n t 5

R . A . G . R a v e n o r , b E . H a l l 5

W . C . L e s t e r S m i t h , b H . B r y a n t o

W . H . H i g g s , not out 1

C . A . F a r e b r o t h e r , b E . H a l l o

E x t r a s 6

T o t a l 7 2

A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L V . A D D E R B U R Y , C.C.

The r e t u r n match was played on June 26th. Bonnewell signalised his r e t u r n to the team by m a k i n g a useful score, but Hal l ' s b o w l i n g was too good for the rest of the team. Coleman fielded b r i l l i a n t l y in this match .

B L O X H A M .

R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t , b C . C . B r y a n t 9

D . S . C o l e m a n , b E . H a l l 4 R . A . G . R a v e n o r , c R e v . C . F . C h o l m o n d e l y ,

b E. H a l l 11 D . W . T . C a i n , c R e v . C . F . C h o l m o n d e l y ,

b E . H a l l 4 H . S . B o n n e w e l l , c R . H . J o n e s , b H . H . J o n e s 2 9 R . W . C o m p t o n - H a l l , c F a l k n e r , b E . H a l l ... 1 4 H . R . W a l d e n , c C . C . B r y a n t , b E . H a l l o W . E . H i l l , c C . C . B r y a n t , b E . H a l l o W . C . L e s t e r S m i t h , not out 7 W . G . R o w l a n d , b E . H a l l 1 W . H i g g s , b E . H a l l o

E x t r a s 5

83

A D D E R B U R Y .

C . C . B r y a n t , c L e s t e r S m i t h , b S i d n e y - W i l m o t 33 H . B r y a n t , b C a i n o

R . H . J o n e s , c C o l e m a n , b C a i n 8

R e v . C . F . C h o l m o n d e l y , l.b.vv., b C a i n 3

H . R . J o n e s , b B o n n e w e l l o

J . B u t l e r , b C a i n 5 7

R. A. B e a s l e y , b B o n n e w e l l 16

H. F a l k n e r , c C o m p t o n - H a l l , b B o n n e w e l l ... 13

N . J . G . R a v e n o r , b R o w l a n d 1

F. J o h n s t o n e , b B o n n e w e l l 3

E . H a l l , not out o

E x t r a s 6

140 B O W L I N G A N A L Y S I S .

A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L V . W A R W I C K S C H O O L .

O N July 3rd w e visited W a r w i c k School, and won our only School match by seven wickets.

W A R W I C K .

A. T. Duffield, c R o w l a n d , b C a i n 8 P e e r s , c S m i t h , b B o n n e w e l l o

Duffield i i , b B o n n e w c l l o

E . W . P y n e , b C a i n 2 7

K . R . S c a r r , b C a i n 7

R . J . F a r m e r , b C a i n 2 1

S m i t h i, c R a v e n o r , R . , b B o n n e w e l l 8

B a r k e r i , b C a i n o

M c C a r t n e y , b C a i n 2

L o v e i, not out 8

L o v e i i , b B o n n e w e l l 4

E x t r a 16

T o t a l 101

B O W L I N G A V E R A G E . O v e r s . M ' d n s . R u n s . W ' k t s . A v e r a g e .

B o n n e w e l l 12 1 33 4 8'2 C a i n 13 4 37 6 6.2 S i d n e y - W i l m o t ... 2 o 15 o

B L O X H A M .

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 129

A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L V . H E Y T H R O P H U N T C.C-

T H I S match was played at K i n g h a m on July 7 th ,

and resulted in a w i n for our opponents by 30 runs.

The game was quite spoilt by rain. The condit ion

of the g r o u n d accounted for the low scoring.

B L O X H A M .

D. S. C o l e m a n , c L o u c h , b H o l b r o o k e 3

R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t , r u n out 6

R . W . C o m p t o n - H a l l , b L o u c h 5

D . W . T . C a i n , b L o u c h o

H. S. B o n n e w e l l , c a n d b H o l b r o o k e ... 8

R . A . G . R a v e n o r , b E c h a l a z 8

R. M. C o o m b e s , st B a b e r , b H o l b r o o k e o

N . J . G . R a v e n o r , b E c h a l a z 2

W . C . L e s t e r S m i t h , not out 6

W . G . R o w l a n d , b E c h a l a z o

W. H i g g s , c B a b e r , b H o l b r o o k e o

E x t r a s 1

T o t a l 3 9

H E Y T R O P H U N T C . C .

T. F r e e r - M e a d e , c S m i t h , b B o n n e w e l l 10

R e v . H . B i l s b o r o w , b C a i n 1

J . H . E c h a l a z , c R a v e n o r , N . , b B o n n e w e l l 2 1

J . L o u c h , c C o l e m a n , b C a i n o

E . R . S a l i s b u r y , b B o n n e w e l l 2

R e v . H . W . B . H o l b r o o k e ,

c C a i n , b S i d n e y - W i l m o t 9

F . H . S i t w e l l , b B o n n e w e l l o

R e v . E . F r e e m a n , b B o n n e w e l l 7

J . W . H u g h e s , c B o n n e w e l l , b S i d n e y - W i l m o t . . . 2

F . B a b e r , not out o

E x t r a s 17

T o t a l .. 69

B O W L I N G A V E R A G E .

O v e r s . M ' d n s . R u n s . W ' k e t s . A v e r a g e .

B o n n e w e l l 13 1 26 5 5*2

C a i n 8 1 20 2 i o ' o

S i d n e y - W i l m o t 5 1 8 2 4/0

A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L V . B L O X H A M C.C.

On Founder's Day we played the vi l lage. We

opened badly by los ing our f irst three wickets

very quick ly , but Bonnewell and the t w o Ravenors

raised the score to nearly 200. The first played a

really good i n n i n g s , and the others backed h i m

up well . F o r the vis i tors , Perry and M a l l e t t

looked as if they were g o i n g to make the game

close, but after their stand, the game quick ly

came to an end.

B L O X H A M S C H O O L .

D . S . C o l e m a n , c T u s t a i n , b W . P o u l t o n 5

R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t , c M a l l e t t , b F . N e a l e 1 2

R . W . C o m p t o n - H a l l , b G . N e a l e 1

D . W . T . C a i n , c G . P o u l t o n , b W . P o u l t o n ... 2

H . S . B o n n e w e l l , b T u s t a i n 6 2

R . A . G . R a v e n o r , c B r i d g e s , b M a l l e t t 3 8

N . J . G . R a v e n o r , not out 3 9

W . G . R o w l a n d , l b w , b W . B o u l t o n o

W . E . H i l l , b W . P o u l t o n 1 2

R. M. C o o m b e s , not out o

E x t r a s 3 5

( 8 w i c k e t s d e c l a r e d ) T o t a l 206

C . H T u c k e r d i d not bat .

B L O X H A M C . C .

S. T u s t a i n , c C o l e m a n , b B o n n e w e l l 4

G . N e a l e , b C a i n 1 6

A . P e r r y , b C a i n 3 5

G. B r i d g e s , b B o n n e w e l l 1

W. M a l l e t t , c N. R a v e n o r , b B o n n e w e l l 16

W. P o u l t o n , c C a i n , b B o n n e w e l l 8

F. N e a l e , c R o w l a n d , b C a i n 6

S. P e t t i p h e r , not out 2

E. H e a t h , c R o w l a n d , b B o n n e w e l l 1

G. P o u l t o n , b B o n n e w e l l o

B. H e a t h , c W i l m o t , b B o n n e w e l l o

E x t r a s 10

T o t a l 9 9

B O W L I N G A N A L Y S I S .

O v e r s . M ' d n s . R u n s . W ' k t s A v e r a g e

H. B o n n e w e l l 14 4 41 7 5-8

D. W. T . C a i n 12 2 39 3 13

R. A. G. R a v e n o r . . . 2 — 9 — —

C R I C K E T C H A R A C T E R S , 1915.

H. S. Bonnewell ( c a p t a i n ) . — A s captain has

been a success. He set a good example to his

men by his keenness and readiness. He is a

powerful bat, and more than once saved the day

by careful play and hard h i t t i n g . He is a good

fast bowler and a clean fielder.

D. W. T. Cain (v ice-capta in) .—Is a batsman

w i t h a good style and several fine strokes. He is

a useful left-hand bowler and a very sure catch.

He w o r k e d hard and ably as vice-captain d u r i n g

Bonnewell 's absence.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

D. S. Coleman.—Fields very wel l at p o i n t —

h o l d i n g some good catches. As a batsman w i t h ­

out strokes has played w e l l , generally being able

to keep his end up. A slow bowler w i t h an easy

act ion. Played wel l at W a r w i c k .

W. C. Lester Smith.—A really excellent fielder,

especially at m i d - o n , where he can catch a n y t h i n g

w i t h i n his reach. A batsman who has improved

wonderful ly since the b e g i n n i n g of the season,

now that he has learnt how to play w i t h a s t r a i g h t

bat. He hits hard at t imes.

C. T. Collinson.—A very useful bowler w i t h

fair pace, keeping a steady length and deserving all

the success w i t h w h i c h he met. A useful batsman

who can make runs ; a very safe field and catch.

H i s departure at hal f - term was a great loss to

the team, both in b a t t i n g and b o w l i n g .

R. A. G. Ravenor.—A good batsman w i t h

plenty of scoring strokes on the off, but is weak in

defence. He has deservedly played one or t w o

good innings ; his best was in the r e t u r n match

w i t h Bloxham C.C. An excellent f ie ld and catch,

and a very uselful change bowler.

R. C. Sidney-Wilmot. — A p a i n s t a k i n g and

p r o m i s i n g batsman who has i m p r o v e d tremen­

dously since the b e g i n n i n g of the season. He

now plays w i t h a s t r a i g h t bat, and has plenty of

good strokes. A bowler w i t h an easy act ion,

b u t is apt at t imes to become very short and so

gives away runs. He can catch wel l and picks up

cleanly, especially in the slips.

R. W. Compton-Hall.—Can h i t a loose ball on the

off very hard and cleanly, and has a sound defence.

Has played many good innings. Fields wel l at

square leg and has caught some really good

catches. Qui te one of the best members of the

team, and he seems to have plenty of keenness.

IV. G. Rowland.—Quite one of the best fielders

on the s i d e — s t o p p i n g pract ical ly a n y t h i n g , and is

a very safe catch. A batsman w i t h o u t strokes,

but he has however succeeded in s tay ing in. Has

l i t t l e defence, as he w i l l persist in p l a y i n g back.

W e l l w o r t h p l a y i n g for his excellent f ie ld ing . He

is always keen and w o r k s hard .

N. J. G. Ravenor.—Has not fulf i l led his last

year's promise as a w i c k e t keeper, be ing neither

able to stop balls or catch easy catches. He can

bat wel l in nets and practice games, but in matches

he fails hopelessly. Does not appear to take his

place seriously enough. Batted very well against

B l o x h a m C . C .

H. R. Walden.—A fa ir ly sound bat w i t h a ten­

dency to make very dangerous strokes on the leg.

A very smart field and safe catch.

R. M. Coombes.—Unfortunately has been away

most of the term and has therefore only played

in t w o matches. A safe field and catch, but in

b a t t i n g is very d i s a p p o i n t i n g , probably t h r o u g h

nervousness. •

First XL. Bowling Averages, 1915. \ O v e r s R u n s W i c k e t s A v e r a g e P o s i t i o n

H. S. B o n n e w e l l 70 202 22 10/18 t 1

D . W . T . C a i n 112 429 3 5 i 2 ' 2 5 2

R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t a n d R . A . G . R a v e n o r h a v e not

b o w l e d 5 0 o v e r s a n d therefore h a v e n o a v e r a g e .

First XL. Fielding Averages, igij.

H . S . B o n n e w e l l M a r k s

61

M a t c h e s p l a y e d i n

6 A v e r a g e

l O ' I

P o s i t i o n

7 D . W . T . C a i n 102 10 I O " 2 5 D . S . C o l e m a n 108 10 io-8 1 W . C . L e s t e r S m i t h - 95 9 10-5 3 N . J . G . R a v e n o r ... 89 9 9-8 11

C . T . C o l l i n s o n ... 50 5 10 10

R . A . G . R a v e n o r 101 10 I O ' I 7 R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t 102 10 I O ' 2 5 H . R . W a l d e n 81 8 I O ' I 7 R . W . C o m p t o n - H a l l 93 9 10-3 4 W . G . R o w l a n d .. 86 8 i o - 6 2

6 9 12

T H E B L O X H A M I S T

The cricket season on the whole has been

satisfactory, and if condit ions had been

more fortunate , the School should have had a

really good eleven. W i t h a fair number of last

year's co lourmen, and w i t h some p r o m i s i n g

materia l to pick f r o m , we should have acquitted

ourselves very creditably against other schools.

The chief feature of the eleven was one which

ought to be very common, but is not. The

general improvement of the i n d i v i d u a l members

of the team. The b a t t i n g a l l r o u n d was more

styl ish and more effective. Bonnewel l and Cain

set an example of hard play and good cricket.

R. Ravenor has the best style amongst the

younger members of the team, w h i l s t both

S i d n e y - W i l m o t and C o m p t o n - H a l l showed that

they had al l the m a k i n g s of good cricketers. The

b o w l i n g of the team was moderate. The eleven

lacked a slow bowler. This lack was apparent

both in at tack and defence. The team had not

experience of i t and fell early v ic t ims to D r .

H o l b r o o k , o f the H e y t h r o p H u n t . The f i e l d i n g

on the whole was very good and clean. This is a

department of the game in w h i c h a Public School

should excel, and a really good fielder is w o r t h

his place in any team. This is a p o i n t w h i c h

m i g h t be taken to heart by some of the younger

members of the School, and by the candidates for

a possible second eleven.

The g r o u n d has been wel l kept by Goldby, who

has done good service in the nets.

O . T . C . N O T E S .

THE A n n u a l Inspection of the cont ingent was

carried out by Major Pearson, O x f o r d and

Bucks L . I . , on June 21st.

The Inspect ing Officer appeared to be quite satis­

fied w i t h everything he saw, and was especially

compl imentary in his remarks w i t h reference to

sa lut ing by cadets when off parade. (Cadets,

w h o , when in u n i f o r m f ind i t necessary to remove

their caps in order to adjust the chin-strap or for

some other purpose whenever an officer approaches

—please m a r k the last sentence w i t h r e d - i n k ) .

The f o l l o w i n g is an extract f r o m " Remarks on

the state of efficiency of the c o n t i n g e n t . "

W a r Office,

L o n d o n , S . W . ,

29th June, 7 9 / 5 . D R I L L . — T h e platoon (of four sections) was

exercised in close order platoon d r i l l and in

extended order by Captain C h i l d , L ieut . A l l e n ,

and t w o non-commissioned officers in t u r n . The

words of command were very well g i v e n , and the

d r i l l , both in close order and in extended order

was very good.

M A N O E U V R E . — T h e manoeuvre was smart ly and

in te l l igent ly carried out. F i r e was opened on an

object at 200 yards on the r i g h t f lank, and then

concentrated on another object at 450 yards on

the left f lank. F i r e contro l was good, and words

of command rapidly passed a long the line.

D I S C I P L I N E . — D i s c i p l i n e is good. Officers and

non-commissioned officers appeared to me to

exercise effective contro l over their respective

units. S a l u t i n g is smart ly and correct ly done.

After being fallen out and dispersed the cadets

fell in again q u i c k l y on the whist le s o u n d i n g and

moved off in fours, al l q u i c k l y done w i t h o u t con­

fusion.

T U R N O U T . — S a t i s f a c t o r y .

S I G N A L L I N G . — T h i r t y non-commissioned officers

and cadets instructed in semaphore s ignal l ing .

A short message in proper f o r m was correct ly

sent t h r o u g h f r o m stations. Lieut . A l len is s ignal­

l i n g instructor .

E Q U I P M E N T . — A l l appeared in good order except

one bayonet damaged.

Cadet-Serjt. Lester S m i t h and Cadet W a l d e n

have applied for commissions in the special reserve

of officers, and hope to be gazetted to the T h i r d

B a t t a l i o n of the O x f o r d & Bucks L i g h t I n f a n t r y .

A firing p a r t y f r o m the cont ingent attended the

funeral of Pte. H. Ayres, O x f o r d & Bucks L . I . on

Ju ly 12th.

There is some t r u t h in the r u m o u r that the

officers of the cont ingent w i l l be attached to

P o r t s m o u t h Garrison for m i l i t a r y d u t y d u r i n g the

summer holidays. There are also other r u m o u r s ,

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

but apparently the fact that Cadet S e has

been appointed to the command of the B l o x h a m

Platoon has not yet become generally k n o w n .

The prizes for efficiency have been awarded to

Serjt. Coombes (Senior) and Cadet S i d n e y - W i l m o t

(Junior).

S I G N A L L I N G T E S T S . — C o n d i t i o n s and scores for

the annual s i g n a l l i n g tests are pr inted below.

Prizes are awarded as fol lows : —

Senior Test — Lce-Serjt. H i g g s (silver medal).

J u n i o r T e s t — C d t . C l a r k (silver medal).

Elementary T e s t — C d t . K i r k b y (bronze medal).

S E N I O R T E S T .

1. To read 78 letters arranged in groups of

four in 2 minutes (rate 10).

2. To send 78 letters arranged in groups of

four in 2 minutes (rate 10).

3. To read one " Service M e s s a g e " of 200

letters in 5 minutes (rate 8).

4. To send one " Service Message " of 200

letters in 5 minutes (rate 8).

5. To w r i t e one " Service M e s s a g e " and

supply the " Answers " to groups .

6. A w r i t t e n paper on A. F. C2121 and general

s ta t ion w o r k .

J U N I O R T E S T .

1. To read 78 letters arranged in groups of

four in 2\ minutes (rate 8).

2. To send 78 letters arranged in groups of

four in z\ minutes (rate 8).

3. To read one message consist ing of address

t o , text and address f r o m , c o n t a i n i n g 100 letters

in 3 minutes 20 seconds (rate 6).

4. To send one message c o n t a i n i n g address

t o , text and address f r o m , of 100 letters in 3

minutes 20 seconds (rate 6) .

E L E M E N T A R Y T E S T .

1. To read 78 letters arranged in groups of

four in 3 minutes 20 seconds (rate 6).

2. To send 78 letters arranged in groups of

four in 3 minutes 20 seconds (rate 6).

T H E W A R . WE made a mistake in our last issue r e g a r d i n g

Lieut . E. G. Boissier. He has been awarded the Dist inguished Service Cross (not Medal). The official record reads : — " Behaved w i t h g a l l a n t r y in charge of a machine gun on May 7 t h , d u r i n g operations south of Achi Baba, and effected the destruct ion of an enemy machine i r u n . "

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . '133

L ieut . -Col . H. A. R. M a y (1872-9) was mentioned

in Sir John French's dispatch published on June

22nd. He has since received the honour of

Companion of the Order of the B a t h in recog­

n i t i o n of his services.

Major R. C. W. L u k i n (1881), and Capt. D. le P.

Trench (1893-8), were also mentioned in the same

dispatch ; the former has been awarded the

D.S.O., and the latter has received the M i l i t a r y

Cross.

Lieut . W. W. W a r d (1905-6) has had a few

days' leave. He left the f ront at 7 a . m . , motored

65 miles to Boulogne, and arr ived at H i l g a y ,

N o r f o l k , at 8 p.m. the same day. We p r i n t below

some more of his interest ing letters. The fo l lowing

incident may be of interest to our readers, and

shows how b i g the howitzers are. On one occas­

ion the shell, which stands 4 f t . 6 ins. h i g h , and

cost ^ 1 0 0 , had just been put i n , when the serjeant

in charge suddenly remembered that he had for­

gotten to unscrew the cap which protects the fuse,

and the shell , i f f ired, w o u l d not have exploded.

They could not w i t h d r a w the shell as it was jammed

in too t i g h t , so the sergeant suggested that he

should go d o w n the muzzle of the g u n , which is

twelve feet long. He j u s t succeeded in w r i g g l i n g

d o w n and reaching the cap and unscrewing i t ,

after which he was successfully pulled out by his

heels.

24th Brigade,

8 t h D i v i s i o n ,

France,

Saturday, July jrd, igi^-Dear C h a p l a i n , —

It has j u s t occurred to me t h a t it must be some­

where near the summer holidays, and t ime you

were leav ing B l o x h a m for a few weeks ; so I

t h o u g h t I w o u l d w r i t e you so that you w o u l d have

my letter before you left.

My address probably conveys very l i t t l e to

you except of course that I am in France. I

have been here for three weeks, h a v i n g left

Southampton on June 18th for H a v r e , where,

instead of j o i n i n g my o w n regiment , I was

attached to the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment.

After spending a few days at the base 1 had a

t ra in journey of twenty hours, and eventually

found myself some five miles behind the firing

line. The n i g h t after my arr iva l the t ransport

officer p u t my fr iend and myself in a r a t t l i n g old

mess cart and sent us off to trench headquarters,

where we d u l y reported ourselves t o our new C O . ,

who called t w o guides to lead t w o o u t w a r d l y com­

posed indiv iduals to the trenches. My company

officer cheerfully greeted me and led me to w h a t

was apparent ly a very large box, and there i n t r o ­

duced me to my d u g - o u t — a space six feet square

surrounded by sand-bags and conta in ing some

straw, a table and a chair.

It was ten o'clock, so 1 laid d o w n and slept, to

be awakened at one of the very early hours of the

m o r n i n g , when we " stood 1o " t i l l 8 o'clock. The

previous evening we had sent up a number of

rockets ; at first the Bavarians who oppose us

were silent, then as the fireworks continued they

started to cheer and s ing, t a k i n g it as a huge

joke . T h a t was the only t ime 1 have ever seen or

heard them. As one peeps over the parapet one

sees a l o n g line of sand-bags (the usual w h i t e ones

w i t h blue ones at i r r e g u l a r intervals) , behind

which the ever-watchful German lives. My ad­

ject ive is not a haphazard one ; they are really

always on the watch , and one is a madman to put

one's head above the parapet more than once in

the same place. At n i g h t t ime they send up star

shells which give a most b r i l l i a n t l i g h t , and when

one is out c u t t i n g grass in f r o n t of the trenches it

is of course necessary to drop as soon as one sees

the l i t t l e spark go up w h i c h denotes the star shell.

In E n g l a n d we were always h a m m e r i n g at the

men the necessity of d r o p p i n g at once ; there is

no need out here, for they k n o w what to expect

i f they don' t and their expectations are always

realised.

Please remember me to any who may have been

at school at the same t ime as myself, and of course

t o M r . C h i l d .

Yours very sincerely,

H A K O L D W . E . C R O U C H L E Y .

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

Wednesday, May 26th.

We are h a v i n g a much better t ime now as they

have decided that we needn't keep watch in our

observation post al l day. N o w we have only to

go up if we are g o i n g to fire, and th ings have been

quite slack lately in the f i r i n g line. I have had

the last t w o days off, which I was not sorry for,

and now there is pract ica l ly n o t h i n g to do but

collect reports f rom the line patrols. I wonder if

you have found out where my observation post is

f r o m my description. O u r t w o posts are at the

places mentioned by " E y e W i t n e s s " in his

accounts of the operations n o r t h of La Bassee.

Mine is F , and I am not at al l sorry not to

have to go up there again as the first t i m e I was

there they gave it a h o r r i d shel l ing, t w o batteries

firing at it for six hours, about 4 rounds every

t w o minutes. It is the f irst t ime they have really

bombarded it for three months, and most of the

rounds fell in the vi l lage behind us, but we had

one r i g h t into the house, which knocked us al l

d o w n and smashed one of our telephones, t h o u g h

i t only blew out part of the back w a l l and d i d n ' t

h u r t anyone. It came t h r o u g h the roof and is the

first one I have been really near t o . It is a h o r r i d

feeling to hear it c o m i n g nearer and nearer, and

then not stop some distance away from you but

come r i g h t on at you u n t i l the sort of w h i z z i n g

sound changes to a r u s h i n g noise. The burst

knocked us absolutely flat. I had my back to it

so was knocked on my face, but my t w o men were

fac ing i t , and one cut his head a b i t against the

w a l l . We lay w a i t i n g for the bits and to see how

much of the house was g o i n g to fal l down. We

cleared out to our dug-out in the garden after

that. It was really only a chance shot that h i t our

place and we listened to the rest quite comfortably.

O u r relief was three hours late that m o r n i n g .

The effect of the bombardment to me was to make

me fearful ly sleepy, and I went home and slept the

rest of the day w i t h o u t w i n k i n g . One of our

chaps has gone on leave to-day. He has seven

days, and I am g o i n g to put in for mine as soon

as he gets back. We are b e g i n n i n g to get plenty

of a m m u n i t i o n , but they are g e t t i n g a b i t more

chary of us ing i t except in something b ig . Gun

No. 4, near here, has been spotted by the Germans

we t h i n k , as they have had several small shells

over and t w o days ago they had t w o 11-inch shells

i in the field they are i n . They really deserve it as

the gun is very badly concealed and they always

seem to have it uncovered.

Monday, June 21st. We had some heavy bombardments last week.

I suppose you read about the new attack south of

F ; w e l l , that was preceded by a three days'

and n i g h t s ' bombardment by pret ty nearly hal f the

a r t i l l e r y out here, and then the in fantry at tacked

on a f r o n t of about a mile, and after c a p t u r i n g t w o

lines of trenches were driven out by machine guns .

It gives you some idea of the s trength of the

German positions. T h i s was supposed to be the

strongest b i t of their whole line I believe. I k n o w

for a fact that German dug-outs were found 16 f t .

below the g r o u n d , and l ined w i t h concrete. As

always happens after a n i g h t bombardment , the

Germans spotted several of our batteries, and

were f ir ing at them yesterday. O u r g u n , No. 4,

got rather a bad t i m e , as she was j u s t behind some

smaller guns, and got heavily shelled j u s t as she

was f inishing d i s m o u n t i n g . A l l the men were

under cover, but one shell pitched r i g h t a m o n g

them and ki l led t w o men and seriously wounded

three others. One had a leg and a hand b l o w n

off, another a leg, and another was wounded in

the body, whi le three others are in hospital w i t h

s l ight wounds. M i l l e r , the man I used to live

w i t h at Eastney, had a very n a r r o w escape. He

was shelter ing under a w a g g o n w i t h three men,

and a shell pitched about a y a r d in f ront of h i m ,

the man on either side of h i m was k i l led ; he got

off w i t h a scratch on the nose. They had been

pushed up in a wood very near indeed to the line,

and we a l l said they were bound to have a bad

t ime before they got away. I hear that the shells

are g e t t i n g on wel l in E n g l a n d now. They say

that in three months ' t ime we shall be g e t t i n g a

m i l l i o n shells a day, then the Germans w i l l begin

to get a hot t i m e . A m m u n i t i o n seems even now

to be less scarce than it was ; I know several

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 135

batteries t h a t fired 2,000 rounds a day for three

days, and we even had 40 rounds for the three

days. We had awful ly good luck w i t h our wires

d u r i n g the three days ; we had four observation

posts, t w o of which were w i t h i n 1,000 yards of the

Germans, and we were only cut off f r o m the g u n

for t w o periods of ten minutes the whole t ime.

We were f i r i n g at t w o bridges, one over the canal

and one under the r a i l w a y . We smashed the one

under the ra i lway completely, and broke d o w n the

canal br idge , as wel l as l a n d i n g one shell p l u m p

into the middle of a redoubt. The next day we

f ired at three b i g farms, w h i c h were a l l completely

broken d o w n , but were a mass of dug-outs and

machine-gun emplacements, as wel l as h a v i n g very

b i g cellars We got direct hits on al l o f them,

and must have got d o w n into one cellar at least,

as once there was a second b i g explosion after the

shell burst .

The heavyart i l l ery had a c o n g r a t u l a t o r y message

f r o m General French, and seem to have done their

w o r k very t h o r o u g h l y . I believe the l ine was

h u n g up by a b i g German redoubt w h i c h was able

to enfilade the attackers on either side w i t h machine

guns, and they lost very heavily. I enclose a map

and have underl ined a l l the places I k n o w w e l l .

M i l i t a r y Wireless Stat ion,

Giza E n g i n e e r i n g School,

Cairo.

I5 /6 / I5 -Dear Chaplain,

M r . H e a t h , the O l d B l o x h a m i s t Master , w h o is

in Cairo, t o l d me yesterday of Captain Ryland's

death in the Dardanelles. L i e u t . T o w n s o n was

also wounded but quite s l i g h t l y , and w i l l be

r e t u r n i n g to the f r o n t again soon. B o t h were in

the 7th Manchesters. I ' m afraid I k n o w no dates

or part icu lars , but am w r i t i n g in case you have

not heard the news f r o m elsewhere.

I ' m sorry I never saw either Rylands or

T o w n s o n whi le they were stationed here ; I made

arrangements to meet them twice but something

turned up at the last minute and they could not

come.

I came to this s tat ion f rom Ismai l ia on Easter

Monday. There is no news here. The t o w n is

fu l l of wounded f r o m the Dardanelles ; we d o n ' t

seem to be m a k i n g much headway there, and the

casualties are very heavy.

My brother and a l l the chaps in the H e r t s

Yeomanry are most fed up and discontented w i t h

being kept here so l o n g ; they are afraid they w o n ' t

see any fun before the e n d — b u t there is p lenty of

t i m e yet. I wonder if we shall be dismounted and

t u r n e d into i n f a n t r y . Cavalry seem useless so far

in this war.

W i t h kindest regards t o M r . W i l s o n , yourself,

and anyone I k n o w at B l o x h a m . Yours very sincerely,

T . R I G B Y T A Y L O R .

P.S.—The heat is most t r y i n g here now, it was

115 in the shade the other day.

Dear M r . E d i t o r , T h a n k you very much for T H E B L O X H A M I S T . I

w o u l d be very much obl iged i f you w o u l d f o r w a r d

future numbers to H.M.S. Woodnut, c/o G.P.O.,

London.

I have been in c o m m a n d of this ship now for

nearly three months , and have been busi ly engaged

as an A r m e d B o a r d i n g Vessel in an area w h i c h

has received much at tent ion f r o m the Germans.

I should de l ight to spin you a l o n g y a r n , b u t the

censor is very severe, and if even I w r i t e a n y t h i n g

about my doings in my letters home, they are

always cut to pieces beyond al l recogni t ion. I

expect there are a l o t more O.B.'s serv ing in the

N a v y and A r m y at present than those in your l is t ,

and if I come across any of them I w i l l get them

to ask you to include their names as I t h i n k it

reflects credit to the School, w h i c h is of course the

d u t y of a l l O l d Bloxhamists . Please remember me

t o m y f r iend, M r . W i l s o n .

Yours sincerely, P H I L I P E . L Y N E ,

Lieut . -Commander R.D., R.N.R.

136 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

C H O I R H O L I D A Y .

T H I S annual event took place on Tuesday,

June 22. A smaller p a r t y than usual left

by an early t r a i n for W a r w i c k , where the m o r n i n g

was spent in m a k i n g a t h o r o u g h t o u r of the

Parish Church, w h i c h contains a great number of

architectural features, monuments and curious

objects of considerable interest ; then a v is i t was

paid to the Leicester H o s p i t a l , an ancient b u i l d i n g

and very quaint , inhabited by a dozen old soldiers

and their wives. Here too, are to be seen a great

number of o l d - w o r l d curios ; and the fine stately

o ld gentlemen w h o f o u g h t our battles s ixty years

ago, are not the least interest ing a m o n g the many

interest ing contents of t h a t ancient foundation.

Luncheon was taken in a c h a r m i n g garden by

the riverside, and was duly appreciated. The

means by w h i c h cucumber is served on these

occasions has become a t r a d i t i o n , and always

causes considerable fun.

After a short rest (necessary after such a meal)

we betook ourselves to the ra i lway s tat ion, and

thence entrained for L e a m i n g t o n . The s w i m m i n g

bath at this health resort is always looked f o r w a r d

to w i t h pleasure, but unfortunate ly this year i t

was not available. So we t o o k boats and made

our way, rather s lowly , o w i n g to the inexperience

of the rowers, up the r iver t i l l we found a con­

venient place where we could bathe. We

discovered afterwards t h a t this proceeding was

contrary to the police regulat ions of the borough.

Soon after our r e t u r n we enjoyed a sumptuous

tea at the Parish H a l l , k i n d l y lent by the V i c a r of

L e a m i n g t o n . After the purchase of the necessary

provisions to support our feeble h u m a n bodies on

the journey home, we left L e a m i n g t o n about 6.30,

a r r i v i n g at B loxham at 7.45.

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S .

W e b e g t o a c k n o w l e d g e w i t h t h a n k s the receipt o f the following c o n ­

t e m p o r a r i e s :— The Denstonian, The Lily, The Pauline, The

Cuthbertian, The Hurst Johnian, The Lancing College Magazine

" T H E B L O X H A M I S T " i s published ( n o r m a l l y ) 1 0 m o n t h s i n the y e a r :

n o J a n u a r y o r S e p t e m b e r N u m b e r s a r e published.

C o n t r i b u t i o n s for the O c t o b e r N u m b e r should be sent to the E d i t o r before

O c t o b e r i s t , 1915, writ ten on one side of the p a p e r only.

The Annual Subscription is js. -post free. M e m b e r s of the O l d

B l o x h a m i s t S o c i e t y a r e supplied w i t h copies. T h e S e c r e t a r y i s the R e v .

H . R . W I L L I M O T T , t o w h o m m e m b e r s s h o u l d send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s .

O t h e r s u b s c r i b e r s t o T H E B L O X H A M I S T s h o u l d send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s

t o C . J . W I L S O N , E s q .

P r i n t e d for A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L , B l o x h a m , b y C H E N E Y & S O N S ,

" R a i l w a y G u i d e " Office, C a l t h o r p e Street , B a n b u r y .

V O L . X L I . O C T O B E R , 1915. N o . 374

C O N T E N T S .

E D I T O R I A L .

' ^ H E R E is always a s t r o n g inc l inat ion on the

part of the E d i t o r to rob the co lumn of

School News in order to supply mater ia l for the

i n t r o d u c t i o n , and we have started w i t h the f i r m

resolution not to give way to i t . After so long a

period of re laxat ion it was a real j o y , to one

person at least, to f ind oneself back in the famil iar

quarters, surrounded w i t h one's o w n property , and

g o i n g about the old fami l iar rout ine. Sometimes

one hears people say h o w much they disl ike

changes, but we presume t h a t they w o u l d qualify

the statement i f holidays are included a m o n g

changes. Personally, we generally look f o r w a r d

to the holidays when they begin to d r a w near,

and we are equally g lad when t e r m t i m e begins

again. The change has done us good and we are

anxious to get into harness again ; and this year

the change has been e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y welcome.

We hope we are v o i c i n g the opinion of the

general public by saying this . T h e enjoyment of

the summer holidays does depend so entirely on

the weather, especially in a fickle cl imate l ike

ours. T h i s year we have had an exceptionally

l o n g spell of fine, not to say hot , weather. At

first th ings looked bad ; three weeks of constantly

r e c u r r i n g showers and thunderstorms. There

was always the prospect of c o m i n g in drenched

to the skin and spending the remainder of the

day g r o u s i n g over a book. The g lor ious weather

which began in the middle of A u g u s t changed a l l

t h a t , and we do not doubt that our readers, l i k e

ourselves, enjoyed to the f u l l al l the available

pleasures of outdoor life.

A n d so we have settled d o w n to another t e r m

w i t h every prospect of its be ing a very satisfactory

one so far as circumstances admit . Several

fami l iar faces have vanished and new ones have

appeared in their places, and we are g l a d to say

that in numbers the newcomers wel l exceed those

who have left, and we hear t h a t probably more

w i l l fo l low.

We are able to p r i n t another goodly l ist o f O l d

Bloxhamists who are d o i n g m i l i t a r y service. At

the end of the year we hope to publ ish a supple­

ment c o n t a i n i n g the entire l ist . An exceedingly

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

interest ing letter from Lieut . W . W . W a r d ,

w r i t t e n on September 30th, appears in this

number, to which we beg to d r a w our readers'

a t t e n t i o n . H i s letters have been much appreciated,

and we hope more w i l l fol low. We cannot close

w i t h o u t c a l l i n g special a t tent ion to the splendid

record attached to the name of V. H. S. Daven­

p o r t , who has gained three awards for conspicuous

bravery. We are p r o u d to be able to include his

name in our l ist .

S C H O O L N E W S .

S T A F F . — W e much regret the departure of M r .

C h i l d and M r . A l len . The former had been here

for f ive years, and o w i n g to his keenness and

exertions the O . T . C . made rapid progress

towards the state of efficiency in which he has

left i t . We understand that i t is possible that he

may r e t u r n to his duties here at a later date.

For the present he is engaged in t r a i n i n g officers

at Portsmouth. M r . Al len is d o i n g s imi lar w o r k .

He has been on the staff for the past three years

and was a very active officer in the O.T.C. , w i t h

a perfect genius for organisat ion, and a constant

f low of h u m o u r .

In their places we welcome M r . M. Jacob,

B.A., D u r h a m U n i v e r s i t y ; and M r . T. S. Alex­

ander, B.Sc. H o n o u r s , late Scholar of H u l m e

H a l l , and exhibi t ioner of Manchester U n i v e r s i t y .

V A L E T E . —The f o l l o w i n g have left : —

R . M . Coombes, F o r m V I . , Senior Prefect,

Serjt. O.T .C. , i s t X I . Cr icket and Hockey , 2nd

X I . F o o t b a l l , Senior Gym. colours.

D . S . Coleman, F o r m V I . , Prefect, i s t X L

Cricket and Hockey, 2nd X I . F o o t b a l l , Senior

G y m . colours.

W . C . Lester-Smith, F o r m V , Serjt. O.T.C. ,

i s t X L Cr icket , F o o t b a l l and Hockey.

N . Parsons, F o r m V . , i s t X I . Cr icket , Foot­

bal l and Hockey.

H . R . W a l d e n , F o r m V . , i s t X I . Cr icket ,

Footbal l and Hockey.

L . T . H i n n e l l , F o r m I V .

C . T . Col l inson, F o r m I V , i s t X I . Cr icket ,

2nd X I . F o o t b a l l .

R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t , F o r m I V , i s t X I .

Cricket , Footba l l and Hockey, Senior Gym.

colours.

P . H . Prince, F o r m I I I .

A . H . Giles, F o r m I I I .

S A L V E T E . — T h e f o l l o w i n g new boys have

arr ived : —

F o r m V I . - C . A . H a l l .

F o r m V — S . T . S m i t h , L . C . H . W a t k i n s .

F o r m I V . — W . F . G . Clowser, R . E . W a t k i n s .

F o r m I I I . — E . W . Eastwood, K. W . H a r w o o d ,

E. Stanbra.

F o r m I I . — C . H . Bowler.

F o r m I . — L . S . T . Da Fonseca, O. Jones,

S. P. B. W h i t e h e a d , H. C. L. H. W h i t e h e a d ,

P. G. D w y e r , J. Eastwood, J. T. Taylor .

H . S. B O N N E W E L L has been promoted to be

Senior Prefect. He is also Captain of Games.

W . G. R O W L A N D has succeeded D . S. Coleman

as H o n . Sec. of Games.

D . C A I N has been re-elected Captain of the

Gymnasium.

I N the O x f o r d Local E x a m i n a t i o n s the fo l low­

i n g results were obtained : — S e n i o r s — W . E . M .

H i l l and R. V . Lyle , 2nd Class H o n o u r s ; R. M .

Coombes, 3rd Class H o n o u r s ; D. S. Coleman,

and W . H . H i g g s passed. J u n i o r s . — F . M . Eve

and D. A. Neale, i s t Class H o n o u r s ; S. R.

B o l t o n , R. H. W. M o l e s w o r t h , R. A . G. Ravenor,

R. C. S i d n e y - W i m o t , E. J. Stanbra, M. G.

Stewart , A. L. Stephens, C. S. L. Coulson, J. S.

Hughes and W. G. R o w l a n d passed. Three

candidates failed. P r e l i m i n a r i e s — H . C. Snape,

2nd Class H o n o u r s ; L . M. Bowden, W. J . K i r k b y ,

C. G. H o l t o m , P. H. Prince, R. Day , E. J.

T u c k e r , T . V . H o r d e r n , G . W . Saunders, B . L .

Phelps, J. S. Chapman, A. E. Lewis, E. W.

Powel l , A . H . Giles and H . V . L l o y d passed.

T w o candidates fai led.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

T H E Rev. A . C. B L A K E R preached here on

Sunday, October 3, and on the previous after­

noon, as rain was f a l l i n g heavily, he gave an

i m p r o m p t u and i n f o r m a l lecture in the School­

r o o m on the Fij ians. H i s discourse was listened

to w i t h great a t t e n t i o n by nearly the whole

School, and was very much appreciated. We

hope it w i l l not be l o n g before he pays us another

vis i t .

S W I M M I N G . — O n the last Sunday of the summer

t e r m a d i v i n g and water-polo compet i t ion took

place. I t was great ly enjoyed b o t h by competi­

tors and spectators, who found part icu lar enjoy­

ment in the water-polo, for w h i c h sides were

taken as fol lows :—

H. S. Bonnewel l ,

R . W . C o m p t o n - H a l l ,

C. A. Farebrother,

G . F . M . M c D o n a l d ,

O.B. N E W S .

O R D I N A T I O N . — O n Sunday, October 3, H u b e r t

Claude B r o w n (1900-2), was ordained Priest by

the Bishop of L o n d o n in St. Paul's Cathedral.

O.B. S O C I E T Y . — N e w M e m b e r s — J . W . M a y o u

(1909-14), L. A. W i n c h (1909-13).

As we go to press we have heard of the death

of L. A. H a r r i s . He enlisted on the outbreak of

war in the W a r w i c k s h i r e Regiment, and was

wounded at the Dardanelles, his spine being

badly injured. He died t w o days afterwards.

H a r r i s was the youngest of four brothers , a l l of

w h o m were here at school. He came in January,

1906, and O l d Bloxhamists of t h a t period w i l l

remember h i m as a very delicate l i t t l e boy. He

left us in A p r i l , 1907, and went to another school,

so as to be able to live at home.

F O O T B A L L F I X T U R E S .

W e d n e s d a y , O c t o b e r 1 3 — A b i n g d o n S c h o o l A w a y

W e d n e s d a y , O c t o b e r 2 7 — B r a c k l e y S c h o o l A w a y

S a t u r d a y , N o v e m b e r 6 - M a g d a l e n C o l l e g e S c h o o l ,

O x f o r d H o m e

S a t u r d a y , N o v e m b e r 1 3 — A b i n g d o n H o m e

W e d n e s d a y , D e c e m b e r 1 — B r a c k l e y S c h o o l H o m e

S a t u r d a y , D e c e m b e r 1 1 — M a g d a l e n C o l l e g e S c h o o l , O x f o r d A w a y

B r a c k l e y S c h o o l h a s been c o m p e l l e d t o a b a n d o n t w o

f i x t u r e s a r r a n g e d w i t h our 2nd X L

T H E W A R .

IN the casualty lists published since our last

number, we have noticed the names of the

f o l l o w i n g old Bloxhamists :—Capt. L. G. L a n g -

more (1883-5), I I t n L i v e r p o o l Regt . , wounded i n

France ; Capt. W. L. Dudley (M 1909-12), 4 t h

W e l s h Regt . , wounded in Gal l ipol i ; Lieut . T. G.

Bowler (1906-11), 5th Dorset Regt . , wounded in

G a l l i p o l i ; 2nd L i e u t . A. E. S. Riddle (1903-9),

3rd East Lancashire Regt. , wounded in France ;

Major D. S. Skelton (1890- ), R . A . M . C . ,

wounded in France ; L t . - C o l . C. C. Jackson,

D.S.O. (1883-5), 103rd L i g h t I n f a n t r y , I n d i a n

A r m y . We hear t h a t the Provost has had an

attack of trench fever and was inval ided home

for a t ime. He is now back at his post in France.

In the London Gazette we have seen the names

of several O l d Bloxhamists who have been pro­

moted in r a n k : — L i e u t . E . T o w n s o n (1904-7),

to be Captain.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

2nd L i e u t . H. W. E. Crouchley (1911-12) to be Lieutenant.

2nd Lieut . B. B. Brooks (1906-12) to be L i e u ­tenant.

V. H. S. D a v e n p o r t (1889-92) was awarded the D . C . M . last October, and gained the M i l i t a r y Cross for his w o r k at the batt le of Neuve Chapelle. On M a y 16th he received the clasp to his D . C . M . for rescuing his colonel. He has also been mentioned four times in despatches.

The name of L i e u t - C o m m a n d e r E. G. Boissier, D.S.C., H o w e B a t t a l i o n , R . N . D i v i s i o n , appeared in the Dardanelles l ist of June 12th. T h i s is the second t ime he has been mentioned in despatches.

The f o l l o w i n g letter f r o m T. G. Bowler was received short ly before the announcement in the papers that he had been wounded. We regret to say that his w o u n d has necessitated the removal of one of his feet. He is now in E n g l a n d and is reported to be m a k i n g as much progress as can be expected.

" Y o u w i l l see by the above address that we have at last got g o i n g . We left Aldershot on T h u r s d a y , Ju ly i s t , about 11 p . m . , and in a most ghast ly fog and r a i n — m o s t depressing send off. W e went b y t r a i n t o L i v e r p o o l , passing t h r o u g h B a n b u r y early F r i d a y m o r n i n g , w h i l s t a l l you folk slept. We embarked on the Aquilania on F r i d a y afternoon, and sailed on Saturday at 2 p . m . The boat, as you k n o w , is enormous ; there was a great crush on board, but our quar­ters were wonderful ly comfortable, and food excellent. We had a good voyage, w i t h t w o scares on the way. We were escorted by destroyers d o w n the I r i s h Sea, and they left us about 4.30 on Sunday m o r n i n g r i g h t south of I re land. A b o u t 5.30 we were al l peacefully sleeping when we were aroused by bugles blow­i n g the a larm al l over the boat. We put on our life-belts and h u r r i e d up to our alarm posts ready to man the boats. On enquiry we learnt that a submarine had been sighted and that she had

loosed off a torpedo at us, the nasty implement j u s t miss ing our stem by about ten yards, accord­i n g to the naval and m i l i t a r y officers on w a t c h , who saw the wake of the torpedo. After this event a l l ranks had to go about armed w i t h life­belts. We passed Gibra l tar about 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, b u t i t was too foggy to see much. On Wednesday m o r n i n g we had another scare; about six o'clock the bugles started, and so we again rushed out to our a larm posts. This t ime it was very misty , and it appeared that we had suddenly come upon a hostile submarine in the fog t a k i n g in supplies from a steamer. We h u n g about and shivered on deck for an hour-and-a-half in case she attacked us, b u t were again lucky. We passed very close to M a l t a on T h u r s d a y , and Crete w i t h its mountains capped w i t h snow on the F r i d a y . The scenery g o i n g t h r o u g h the Archipelago was magnif icent, and the sunsets were e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y splendid. We arr ived at our dest ination on Saturday about 7.30 a.m. It was an is land (but I must not mention names as we censor our o w n letters) w i t h a b i g natura l harbour, about f i f ty miles f r o m the Peninsula ; the collection of sh ipping was e x t r a o r d i n a r y and vastly interest ing. The Aquitania towered above everything else. We landed on Sunday, the n t h , and bivouacked out on the hardest, stoniest and most barren r idge I have ever seen ; there was scarcely any vegetat ion and no trees at a l l except close to the Greek native vil lages. There were great rocky hi l ls a l l r o u n d and it was a most desolate spot. The sun is p r e t t y powerfu l , but as there is always a w i n d it is not too bad. We

1 g o t some indifferent sort of b a t h i n g , but it was very shal low, and so the water was too hot. We

; left this spot early on Monday m o r n i n g , the 19th, and came over in destroyers to this nearer is land, the advanced base. T h i s is much better ; we are about e ight or ten miles f r o m the Gal l ipol i Peninsula, and can see shells b u r s t i n g on A c h i Baba and al l around ; the guns are easily heard and firing goes on i n t e r m i t t e n t l y a l l day. Last n i g h t there was a p r e t t y b i g show on, j u d g i n g

I by the r o w .

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 141

This island is much more ferti le and we are

very comfy as the g r o u n d is soft and sandy where

we are bivouacked, and s t raw is not unobtain­

able. B a t h i n g is about one mile away and

absolutely " top h o l e , " r i g h t under some cliffs

a m o n g the rocks, and the water as clear as you

make i t . It is not so very hot here as the w i n d

is much stronger, b u t the dust and fl ies are very

bad. Feeding is p r e t t y good. At the present

moment I am on o u t l y i n g piquet d u t y w i t h 25

men r i g h t up in the h i l l s , in land about three

miles : the v iew f r o m here is wonderful . I am

l o o k i n g out across the sea to A c h i Baba now.

A great c loud of dust or smoke or something has

gone up, b u t I cannot make out w h a t i t is. It is

rather nice up here, water is p lent i fu l (not scarce

as it is b e l o w ) , a few mulberry trees give us shade

and the rocky hil ls around w i t h b r i g h t green

bushes, & c , make a pleasing scene.

Excuse paper, b u t A . B . 153 is a l l I have up

h e r e ; i t has never been more useful. We have

received no m a i l f r o m E n g l a n d yet, b u t r u m o u r

hath i t t h a t one was c o m i n g in this m o r n i n g . I

shall f ind out when we get relieved t o - m o r r o w

m o r n i n g .

Remember me to Al len and ask h i m if he knew

that of F Company was k i l l e d some whi le

ago ; he only went out in February. There is no

news of us g o i n g across the water yet, but by the

t i m e you get this we shall be gone, I expect,

after we have concentrated properly .

K i n d regards t o M r . W i l s o n , the Chaplain,

and a l l , Yours sincerely,

T . G E O F F R E Y B O W L E R .

The f o l l o w i n g account of recent operations in

France has been received from L i e u t . W . W .

W a r d : —

September 30th.

I have got a good deal of news to te l l you of

the last f o r t n i g h t , as I expect you have guessed

f r o m the papers. I have been l i v i n g the whole

t ime in my O.P., and sleeping in a l i t t l e estaminet

about 100 yards f rom i t . In the last ten days we

have fired nearly twice as many rounds as we have

done the whole of the rest of the t ime we have

been out here. The German lines were bom-

bared hard for five days, and d u r i n g those days

we averaged 25 rounds a day; the Germans hardly

replied at al l the whole t ime. On the fifth day our

in fantry attacked. There was a very s l ight S . W .

w i n d , and at the same t ime our people l i t smoke

f lares in order to hide them while they at tacked,

as there was a distance of about 400 yards be­

tween the trenches. O u r i n f a n t r y got on p r e t t y

well the first day, but they were counter-attacked

that n i g h t and were almost put back in their o ld

trenches on the left, t h o u g h on the r i g h t of me

they made good progress and captured several

guns and a lot of prisoners. However , we have

been g o i n g on a t t a c k i n g hard the whole t i m e ,

w i t h o u t g a i n i n g very much more than we d i d the

first day, and now at last there is a l u l l .

I have had a splendid view of everyth ing , as the

weather has on the whole been clear, in spite of a

lot of ra in . I have g o t a very powerful telescope,

m a g n i f y i n g 21 t imes, and I am pret ty h i g h up.

W h e n it is extra clear I have often seen single

Germans w a l k i n g four or five miles away ; I can

see a certain mine from my place that has been

captured and recaptured eight t imes already, and

I can also see the Hohenzol lern Redoubt, which

the papers are f u l l o f ; that has been captured

and lost several t imes too, and every t i m e we

have attacked i t , I have seen our people crossing

the open under a most terrif ic shell fire. In a l ine

of t h e m , perhaps 400 yards l o n g , I have seen shells

b u r s t i n g at the rate of six a second ; it seems

wonderful that they are not a l l wiped out in ten

seconds or so, but sometimes a shell seems to

burst r i g h t on top of them and you s t i l l see them

g o i n g on, other t imes when you are w a t c h i n g a

special g r o u p you w i l l see a shell go r i g h t i n t o

them and clear a great gap in t h e m , and the

people on either side b l o w n over by the concus­

sion. Sometimes it has been so bad that I have

felt that I could not look any longer and I have had

142 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

to swi tch off and t r y and spot the German guns.

T h e i r guns are a w f u l l y wel l concealed, and

nearly always move their positions for the n i g h t

and then again before d a w n . I located one battery

about six o'clock in the evening, but it had moved

off by next m o r n i n g . Some of our batteries have

been d o i n g s p l e n d i d l y ; t w o horse a r t i l l e r y

batteries especially I not iced—they moved r i g h t

out into the open after our i n f a n t r y advanced, and

were b laz ing away hard the whole day at about

600 yards range. They were under a terrif ic

shrapnel f ire al l day, and had t w o guns knocked

out and a l imber set a l i g h t by 8 i n . shells, but I

believe d i d not have many casualties. Another

f ield battery advanced up, and when the Germans

counter attacked they came w i t h i n about 30 yards

and the batteries s t i l l went on f ir ing. N o w the

guns are between the t w o lines, and I believe the

whole of the personelle has been wiped out.

In several places, I believe, our i n f a n t r y are

w i t h i n 60 yards of the German heavy guns, w h i c h

have had to be abandoned. We have heard t h a t the

French have got r i g h t t h r o u g h the German lines,

and that al l our cavalry have been sent t h r o u g h

the gap. I hope it is true. T w o evenings ago

the Germans shelled a dressing s tat ion about 400

yards f rom here very hard for about half-an-hour.

There were about 50 horses and motor ambulances

r o u n d it and crowds of wounded ; they k i l led

about ten horses and wounded several men. It

was fine to see the horses harnessed up and the

wounded put in and taken off, t h o u g h the shells

were c o m i n g over about f ive a minute. We were

w a t c h i n g it f r o m our estaminet door, and as a

small p a r t y of in fantry was passing us, one of

them got a splinter on the side of the head. We

t o o k h i m round to the back of the house to tie

h im up, and exactly as we got behind the walls a

shrapnel burst r i g h t in f r o n t of the house and

smashed most of the w i n d o w s , b u t we were under

the cover of the wal ls . It was a stray shot, as it

is the only one that has ever been near the house.

We have been very fortunate w i t h our cable lines,

as we have had very few breaks and have never

been cut off a ltogether. T w o more of our guns j

are, I believe, leaving E n g l a n d to day. I expect

there w i l l be a re-shuffle of officers, and we shall

lose some of the supernumaries we have had. I

don ' t t h i n k I shall be moved yet, t h o u g h I may

have to go to No. 7 or N o . 8.

We have only had one paper and one m a i l in

the last week. The service seems to have g o t

disorganized by something, the one paper we did

get gave us a t o t a l l y w r o n g account of what we

have gained ; it put d o w n a l ist of places l ike

Haisnes, Cite St. El ie, and H u l l u c h , that we got

in the first rush and lost half-an-hour afterwards

and havn' t been near since.

G Y M N A S I U M C O M P E T I T I O N .

' J ^ H E A n n u a l C o m p e t i t i o n took place on M o n ­

day, July 19th. D o r m i t o r i e s I . and I I I .

were represented by D. W. T . Cain (captain) ,

D. S. Coleman, R. M. Coombes, W. G. R o w l a n d ,

R. R. Powel l , C. S. L. Coulson, J. R. B o l t o n ,

M. G. Stewart and J. S. Chapman.

D o r m i t o r i e s I I . and V . were represented b y

H . S . Bonnewel l (captain), W . E . M . H i l l , W . H .

H i g g s , R . C . S i d n e y - W i l m o t , R . W. C o m p t o n -

H a l l , J . E . W r i g h t , A . L . Stephens, F . M . Eve

and W . R . W r i g h t .

Fourteen exercises were taken and resulted in

a w i n for D o r m i t o r i e s I I . and V. by 28 points

(269—241). Col.-Sergeant G r i n t e r a n d Captain A.

C h i l d were the judges.

In accordance w i t h the regulat ions, senior

colours were awarded to the w i n n i n g squad in the

c o m p e t i t i o n , and also to D. Cain , D. S. Coleman

and R. M. Coombes.

Junior Colours were awarded to W. G. R o w l a n d

and J. S. Chapman.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 143

ARMY. The i n f o r m a t i o n g iven is the latest that we possess.

T h e m a r k * is placed before the names of those who have been in the O . T . C . at Bloxham.

N A M E . W H E N A T

S C H O O L . R A N K . N A M E O F R E G I M E N T .

* A N D E R S O N , P . A . 1909-14 Gunner 2nd B a t t , S. Afr ican Heavy A r t i l l e r y

A R K E L L , A 1895-1900

• B E N N E T T , H . M . I 9 0 9 - I 3 Inns of Court O.T.C.

• C L I F F O R D , J . G I 9 I O - I 2 Queen's O w n Oxfordshire Hussars

* C O L E M A N , C . T 1908-14 Private 28th Batt . (Art ists 'Ri f les) London Regt.

C O W A N , W . A . R . I 9 O I - 5 L i e u t . 30th B r i t i s h Columbian Horse

D A V E N P O R T , V . H . S . ... 1889-92 Reg.Sgt.-Maj. 2nd Batt . Border Regiment

D A V I E S , E . R 1896-8 2nd Lieut . Royal Sussex Regiment

E D G I N T O N , C M . 1906-7 Lance-Corpl. 4 t h B a t t . O x f o r d and Bucks L . I .

E D G I N T O N , W . J . 19O2-4 Private 4th Batt . O x f o r d and Bucks L . I .

F I S H E R , G . R 1898-19OO Canadian Expedi t ionary Force

G O L D R I N G , E . C 1907-9 Trooper 2nd Austra l ian L i g h t Horse

• G O O D M A N , J . N . 1907-1 I N e w Zealand Cont ingent

H E A T H , W . R M 1902-4 2nd Lieut . O x f o r d and Bucks L . I .

H O R N E R , G . St. J . 1903-10 Trooper Canadian M o u n t e d Rifles

* L E S T E R - S M I T H ... 1909-15 2nd Lieut . 3rd Bat t . O x f o r d and Bucks L . I .

L U K I N , R . C . W 1881 Major

P O T T E R , B 1896-01

S H A W , A . A . St. J . 1903-9 Private Public Schools Batt . Royal Fusil iers

T R E N C H , S. J . Le Poer ... 1893-6

* W A L D E N , H . R 1911-15 2nd Lieut. 3rd B a t t . O x f o r d and Bucks L . I .

W E S T O N , H 1880-2

• W I N C H , H . E 1908-11 Inns of C o u r t O.T.C.

ROYAL NAVY.

N A M E . W H E N A T

S C H O O L . R A N K . S E R V I C E .

• H A R R I S , R . L . 191 I - 14 Sub.-Lieut. Royal Marines

L Y N E , P . E H . M . S . W o o d n u t

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

O.T.C. N O T E S .

IN some respects this is a very cr i t ica l t e r m in

the his tory of the Corps. T h e founder of

the Corps, Captain C h i l d , and his able co-adjutor,

L ieutenant A l l e n , have b o t h left to take up w o r k

i n connection w i t h the Regular A r m y . A t the

present t ime they are both at a Camp of Ins truc­

t i o n for Officers, near P o r t s m o u t h , b u t are

expect ing to be appointed to regiments at any

t i m e . W i t h the loss of these t w o officers the

Corps necessarily feels at a great disadvantage,

but the w o r k has to go f o r w a r d , and the whole­

hearted co-operation of al l ranks is looked for by

a l l who have its interests at heart. The A c t i n g

O.C. is the Rev. C. E. Burgess, late Colour-

Serjeant in the Denstone College Corps, and

assisting h i m is M r . L. Jacob, late of the D u r h a m

U n i v e r s i t y O.T.C. The new officers have not yet

been gazetted, and the w o r k of the corps is

therefore somewhat l i m i t e d .

A further loss has been sustained by the corps.

Last t e r m we welcomed Colour-Serjeant Grinter

back after a l o n g spell of illness. On our return

this t e r m we heard, w i t h regret , that he was

seriously i l l in hospital at O x f o r d . The whole

corps w i l l feel the loss of their ins tructor , and

extend their sympathy to h i m in his misfortune.

Lance-Serjeant H i g g s has been promoted fu l l

serjeant, and has been appointed platoon

serjeant. He is t a k i n g charge of the signallers.

Corpora l Bonnewell has been promoted lance-

serjeant.

A vo luntary class in musketry has been started

under M r . Jacob, and is be ing well attended.

Smal l parties are exercised now and again in

range-f inding and minor tact ical schemes, such

as p a t r o l w o r k and scouting.

A number of framed photographs have arr ived and have been h u n g in the A r m o u r y . A m o n g them is a photograph of the late Second-Lieu­tenant F. E. L. Riddle , of the 2nd O x f o r d and Bucks L i g h t I n f a n t r y , who was k i l l e d at Richebourg l 'Avoue, in the Bat t le of Festubert . T h i s photograph was presented by his father, the Rev. A. E. Riddle , Rector of T a d m a r t o n , and should serve to keep b r i g h t the memory of one who was a credit to the B r i t i s h A r m y , b o t h at School and in the Regular Forces.

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S .

W e beg t o a c k n o w l e d g e w i t h t h a n k s the receipt o f the following c o n ­t e m p o r a r i e s :—The Cuthbertian, The Pauline. The S.S.M. Quarterly, The Brackleian, The Chelmsfordian, The Lancing College Magazine.

" T H E B L O X H A M I S T " i s published ( n o r m a l l y ) 1 0 m o n t h s i n the y e a r , n o J a n u a r y o r S e p t e m b e r N u m b e r s a r e published.

C o n t r i b u t i o n s for the N o v e m b e r N u m b e r should be sent to the E d i t o r before N o v e m b e r i s t , 1 9 1 5 , writ ten on one side of the p a p e r only.

The Annual Subscription is <s, post free. M e m b e r s of the O l d B l o x h a m i s t Society a r e supplied w i t h copies. T h e S e c r e t a r y i s the R e v . H . R . W I L L I M O T T , t o w h o m members s h o u l d send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s . O t h e r s u b s c r i b e r s t o T H E B L O X H A M I S T should send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s t o C . J . W I L S O N , E s q .

P r i n t e d for A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L , B l o x h a m , b y C H E N E Y & S O N S " R a i l w a y G u i d e " Office, C a l t h o r p e Street, B a n b u r y .

C O N T E N T S .

E D I T O R I A L .

T~) E A D E R S o f T H E B L O X H A M I S T are probably

fa i r ly w e l l acquainted w i t h the complaint

expressed f r o m t ime to t i m e by the editor,

that he cannot get sufficient mater ia l for the

publ icat ion of this magazine ten t imes in the

year. W h e n we t o o k possession of the editor ia l

chair a year ago we, l ike not a few of our

predecessors, had great hopes o f res tor ing T H E B L O X H A M I S T to its f u l l number of publicat ions

and to its f u l l size. We confess to fai lure in both

respects.

We do not t h i n k t h a t blame can be attached to

any i n d i v i d u a l , and we sincerely hope t h a t none

w i l l be la id upon ourselves, for we have honestly

done our best to effect some improvement in a

business for which we are so i l l-equipped. The

conclusion at which we have arr ived is this :—

Instead of a i m i n g at the publ icat ion of ten

numbers in the year, i t w o u l d be better to

produce only six. A n d so, w i t h the approva l and

consent of the powers t h a t be, and after con­

sul tat ion w i t h the Committee of the O.B. Society,

we have decided to adopt this plan.

We also contemplate another change which we

t r u s t w i l l not meet w i t h opposit ion. T H E B L O X H A M I S T is not a very convenient size, so we

propose to p r i n t i t in future on pages measur ing

5^ x 8^ inches instead of 7^ x 10 inches. In its

new form it w i l l have a t h i c k paper cover bear ing

the arms and t i t l e , w i t h l ist o f contents. H a v i n g ,

not w i t h o u t some fear of arous ing resentment,

unburdened ourselves of this announcement, we

pass on to other topics.

We are p u b l i s h i n g , as a supplement to this

number, a l ist of O l d Bloxhamists w h o have been

serv ing their country d u r i n g the present war .

Great pains have been taken to make the l ist as

complete as possible and to supply accurate

in format ion . B u t in a l l probabi l i ty there are s t i l l

many O l d Bloxhamists who are u n k n o w n to us

and who are d o i n g their share in the defence of

V O L . X L I . D E C E M B E R , 1915. N o . 375

146

the realm. It is very difficult to keep in touch

w i t h those we k n o w to be so engaged, and we

hope our readers w i l l send us any i n f o r m a t i o n

they can about them.

B e g i n n i n g on Sunday, November 21st, members

of the O . T . C . have been g o i n g on Sundays to

D i d c o t to give some assistance in the w o r k of

p a c k i n g and loading war mater ia l . We are very

grat i f ied that the School has been asked to assist

in this w o r k , and t h a t our Cadets have been able

to do some useful w o r k in connection w i t h the

war. Needless to say, they heart i ly appreciate

the o p p o r t u n i t y and t h o r o u g h l y enjoy the weekly

excursion.

A more detailed account of the w o r k appears

further on, and our readers w i l l be able to com­

pare i t w i t h an article recently published in the

Church Times, which we r e p r i n t , and which

appears to have some connexion w i t h the w o r k of

our O.T.C. at Didcot .

Once more the Christmas Fest ival is close upon

us, and it is more diff icult this year than it was

last year to reconcile i t w i t h the present state of

affairs in E u r o p e — s o far are we f r o m " peace and

g o o d w i l l " a m o n g men. The social aspect of

Christmas w i l l be very different f r o m what we are

accustomed to ; b u t if this fact tends to raise our

minds to the really i m p o r t a n t view of the great

event w h i c h is commemorated at Christmas, i t

surely w o u l d be something good resu l t ing f r o m

al l the misery and h o r r o r of war. A n d so we

conclude another series of editorials by w i s h i n g

each and a l l of our readers a t r u l y happy

Christmas.

S C H O O L N E W S .

H . S. B O N N E W E L L left on October 18th to take

up a commission in the A r m y Service Corps. He

is now on the way to the Mediterranean.

R . R A V E N O R has been promoted to be a Prefect.

W E beg t o t h a n k Mrs. H i n d e for her present

to the School on Saturday, November 27th, by

which the memory of her mother, M r s . E g e r t o n ,

is kept al ive, that day being her b i r t h d a y .

O N November 27th the R i g h t Reverend C . J .

Corfe visited the School, and by permission of the

Bishop of O x f o r d administered Conf i rmat ion to a

few candidates. The Bishop based his address on

the w o r d s , " O u r help is in the N a m e of the

L o r d , " which occur in the service and in the

Psalms for the 27th m o r n i n g of the m o n t h . On

the f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g the newly confirmed

received their f irst C o m m u n i o n at the hands of

the Bishop, and his lordship preached a short

sermon at the Choral Eucharist , in which he

dealt w i t h the comings of our L o r d in the past,

present, and future , emphasizing H i s c o m i n g in the

Blessed Sacrament of the Al tar . The boys con­

f irmed were : — J . S. C lark , R. Day , R. W. Ferr is ,

A . E . Lewis , W . T . D . L i t t l e b o y , B . L . Phelps,

E. W. Powell and H. C. Snape.

T H E l i t t l e l a w n i n f ront o f the School b u i l d i n g s

has undergone some s l ight al terat ions d u r i n g the

last few weeks. Three large flower-beds have

been made and a n a r r o w border a long the

shrubbery is p a r t l y finished. A large q u a n t i t y of

stones and clay had to be removed. We hope

this corner of the premises w i l l present a more

cheerful appearance in the future .

O . B . N E W S .

O.B. S O C I E T Y . — N e w m e m b e r s — A . R. I .

Stevens (1909-13), H. S. Bonnewel l (1910-15),

R . M . Coombes (1909-15), V . H . S . D a v e n p o r t

(1889-92), E. T o w n s o n (1904-7), E. L. Roberts

( J 9°3-7)-

IN place o f the annual report and l ist o f members

w h i c h is usually published at this t ime of year, a

short letter f rom the secretary w i t h a statement

o f accounts i s being sent w i t h this number o f T H E B L O X H A M I S T to members of the Society.

V I S I T O R S . — The f o l l o w i n g O l d Bloxhamists

have visited the School d u r i n g the present t e r m :—

K. J. Cherry (1912-14), October 3rd and

November 13th ; E. U. S t r a t t o n (1877-82),

October 4th ; F. C. Bowler (1911-15), October

20th ; A. E. S. Riddle (1903-9), October 22nd ;

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 1 4 7

J . T . Champion (1864-8), October 30th t o N o v e m ­ber 8 t h ; K. M. C. F r a d d (1908-14), October 30th to November 2 ; C. A. M. Roberts (1904-12), E. J. H a r v e y (1906-13), A. G. A. Davis (1903-9), H . W . E g e r t o n (1886-92), J . S . Boissier (1904-8), November i s t ; E. L. Roberts (1903-7), N o v e m ­ber 20th to 2 2 n d ; Capt. A. Chi ld (M 1910-15), December n t h t o 1 5 t h ; H . W . E . Crouchley (1911-12), December 13th

B I R T H . — O n October 4 t h , at Chehvood Rectory,

B r i s t o l , the wife o f the Rev. J . F . T u r n e r , o f a son.

O B I T U A R Y .

I T i s w i t h the profoundest regret that w e record

the death of the Rev. Father M a x w e l l , Superior

of the Society of St. John the Evangel ist , O x f o r d ,

w h i c h occurred suddenly early on Saturday

m o r n i n g , December 4 t h . T h o u g h not officially

connected w i t h the School, he took the greatest

interest in its welfare, and we have often derived

much benefit f r o m his simple words. He preached

at the School so recently as October 31st, the

eve of our Patronal Fest ival , and celebrated the

H o l y Eucharist o n the f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g . H i s

sermon is reported in another column. He was a

man of the most lovable disposit ion and of sound

j u d g m e n t . The Church on earth has lost one of

her noblest priests.

C A P T . P. S. G. W A I N M A N was at B l o x h a m

1891-2, and continued his education at Fettes

and Sandhurst. He obtained his commission in

the i s t W o r c e s t e r Regiment in 1898, and was

promoted captain in 1902. F r o m 1906 to 1909

he was adjutant of the 4 t h Devonshire Regiment.

In 1909 he resigned his commission. He was on

the Special Reserve of the 6 t h B a t t a l i o n of the

Worcester Regiment, and on the outbreak of the

war jo ined the 2nd Bat ta l ion of his o ld regiment,

and went to France on October i s t , 1914. Capt.

W a i n m a n saw active service in South Afr ica in

1900-2, and received the Queen's medal w i t h t w o

clasps and the K i n g ' s medal w i t h t w o clasps.

L I E U T E N A N T - C O L O N E L C. C. J A C K S O N (1883-5)

was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Border

Regiment in 1888. In A u g u s t , 1891, he jo ined

the I n d i a n Staff Corps and was promoted Major

in 1906 and Lieutenant-Colonel in November, 1914.

F r o m 1906 to 1911 he served as A d j u t a n t , I n d i a n

Volunteers. He was k i l led d u r i n g the recent

f ighting in Mesopotamia.

J

+ 3-n /Iftemoriam.

(Cf?arles #n6rett> Mil, mbo oteo October 28tb, 1915,

2lgeo 2S gears.

R.I.P.

148 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

H. M. W i l k i n s was at school 1904-6, and, on

leaving, went i n t o business in London. A b o u t

four years ago he jo ined the R o u g h Riders, C i ty

of L o n d o n Yeomanry , in w h i c h he attained to the

r a n k of sergeant. He was recently offered a

commission in the Royal Fie ld A r t i l l e r y , b u t pre­

ferred to remain w i t h his old friends. He was

wounded in the a t tempt to capture H i l l 70, in

G a l l i p o l i , and short ly afterwards succumbed to

his wounds.

A L L S A I N T S ' D A Y .

A P U B L I C School of any s tanding and age

has one day in its school year w h i c h stands

out in relief against the rest. T h a t day varies

w i t h the type of school, or w i t h the nature of its

foundat ion. In some it is Speech Day, in others

it is Founder's Day, b u t whatever it is, the day is

the one to which the O l d Boys look back on w i t h

fondest recollections, and the one on which more

t h a n any other they w o u l d prefer to v is i t their o ld

school. Such a day at B l o x h a m is All Saints'1 Day. M a n y memories gather r o u n d i t . I t has been in

some years speech day, in others the day of the

annual play, b u t it has always been the Patronal

Fest ival , and we l ike to t h i n k t h a t i t is this last

aspect w h i c h has had most endurance amongst

Bloxhamists , for in that respect it has never altered.

Usual ly the School has welcomed on November

i s t , many old boys, and the footbal l match of the

season between Past and Present has in recent

years been decided on t h a t afternoon. Parents

and vis i tors have been numerous in years past, d r a w n by the a t t r a c t i o n of the pr ize-g iv ing or the evening entertainment.

B u t , as elsewhere, this year the nat ional crisis

forbad a n y t h i n g more than a simple School

ceremony. No inv i tat ions were issued, and only

some friends f rom the immediate neighbourhood

came to the concert, b u t we were g lad to see

a few old boys, some of w h o m were natura l ly in

k h a k i , t h o u g h it was not possible to f ind an

eleven to play the School. Yet the letters and

telegrams, f rom abroad, and f r o m m i l i t a r y and

naval t r a i n i n g depots at home, made us realise

that the thoughts of many were w i t h us on the day.

A m o n g s t those who w r o t e were M r . G. H.

A s h w o r t h , M r . A t t w o o d , A. P. Boissier, Rev. S.

Boulter , B . E . Champion, M r . Blacker, A . H .

H o r n e r , A. P lummer, J. C. Stevens, R. Cobb,

S. Gorston, L. Ostrehan, E. T o w n s o n , F. J.

L i n n e l l , H . G . B r o w n i n g , Rev. W . A . Green, and

the old Headmaster (the Rev. G. H. W a r d ) .

Flowers and donations to the F l o w e r F u n d were

sent by M r . G. H. A s h w o r t h , A. E . F o r d h a m ,

Captain A. C h i l d , and M r s . Deane.

It seemed a smal l matter w i t h so many good wishes t h a t as a Speech D a y the funct ion was robbed of its vis i tors ; t h a t as O l d Boys' D a y the season was deprived of its best footbal l match. It remained for those at the School to see that as their Patronal Fest ival i t suffered in no way. F o r after a l l , that is the chief characteristic of the day. In fact, i t may be questioned whether November i s t is the best day or the best t i m e of the year to welcome a large number of guests who assemble for a pr ize-g iv ing . O l d boys are usually impervious to the weather, and always f ind t ime too short to carry out a f u l l invest igat ion of their o ld School, nor are they v is i tors who need con­stant entertainment. For t h e m , A l l Saints' D a y is their day, and l o n g may it remain so.

The order of the day itself was as fol lows :—

There was a Celebration of the H o l y C o m m u n i o n

at 8 oclock, at which nearly a l l made their com­

m u n i o n . At 10.30 the H o l y Eucharist was sung.

The Chapel had been beati ful ly decorated by M r ,

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 149

W i l s o n for the occasion. The service was rendered w i t h that carefulness and reverence which is customary at B l o x h a m . There was no sermon, but at the first Evensong on the previous n i g h t the late Superior of the Society of St. John Evangel ist , Cowley, (Father M a x w e l l ) preached. We l i t t l e t h o u g h t , as we listened to his helpful and i n s p i r i n g sermon, marked by its extreme s impl ic i ty , that never again should we be privi leged to hear h i m in our Chapel, and that in a few short weeks he w o u l d have been called to j o i n those Saints of w h o m he spoke so earnestly and l o v i n g l y . T a k i n g as his t e x t the n i n t h verse of the seventh chapter of the Book of the Revelation of St. John the D i v i n e , the preacher d i s t i n ­guished between the four divisions of man's self : — T h e body, the m i n d , the affections, and the capacity for God. He pointed out and i l lustrated h o w each and every div is ion was entirely governed by man's w i l l . He then described the Saints, whose festival we were keeping, as those w h o had perfectly w i l l e d their fourfold self to God. He t h o u g h t the B loxhamists were happy in their Patronal Fest ival , inasmuch as they had so much to admire in the diverse characters of the Saints, such encouragement in their at tempts to fol low in their footsteps, and because they were not t ied d o w n to the consideration of the virtues of a single saint, whose very holiness m i g h t be a h i n d ­rance as too hard to imitate . He went on to describe the desire—the w a n t and the call of God for each of H i s creatures, and showed h o w the Saints had answered this call by developing their capacity for H i m . Some, he pointed out , had begun badly, and had probably been infamous rather than famous at School. Yet many such were then amongst the Saints of God. Some had left their answer to God's call t i l l very late i n their life upon earth, and so had to continue the w o r k of perfecting their w i l l beyond the ve i l , but he warned us al l in solemn words t h a t if we hoped to w i n to the band of Saints, we must realise now in this w o r l d that God wants us. Once we d i d grasp that v i t a l fact, then natura l ly we should w i l l our bodies to be clean, our thoughts to be pure, our affections and desires to be devoted

w o r t h i l y , and our capacity for God to be developed. Y e t unless the realisation and the w o r k towards this end was begun in this w o r l d , i t w o u l d be too late. In the next w o r l d the w o r k m i g h t be con­t inued, but i t could not be begun.

The chief events of the afternoon were a footbal l match and a gymnast ic display. M r . Blanshard had managed to raise a team, and after a good game the School won easily. Later , the t w o Senior Gymnastic Squads gave an exhihi t ion of Swedish d r i l l , and of w o r k on the paral lel bars, the horse and the horizontal bar. The Swedish d r i l l of the School has been under the direct ion of D. W. T. Cain, as Captain of Gymnastics, d u r i n g this term. Since the illness of Sergeant-Instructor Grinter and the departure of M r . C h i l d , this w o r k has fallen w h o l l y on to Cain and the Prefects. T h a t the w o r k has been wel l done was shown by the efficiency and smartness of the squads, and the directors are to be con­gratu lated on the results of their labours.

Evensong was sung at six o'clock, and at e ight the schoolroom was wel l- f i l led by local visitors. The p r o g r a m m e , as w i l l be seen, was varied. I t began w i t h the pr ize-g iv ing , fo l lowed by an entertainment by M r . Stanley Bel l , which was interspersed w i t h songs, chiefly of a m i l i t a r y nature. After a b r i l l i a n t pianoforte solo by M r . Shaw, who was forced to g ive an encore, the Headmaster asked M r s . H i n d e to give away the prizes, r e m a r k i n g that the absence of a f o r m a l speech day dispensed h i m from a formal speech. He said t h a t he had asked Mrs . H i n d e to distr ibute the prizes as he could t h i n k of no one more suitable to do so than the daughter of the Founder. He mentioned the increase of the School numbers, and congratulated the Local candidates on their successes. He paid t r i b u t e to the sound, t h o r o u g h w o r k done by M r . Chi ld and M r . A l l e n , who had left to take up m i l i t a r y duties, and in conclusion he gave to the School a w a r m g r e e t i n g f r o m their late Headmaster, M r . W a r d . He explained that the School Financial Committee had decided that this year, o w i n g to the war and in accordance w i t h the practice in other W o o d a r d Schools, no prizes should be given

T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

f rom the School funds. O w i n g to the generosity

o f M r . W . B , W o o d a r d , M r . L . B icknel l , M r .

A . E . F o r d h a m , M r . G. H. A s h w o r t h , and the

O l d Bloxhamist Society, enough money had been

offered to a l low most of the prizes to be g iven.

Mrs . H i n d e then d i s t r i b u t e d them to the f o l l o w i n g prize-winners : — D i v i n i t y — V I . , R . V . Lyle ; V . , D. A. Neale ; I V . , S. R. B o l t o n ; I I I . ,

B . L . Phelps and H. C . Snape ; I I . , M. Bennett . Classics—VI., L a t i n and Greek, W. E. McKenzie H i l l ; V. and I V . , L a t i n , S. R. Bol ton ; Lower School, H. C. Snape. Mathematics—VI., R. M. Coombes ; V. and I V . , J. S. Hughes ; Lower School, H. C. Snape. French—VI., R. V. L y l e ; V. and I V . , D. A. Neale ; Lower School, H. C. Snape. English Subjects—VI., E n g l i s h , R. V. Lyle ; H i s t o r y , W . E . McKenzie H i l l ; V . and I V . , E n g l i s h , D. A. Neale ; H i s t o r y , S. R. B o l t o n ; Lower S c h o o l — E n g l i s h , H. C. Snape ; H i s t o r y , A. E. Lewis and G. W. Saunders. Science— R. M. Coombes. Drawing—F. M. Eve. Dis­tinctions in Oxford Locals—First Class H o n o u r s , Senior, R. W. Pearse ; J u n i o r , F . M. Eve and D. A. Neale.

The Local Certificates were then distr ibuted to

the successful candidates. M r s . H i n d e also gave

away medals for efficiency and s i g n a l l i n g to

members of the O . T C. Efficiency—Senior, Sergt.

R. M. Coombes ; Junior , Cdt. R. C. Sidney-

W i l m o t . Signalling—Senior, Sergt. W . H .

H i g g s ; Junior , Cdt. J. S. C l a r k ; Elementary,

Cdt. W . J . K i r k b y .

The Headmaster thanked M r s . H i n d e for her kindness, and the School endorsed his remarks in the t ime-honoured fashion of schoolboys.

The concert then continued ; the songs met

w i t h a ready response, and the choruses were

hearti ly taken up. Great credit is due to M r .

G o l d i n g and M r . Burgess for their trouble in

rehearsing these i tems, which certainly gave

addi t iona l life to the proceedings. We missed

the topical verses w h i c h we have come to look

f o r w a r d to at our concerts. We hope another

poet may arise, b u t topical allusions were not

entirely absent f r o m M r . Stanley Bell 's i tems, and

his knowledge of nick-names and other school phraseology was phenomenally miraculous. He

' f irst gave some c o n j u r i n g t r i cks which w i l l l o n g be remembered, if f rom no other fact than t h a t his assistants gained some new names which seem to have stuck to them. H i s next representa­t i o n of a vi l lage concert, and his v i v i d m i m i c r y of the characters were intensely amusing , but his v e n t r i l o q u i a l efforts met w i t h most applause. H i s extraordinary companion had an uncanny knowledge of our o w n School l i fe, and his con­stant and wel l - t imed interpolat ions created roars of laughter. We shall be very pleased to hear M r . Stanley Bell again.

The f u l l p r o g r a m m e was : — 1 . T h e N a t i o n a l A n t h e m

2 . P i a n o f o r t e S o l o ... M r . S h a w

3 . D i s t r i b u t i o n o f P r i z e s b y M r s . H i n d e

4 . S o n g — " C a r r y o n " ... ... ... M r . B u r g e s s

5. C o n j u r i n g ... ... ... ... M r . S t a n l e y B e l l

6 . S o n g — " T o m m y A t k i n s " ... . . . A . L . S t e p h e n s

7 . S k e t c h M r . S t a n l e y B e l l

8 . S o n g — " L i t t l e G r e y H o m e i n the W e s t , " T h e C h a p l a i n

9 . S o n g — " S o m e w h e r e i n F r a n c e " W . G . R o w l a n d

1 0 . V e n t r i l o q u i s m ... ... ... M r . S t a n l e y B e l l

1 1 . S o n g — " T i l l the B o y s c o m e H o m e , " C . S . L . C o u l s o n

This concluded the holiday, and we feel t h a t at any rate we observed the Fest iva l a r i g h t to the best of our a b i l i t y , and have cont inued the t r a d i ­t i o n of A l l Saints' School. ,

F O O T B A L L .

B L O X H A M S C H O O L V . A B I N G D O N S C H O O L I S T X I .

(Away.)

A very fast game in which we far outmatched

our opponents in w e i g h t and speed. Cain

played very w e l l , his speed enabl ing h i m to

overtake others and obtain an almost clear goal.

In the first ha l f the sun shone in the faces of those

expect ing a pass f r o m the backs and hindered

them. The score a t hal f- t ime was 4 — 0 i n our

favour. In the second hal f the goal was in the

shade and shoot ing was very accurate. The

score a t t ime was 1 0 — 1 i n our favour, Cain

h a v i n g shot 7 goals and H i g g s 1, C o m p t o n - H a l l

! scoring w i t h t w o good shots f r o m outside left.

T H E R L O X H A M I S T .

B L O X H A M S C H O O L I S T X I . v . H O O K N O R T O N F.C. !

Played on our opponents ' g r o u n d . This match

was played on a s loping g r o u n d t h a t was not

m a r k e d out , in heavy r a i n , w i t h a h i g h w i n d ,

play in the second hal f be ing in semi-darkness.

T h e score gradual ly mounted for them to 7, u n t i l

H i g g s scored our only goal . O u r forwards were

great ly handicapped by the absence of Cain, and

also by the eccentricities of the referee. The

School played very creditably considering the

mode of play.

Team :—C. G. M a r t i n , R. A. G. Ravenor, !

J . A . L . Champneys, W . R . W r i g h t , W . G . !

R o w l a n d , S . R . B o l t o n , J . E . W r i g h t , W. E .

McKenzie H i l l , W . F . G . Clowser, W . H . H i g g s ,

G. F. M. M c D o n a l d .

B L O X H A M S C H O O L V. W I T N E Y A.S.C., 346 Co.

Played on November 17th, at W i t n e y . Play

commenced about 3 p . m . , and at once the School

defence was engaged. The goal-keeper effected

several quite good saves. The forwards were wel l

supplied w i t h passes, w h i c h they failed to use to

the best advantage. At hal f- t ime the score was

3 — o for the A.S.C. Soon after the resumption of

play, Cain, by a splendid run t h r o u g h , scored our

only goal . At the conclusion of play, the score

stood at 5—1 for our opponents.

T e a m :—C. G. M a r t i n (goal) , R. A. G. Ravenor,

J. A. L. Champneys, S. R. B o l t o n , W. G. R o w l a n d ,

W . R . W r i g h t , G . F . M . M c D o n a l d , W . H . H i g g s , j

D . W . T . Cain , W . E . McKenzie H i l l , J . E .

W r i g h t .

L E C T U R E S .

THE f o l l o w i n g account of a lecture given here

on Sunday, November 14th, is taken f r o m

The Church Times :—

" A t a public school the w i n t e r terms and

lectures are inseparable. Of the many offered to

schoolboys there can be few more interest ing and

more useful than that of M r . Cl i f ton K e l w a y on

' T h e O x f o r d Movement. ' I n t e r e s t i n g as is the subject to al l Churchmen, it has a special appeal in a W o o d a r d school, which i tsel f was an outcome of the movement. M r . C l i f ton K e l w a y k n o w s how to lecture to a schoolboy audience. The boys of B l o x h a m School t h o r o u g h l y enjoyed themselves on Sunday evening. T h e lecture was i l lus trated by some beauti ful slides, s h o w i n g very v i v i d l y the changes which had taken place in the w o r s h i p , in the care, in the adornment of our churches. B e g i n n i n g w i t h a review of church life a n d worship before the movement, the lecturer passed on to its leaders, and concluded w i t h the result of their w o r k . The picture of a desolate sanctuary, d i r t y and uncared for, w i t h i ts a l tar desecrated by a g u t t e r i n g candle, a top hat and an umbrel la , b r o u g h t home to many the debt of g r a t i t u d e which we owe to the fa i th and loya l ty of a Pusey and a Keble, when they remembered their o w n School chapel w i t h its perfect appointments. N o r d i d the lecturer fai l to emphasize that it was fa i th and loyal ty , careless of obloquy, of persecution, of neglect, which revived Church life and Cathol ic teaching. The whole lecture roused enthusiasm and interest, and we hope a s t r o n g desire to hold fast the privileges regained."

O n the f o l l o w i n g evening M r . C l i f ton K e l w a y gave us another treat . He showed us some beautiful pictures of the Panama Canal, and related the story of its m a k i n g . Very few people, we venture to t h i n k , can imagine the enormous difficulties which had to be overcome in its con­s t r u c t i o n , the rivers to be diverted, lakes to be made, vast dams to be b u i l t , mountains to be d u g t h r o u g h . The story was indeed a revelation of the marvellous feats of modern engineering.

On Saturday, December 4 t h , the Rev. A.

G o l d r i n g , O.B., gave us a lecture on the war , in

w h i c h he reviewed the most i m p o r t a n t points of

its progress and traced the various steps which

led up to i t . After al l the various accounts w h i c h

we have read, and the contradic tory reports which

we have heard, it was a great advantage to have

the real facts so s imply and clearly laid before us.

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 153

T H E W A R .

WE have been asked to state that the

Founder's only grandson, John H i n d e , is

at present on active service. He is Second-

Lieutenant in the Royal F i e l d A r t i l l e r y , D.

Bat tery , 91st Br igade, 20th L i g h t D i v i s i o n .

Captain E. Tovvnson (1904-7) has recovered

f r o m his at tack of dysentery and has returned to

his m i l i t a r y duties in the Mediterranean.

C. B r o w n ( 1 9 0 9 - n ) , Second-Lieutenant A. E. S.

Riddle (1903-9), and Captain W . L . Dudley

{M1909-11), have also resumed their places,

h a v i n g recovered f rom s l ight wounds.

Lieutenant H. W. E. Crouchley (1911-12) has

been invalided home, b u t hopes to r e t u r n to his

reg iment shortly.

E. G. Belfield (1909-12), who went to Gal l ipol i

w i t h the W a r w i c k s h i r e Yeomanry , was invalided

home some t i m e ago suffering f r o m sun-stroke.

He has now recovered and has obtained a com­

mission as Second-Lieutenant in the Royal F i e l d

A r t i l l e r y .

Captain S. C. N a t i o n (1877-81), 9 t h Bat ta l ion

Devonshire Regiment , was reported wounded on

October 12th.

Second-Lieutenant B. F. F r i e n d (1900-3), 6th

B a t t a l i o n Royal W e s t K e n t Regiment, was

reported on November 18th to be suffering f rom

gas poisoning.

Lieutenant-Colonel W . H . Beach (1883-5),

Royal Engineers, was reported on November 30th

to have been wounded in Mesopotamia.

Captain A. Chi ld (M1910-15), recently O.C. of

the B l o x h a m O.T.C. , is now w i t h the 3/2nd

B a t t a l i o n of the London Regiment ; and Lieut .

C. Al len (M1912-15) has been transferred to the

3rd Bat ta l ion Royal Berkshire Regiment.

O.T.C. N O T E S . r I ' H E last edit ion of T H E B L O X H A N I S T found the

Corps w i t h no officers gazetted, and a

somewhat g l o o m y out look for the t e r m .

Since then there have been many changes, b o t h

in the personel and w o r k of the corps.

M r . L. Jacob was gazetted 2nd Lieut , as f r o m

October 20th.

The Rev. C. E. Burgess has been a c t i n g as a

cadet officer d u r i n g the term.

The corps has lost t w o very capable N.C.O.'s,

Lance-Sergeant Bonnewel l and Lance-Corporal

C o m p t o n - H a l l . T h e former has taken a commis­

sion in the A.S .C. B o t h were very keen members

of the ir corps and their loss is keenly felt .

The f o l l o w i n g have been promoted d u r i n g the

t e r m , N o v . 20th : — L a n c e - C o r p o r a l Cain to be f u l l

C o r p o r a l ; Cadet Lyle to be Lance-Corporal ;

Cadet R. Powel l to be Lance-Corporal .

The Headmaster and the Chaplain have very

k i n d l y presented a couple of side-drums to the

corps. I t was hoped that under the i n s t r u c t i o n of

Cadet Officer C. E. Burgess, some ski l led d r u m m e r s

w o u l d soon be produced. Depr ived of the

former's help the N . C . O . i/c buglers are neverthe­

less w o r k i n g hard w i t h the band, and the corps

hopes to show in a loud but tuneful manner h o w

much it appreciates these g i f ts .

It has been said that there have been changes

in the w o r k of the corps. On N o v . 21 , a letter

was received f rom the A d j u t a n t 2nd Batt . O x f o r d ­

shire Volunteer Regiment saying t h a t the m i l i t a r y

authorit ies at D i d c o t were appeal ing to the O.T.C.

contingents in the neighbourhood for help at

D i d c o t . Large quanti t ies of stores are there

packed and sent off to the various seats of war .

The w o r k is carried on entirely by O.T.C. and

V . T . C . cont ingents , w o r k i n g under the direct ion

of the m i l i t a r y authorit ies .

Sunday being the day on w h i c h B l o x h a m was asked to supply a detachment, on the f o l l o w i n g Sunday about 40 N.C.O. 's and cadets paraded at 10.15 and inarched to Banbury Stat ion and entrained there for D i d c o t . The detachment had to take i ts o w n rations, and these were speedily disposed of on the j o u r n e y .

154 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

On a r r i v a l at D i d c o t the detachment took i ts

place at the head of a co lumn of 500 V . T . C . and

marched to the depot, w h i c h is about 2 miles f r o m

the s tat ion. The depot can best be described as

miles and miles of every k i n d of t h i n g w h i c h an

a r m y uses and w h i c h the censor does not l ike to

be mentioned. There was not much t ime for

l o o k i n g about, for w o r k was soon found for even

the youngest cadet. Ra i lway t r u c k s had to be

emptied and their contents neatly stacked in the

sheds : some t h i n g s had to be painted, some to be

carried to different parts of the sheds, some to be

taken out of boxes and put i n t o bags and vice versa.

A l l w o r k e d w i t h a w i l l , and i t i s on record t h a t some members of another corps, seeing the busi­ness-like way in which B l o x h a m tackled its j o b , warned them " not to go so fast . "

It seemed to be t i m e to go far too soon, for at 4 o'clock the p a r t y started off for the station. On the way, the O.C. at D i d c o t , Colonel Purchas, sent w o r d t h a t he wished to address the detach­ment, w h i c h he d i d further d o w n the road.

H i s words were few but d i d not fai l to convey to each cadet the fact t h a t , t h o u g h too y o u n g to serve his country in the trenches, he was most certainly d o i n g his bit by h e l p i n g to pack and send off those stores w h i c h were so necessary to the army in action. Colonel Purchas further said t h a t he was very grate fu l to the O . T . C . for their help and for the w i l l i n g and able way in w h i c h i t was g iven and he hoped to see them many more times at Didcot . M u d and d i r t were forgot ten on the way back to the stat ion for al l knew that they had done a good day's w o r k in the service of their country . T h e t r a i n was w a i t i n g at the s tat ion, hot tea had been provided for the detachment, haversacks were opened and t i n mugs and buns soon silenced the most t a l k a t i v e .

At l e n g t h the r e t u r n journey was over and at 6.45 Banbury was again reached. The bugles s truck up, and the party commenced its l o n g march back, t h r o u g h the dark streets of the t o w n and then on to the s t i l l darker B l o x h a m Road. Once clear of the t o w n bugles and voices in t u r n helped to speed away the miles, and at 8 o'clock

the School l ights were in s ight . At last the Quad was reached, the party halted, waterbott les and haversacks were collected, the p a r t y dismissed, t i red and d i r t y , but j u s t l y p r o u d of a hard day's w o r k .

D i d c o t is now a part of the weekly p r o g r a m m e ,

and each Sunday finds a detachment of cadets

w o r k i n g there. The w o r k varies, sometimes i n ­

door, sometimes outdoor. Perhaps t h a t Sunday

on w h i c h the detachment's w o r k was to haul many

large vehicles t h r o u g h much deep m u d , w i l l never

be forgot ten by those who f loundered t h r o u g h i t .

D i d c o t m u d had been heard of before, but never

fu l ly appreciated by B l o x h a m u n t i l those vehicles

had to be d r a w n t h r o u g h i t .

O N W A R S E R V I C E , 1915.

F r o m " The Church Times."

' " T H E R E is a l i t t l e school in the Engl ish M i d -

lands where they teach and observe the

Catholic F a i t h . T h i r t y miles away there is a r a i l -

' way j u n c t i o n , where, in huge sheds and in miles

of ra i lway t rucks and vans, a harassed Colonel of

the A r m y Ordnance Corps and his small and

o v e r w o r k e d command t o i l week in and week out

in the strenuous endeavour to preserve order

amongst the thousands of tons of war mater ia l

w h i c h come to them f r o m the factories, and w h i c h

they in t u r n send on to the base ports , for shipment

overseas. The Colonel appealed for help, and the

call was heard by the Volunteer Regiments of

three M i d l a n d Counties and by the Officers'

T r a i n i n g Corps of some of the Public Schools.

The officer in charge of the Cadets at this l i t t l e

school was a m o n g those approached, and the

order went for th that the C o n t i n g e n t should do

its b i t on this and f o l l o w i n g Sundays, for the rest

j of the present t e r m .

It is a l i t t l e school, but they teach and observe

the old fa i th. They also u r g e n t l y w a n t to " d o

their b i t . " Behold t h e m , therefore, in their

beautiful chapel, at the canonical hour of 9 o'clock

' in the forenoon. Four-score youths, ha l f of them

T H E B L O X H A M I S T . 155

in k h a k i service uni forms, a s p r i n k l i n g of masters

and v is i tors , the m a t r o n and the maids, stand as

the unwonted s ight of a priest , attended by cruci-

fer and candle-bearing servers clad in k h a k i ,

moves up the aisle to the altar. Pla insong and

chorales r o l l heavenwards w i t h more than the

usual volume of sound as the Mass proceeds.

The ancient words are said and sung, the ancient

forms are solemnly enacted, a sermon is preached

by a priest w i t h the collar and tie and Sam

Browne belt of an officer, and the ancient Obla­

t i o n is offered.

" T h e y go up as h igh as the hi l ls and d o w n to

the valleys beneath," said the Psalmist. See

them later in the quadrangle , g i r t w i t h water-

bottles and haversacks; section commanders

b u s t l i n g about, platoon sergeant g o i n g round

w i t h eagle eye. " M o v e to the r i g h t in fours,

f o r m fours, r i g h t : by the left, quick m a r c h . "

The bugles s t r ike up the School march , the

officers take post, and the platoon swings off

d o w n the road on its four miles march t h r o u g h

the keen November air , to the ra i lway stat ion.

" M a r c h at ease," sings out the O.C., and on they

go, sometimes w h i s t l i n g , sometimes s i n g i n g , but

always b r i s k l y f o o t i n g it a long. " Five men, four

men, three men, t w o men, one man and his

d o g : w e n t to m o w a meadow." A mixed couple

on bicycles is cheerfully greeted w i t h song.

D o w n the streets of the l i t t l e m a r k e t t o w n they

march a t " A t t e n t i o n " : " E y e s l e f t " t o the

statue of the Kaiser's Engl ish grandmother , and

w i t h a clatter of hobnailed boots they file over the

stat ion br idge, and entrain.

They are not alone. Volunteers in grey u n i ­

forms, w i t h the " G . R . " on their red brassards,

f i l l hal f of the " s p e c i a l . " O l d men these: a l l

over age- l imit for the regular A r m y , but w i l l i n g

t o " d o their b i t . " The landscape o f Engl i sh

r u r a l shires slips by. The " d r e a m i n g s p i r e s "

of a famous c i ty are left in their Sunday peace.

Afternoon has arr ived as the t ra in draws up at the

j u n c t i o n , and youngsters and elders get out at

the b i d d i n g of their N.C.O. 's and form up on the

p l a t f o r m . A l o n g co lumn is d r a w n up outside

the s tat ion, and the O.T.C. in the place of honour, behind the band, they march off to w o r k .

See them an hour later. Toss ing boxes f r o m

hand to hand, s t a c k i n g t h e m , f i l l ing t h e m ,

p a i n t i n g them, and n a i l i n g on the l ids, w o r k i n g

under the eyes of regular officers and N . C . O . ' s :

these youngsters hustle on w i t h their w o r k . Here

is a g a n g of j u n i o r s — f e l l o w s of fourteen to six­

teen—sent to the barrack section to deal w i t h

crockery. W h e n they g o t there the job had been

g iven to some of the veterans, but they cheerfully

tackled heavier w o r k . Puffing and b l o w i n g , a

section hurls itself on to a p a c k i n g case of hard­

ware, b i g enough to hold hal f of t h e m , and at the

exhortat ion of a cadet-corporal, boosts it on to

the top of a q u i c k l y g r o w i n g pile of s imi lar cases.

T h i s is magnif icent, but it is too much for them.

On the representations of one of their officers, the

A.O.C. corporal puts them on to the less strenuous

and somewhat u n w a r l i k e business of passing,

c a r r y i n g , and s t a c k i n g plates. Plates in t h o u ­

sands are in that shed. Pudding-basins by the

hundred , feeding cups, pots and j u g s , a l l the

many varieties o f crockery that T o m m y A t k i n s

uses in sickness and in health ; it makes the

intel lect reel to l isten to the tale w h i c h the cor­

poral has to recite, as he goes t h r o u g h the l ist of

articles which the K i n g has entrusted to his care

for the t ime being. He who wri tes the present

story went back to the shed where the throwers

and stackers of boxes were p u r s u i n g their l a w f u l

occupations. There was the platoon sergeant—he

of the small presence and eagle eye—but w h a t

recked he now of smartness ? One had t r ied to

catch a box w i t h his head, some had obviously

been p a i n t i n g , but over a thousand boxes stood

neatly stacked in the middle of the shed, and the

A . O . C . man was l o o k i n g on w i t h approval . On

w i t h the belts and tunics . The water-bottles

where most ly empty now, and the haversacks

were somewhat l ighter . A few words of thanks

f r o m the harassed Colonel. " M a y I march t h e m

off now, s i r , " f rom the O.C., and the platoon

swings off d o w n the muddy main road to the

gates, m a k i n g its way back to the station.

156 T H E B L O X H A M I S T .

The bells were r i n g i n g for Evensong as they

g o t into the m a r k e t t o w n , where they detrained.

B u t these y o u n g f o l k had done their b i t for the

day. There was four miles to march to the

School, and they were h u n g r y and weary. They

had g iven to God the g l o r y t h a t was his ; they

had given K i n g George their w i l l i n g service, to

the best of their abi l i ty . N o w they wanted to get

home. A n d they d i d n ' t get j a m for tea.

P H I L A T E L I C S O C I E T Y .

r | ^ H E above Society has been formed w i t h the

object of increasing the interest in stamp

col lecting. Papers w i l l be g iven f o r t n i g h t l y by

members of the Society upon points of interest or

curios i ty in Philately.

Meetings are to be held on Sunday mornings at

twelve. A stamp exchange has been formed,

w h i c h is inclusive to members of the Society, and

there is no subscription for members.

A. L. Stevens was elected hon. secretary at the f irst meet ing on November 7th.

T . S . A .

E D I T O R I A L N O T I C E S .

We b e g to a c k n o w l e d g e w i t h t h a n k s the receipt of the fol lowing I c o n t e m p o r a r i e s : — 5 . Edward's School Chronicle (2), The Lancing \ College Magazine (2), The Pauline (2), The Hurst fohnian, The Lily, j The Brackleian.

" T H E B L O X H A M I S T " w i l l b e publ ished twice i n e a c h T e r m i n future.

C o n t r i b u t i o n s for the next N u m b e r should be sent to the E d i t o r before F e b r u a r y 15th, 1916, writ ten on one side of the p a p e r only.

The Annual Subscription is j ' s . Post free. M e m b e r s of the O l d B l o x h a m i s t S o c i e t y a r e supplied w i t h copies. T h e S e c r e t a r y i s the R e v . H . R . W I L L I M O T T , B l o x h a m S c h o o l , B a n b u r y , t o w h o m m e m b e r s s h o u l d send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s . O t h e r s u b s c r i b e r s t o T H E B L O X H A M I S T should send their s u b s c r i p t i o n s t o C . J . W I L S O N , E s q . , w h o c a n a l s o s u p p l y C o v e r s for B i n d i n g .

P r i n t e d for A L L S A I N T S ' S C H O O L , B l o x h a m , b y C H E N E Y & S O N S , " R a i l w a y G u i d e " Office, C a l t h o r p e Street, B a n b u r y .

ROLL OF SERVICE.

T h e i n f o r m a t i o n given is the latest we possess.

T h e mark v is placed before the names of those w h o have been in the O.T.C. at B l o x h a m .

T h e names of those w h o have fallen in the war are p r i n t e d in heavy type, and the date of their death is shown in the r ight-hand column.

In order that this record may be as accurate and complete as possible, it is earnestly requested that all O l d Boys and others w i l l point out inaccuracies and omissions. Particulars should include rank, regiment and battal ion. It w o u l d be a great help if early notice were given of p r o m o t i o n or other dist inct ion. It is hoped that friends and relatives of those serving into whose hands this record may fall w i l l co-operate in supplying informat ion.

A l l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s h o u l d b e sent t o the R e v . H . R . W i l l i m o t t , B l o x h a m S c h o o l , B a n b u r y .

T h e E d i t o r takes this opportuni ty of thanking his many correspondents w h o have pointed out errors or ommissions in previous lists.

C. M.G .=Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. D. S.C. —Distinguished Service Cross. C. B. —Companion of the Order of the Bath. M.C. ^ M i l i t a r y Cross. D. C.M.—Distinguished Conduct Medal.

R O Y A L - N A V Y

A R N O L D , N .

* B E N N K T T , T. W. . BOISSIER, E. G. . BOISSIER, M. E. S. B R O M W I C H , G . H . , D.S.O.

(late COCKEY, G H.) ... *COBB, R. H.

CREE, E. B. D A V I E S , J. R. H A R G R A V E , J. E. HARGREAVES, G. E. L. ...

*HARRIS, R. L. K I D M A N , P. W. . L I N N E L L , F. J. . L Y N E , P. E. MARSDEN-JONES, A. M .

*MARSD EN-JONES, V. ... PEARCE, R. H. . ROACH, S ROBERTSON, T. A. M . ... STEVENS, W. C. . T H O M P S O N , W. B

When at School

1903- 6 1904- 11 1897-98 1895-98

Assist. Paymstr. Petty Officer Lieut.-Com. Lieut.-Com.

H.M.S. "Venerab le "

Royal Naval Airship Service R.N. Volunteer Reserve... H.M.S. " Empress of India

1885-87 Eng.-Com. H.M.S. " Penguin " (Australia

1910-13 Cadet R.N. College, Dartmouth 1899-1903 R.N. Volunteer Reserve

1903-5 R.N. Volunteer Reserve 1901-4 Assist. Paymstr. H.M.S. "Bacchante"

1909-11 Clerk H.M.S. " T o p a z e " 1911-14 Sub.-Lieut. Royal Marines 1902-7 Petty Officer Royal Naval Airship Service 1906-8 Sub.-Lieut. R.N. F ly ing Corps 1886- Captain H.M.S. " W o o d n u t "

1907-10 Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve 1906-11 Royal Naval Division 1907-9 Assist. Paymstr. H.M.S. " L i o n "

1883-90 Fleet-Surgeon H.M.S. " Devonshire " 1904-5 Sub.-Lieut. H.M.S. " New Zealand "

1877-80 Eng.-Com. R.N. College, Osborne M 1912-13 Royal Naval Division

A R M Y Name When at School Rank Name of Regiment

* A L L E N , C M 1912-15 2nd Lieut. 3rd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment A M E S B U R Y , W. L. R. ... 1882-84 Major Indian A r m y

*ANDERSON, P. A 1909-14 Gunner South African Heavy Art i l lery A N S E L L , H. G 1897-1900 Warwickshire Yeomanry A R K E L L , A 1895-1900 ARMSTRONG, J. A. 1903-9 2nd Lieut. 3rd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers

B A R L O W , A. E 1906-10 2nd Lieut. 9th Batt. King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt. BARR, W. A 1900-1 Private 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders B A R R O W , L. A. H. 1907-12 2nd Lieut. 10th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment B E A C H , T. B 1880-83 Lieut.-Col. R.A.M.C. B E A C H , W. H 1883-85 Lieut.-Col. Royal Engineers ... W ounded

* B E L F I E L D , E. G 1909-12 2nd Lieut. Royal Field Art i l lery * B E N N E T T , H. M 1909-13 Inns of Court O.T.C. B E V A N , R. J. J 1900-3 2nd Lieut. 1st Batt. King's R. Rifle Corps (Canadian Con.) Wounded

* B I D L A K E , H. C. K. 1912-14 2nd Lieut. 13th Batt. Worcester Regiment BLISS, E. S 1904-6 Corporal Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars BOISSIER, G D 1905-7 Lieut. 6th Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I . BOISSIER, J. S 1904-8 Captain 6th Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I .

* B O N N E W E L L , H. S. 1910-15 2nd Lieut. Army Service Corps B O W D E N , T. G 1883-86 Captain 114th Brigade, R.F.A. B O W E N , H. C 1899-1902 King Edward V I I . Horse B O W L E R , L . W . H . 1906-9 2nd Lieut.

* B O W L E R , T. G 1906-11 Lieut. 5th Batt. Dorsetshire Regiment Wounded B R A D S H A W , N. W. 1905-8 Trooper Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars

Name When at School Rank Name of Regiment

BRIDGES, F. D. B R I G H O U S E , R. W

*BROOKS, B. B. B R O W N , C.... B R O W N , C. A. B R O W N , E. A.

* B R O W N , M. B. B R O W N , T. E. B R Y A N T , R. F. B U R B I D G E , A. H. BURRY, H. J. P.

* C A I N , H . N . . . . C H A M P I O N , B. E

* C H I L D , A. ... * C L I F F O R D , J. G. * C O L E M A N , C. T. * C O M P r O N - H A L L , W. B

COOK, C. R. CORN, F. H. COSSART, A. R. B C O W A N , W. A. R COX, S T . J. A. C R O U C H L E Y , H. W. E. C U N L I F F E , R . E

DANSEY, F. H.

1882- 88 Major Royal Marine L . I . 1890-92 Major W. Lanes. Div. Train , A.S.C, 1906- 12 2nd Lieut. 4th Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I . 1909- 11 Trooper Queen's O w n Oxfordshire Hussars ... 1904-5 Trooper Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars

1910- 11 Trooper Queen's O w n Oxfordshire Hussars 1911- 13 Private 28th Batt. (Artists' Rifles) The London Regt. 1907- 9 Trooper Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars

M 1909-12 2nd Lieut. Army Service Corps, 13th Division Reserve 1904-10 2nd King Edward V I I . Horse 1910-11 Private 2nd Batt. Wiltshire Regiment

1910-13 Private 28th Batt. (Artists' Rifles) The London Regt. 1903-7 New Zealand Contingent

M 1910-15 Captain 3/2nd Batt. The London Regt. (Royal Fusiliers) 1910- 12 Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars 1908- 14 Private 28th Batt. (Artists' Rifles) The London Regt. 1911- 14 2nd Lieut. 3rd Batt. West Kent Regiment 1910- 12 6th Batt. Gloucester Regiment 1908-12 Private 5th City of London Rifles 1889-95 Captain Royal Art i l lery 1901-5 Lieut. 30th Brit ish Columbian Horse

1883- 85 Lieut.-Col. Royal Ir ish Regiment 1911- 12 2nd Lieut. j 3rd Batt. Lancashire Fusiliers 1906-9 2nd Lieut. 2nd Batt. Royal Berkshire Regiment

1889-91 Captain Wiltshire Regiment

Wounded

Invalided

Name When at School Rank Name of Regiment

D A V E N P O R T , V. H. S. .

D A V I E S , E. R. ...

1889-92

1896-98

Reg. Sgt.-Maj.

2nd Lieut.

2nd Batt. Border Regiment

Royal Sussex Regiment

D . C . M . & Clasp M.C. Mention'd in desp. 4 times

DAVIS , A. G. A 1903-9 2nd Lieut. 3rd Batt. Devonshire Regiment *DAVY, P. F 1906-11 30th Batt. Canadian Expeditionary Force

D O W N , H. W. M 1882-85 Major A r m y Pay Department D U D L E Y , W. L M 1909-11 Captain 4th Batt. Welch Regiment WTounded D U X B U R Y , C. D 1885-88 Major Indian Army

E D G I N T O N , C. M. 3 906-7 Lance-Corpl. 4th Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I . E D G I N T O N , W. J 1902-4 Private 4th Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I . E G E R T O N , H. W 1886-92 Lieut. Inspector of Mechanical Transport E L L E R S H A W , W 1884-86 Major Royal Art i l l ery

FERGUSON, T. E 1896-1903 Lieut. R.A.M.C F F R E N C H , N. G 1908-11 5th Batt. Rifle Brigade F I E L D E R , G E R A L D .. 1906-8 Corporal Berkshire Yeomanry F I E L D E R , GROVE 1905-8 Trooper Royal Horse Art i l lery F I S H E R , G. R 1898-1900 Canadian Expeditionary Force FORTESCUE, T 1900-2 2nd Lieut. Oxford and Bucks L . I . F R I E N D , B. F. 1900-3 2nd Lieut. 6th Batt. Royal West Kent Regiment gas poisoned

*GEPP, A. W 1908-11 Private Royal West Kent Regiment *GEPP, F. G .. 1 1910-13 Private Royal West Kent Regiment * G E R M A N , A 1912-13

GLENNTE, A. W 1889-92 Private Public Schools Batt. Middlesex Regiment G O L D R I N G , E. C 1907-9 Trooper 2nd Australian Light Horse

* G O O D M A N , J. N .. 1 1907-11 New Zealand Contingent

Name When at School Rank Name of Regiment

G R A H A M , F . H. H. 1907-10 Corporal 2nd Birmingham Battalion G R A N V I L L E , A 1889-91 Captain R.A.M.C. G R E E N , E. M. L 1910-13 Private 2nd Regiment South African Infantry G R E E N , V. C 1906-8 2nd Lieut. 2nd Batt. West India Regiment GRIMES, G. W. H. 1907-11 Private 7th Batt. Royal Warwickshire Regiment GUEST, T. H 1886-89 Lieut. York and Lancashire Regiment

HARRIS, A 1906-7 Private 2nd Batt. University & Public Schools Brigade H A R R I S , L . A 1906-7 Private Warwickshire Regiment HARRIS. M. W 1902-5 Private 31st Batt. Canadian Infantry HARRIS, R. W 1906-9 2nd Lieut. 4th Batt. West Yorks Regiment H A R S T O N , S. H 1895-9 Australian Imperial Force H A R T , F. A 1904-11 2nd Lieut. 16th Batt. Middlesex Regiment H A W A R D E N , VISCOUNT 1889-94 Captain Royal West Surrey Regiment, Egyptian Army

(E . W . M A U D E ) H E A T H , W. R M1902-4 2nd Lieut. Oxford and Bucks L . I . H E W E R , R. K 1905-8 2nd Lieut. Royal Field Art i l lery HICKS, C. C. J 1910-13 2nd Lieut. 4/2nd Batt. The London Regt. (Royal Fusiliers) HIGGS, E. P 1909-14 Private 4/4th Batt. The London Regt. (Royal Fusiliers) H I L L , D. V 1908-12 Driver " A" Battery, Hon. Art i l lery Company H I L L , R. G... 1904-9 Brit ish South African Police (Rhodesia) H I N N E L L , H. G 1905-8 Lieut. 7th Batt. Cheshire Regiment HODGSON, C. B. V. 1909-11 2nd Lieut. 20th Batt. Manchester Regiment H O L D O M , L. J 1903-8 Trooper Royal Bucks Hussars H O L I D A Y , A. S 1895- 2nd Lieut. 3/4th Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I . H O L I D A Y , W. G 1894-1900 2nd Lieut. 3/4th Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I . H O R N E R , A. H 1890-8 Lieut. Princess Patricia's Horse, 27th Division

Name When at School Rank Name of Regiment

HORNER, G. ST . J. 1903-10 Trooper Canadian Mounted Rifles HOSKINS, H. G H U D L E S T O N , W. E .

1908-10 1884-89

Private Major

1st Birmingham City Batt. R.A.M.C ( Mentioned in

I despatch

J A C K S O N , C . C . ... 1883-85 Lieut.-Col. 103rd Light Infantry (Indian Army) Nov. 1915 JONES, G. V 1900-6 2nd Lieut.

* K E B L E , C. T 1909-11 Royal F ly ing Corps

L A N G M O R E , L. G. L A S C E L L E S , A. E.

1883-85 1881-82

Captain Lieut.-Col.

11th Batt. The King's Liverpool Regiment ... 1st Worcestershire Regiment ...

Wounded | Mentioned in I despatch

L E A D L E Y - B R O W N , C. L. 1896-98 Captain 1st Batt. East Yorkshire Regiment

Wounded | Mentioned in I despatch

LESTER, W. H. D . 1900-1 * L E S T E R - S M I T H , W. C. ... 1909-15 2nd Lieut. 3rd Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I . *LONG, H. D

L U K I N , R. C. W 1910-13

1881 Major 9th Hodson's Horse (Indian Army) / Mentioned in \desp. D.S.O.

M A C I N T Y R E , R. G. 1902-8 Captain 7th Batt. Durham L . I . M A C K E N Z I E . K. A. 1903-10 Private A r m y Service Corps

* M A C K R E T H , V 1911-14 2nd Lieut. 7th Batt. Dorset Regiment M A L E T , G. C. W 1899-1903 2nd Lieut. 6th Batt. Somerset L . I . M A R S H A L L , G. W. W. ... 1906-9 Private 4th Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I .

/ Mentioned in 1 desp. C.B. MAY, H . A. R 1872-79 Lieut.-Col. 28th Batt. (Artists' Rifles) The London Regt. ... / Mentioned in 1 desp. C.B.

*MAY, J. S 1911-12 Lieut. 4th Home Counties Howitzer Brigade

/ Mentioned in 1 desp. C.B.

Mc L A N N A H A N , J. G. ... 1882-87 R.A.M.C. M E D C A L F , S. J 1907-9 M I L E S , H. G. MASSY ... 1900-3 Lieut. R.A.M.C M I T C H E L L , A 1886-93 Captain 79th Company Royal Garrison Art i l lery MOORE, G. H 1890-5 Captain 4th Batt. City of London Regiment

Name When at School Rank Name of Regiment

MORRIS, C. G. M 1903-10 2nd Lieut. Royal Berkshire Regiment M O R T O N , E. S 1902-9 Private R.A.M.C. M O U L D E R , A. C 1907 Canadian Contingent

N A T I O N , S. C 1877-81 Captain 9th Batt. Devonshire Regiment... Wounded N E A M E , A. R. L 1906-9 Brit ish South African Police

* N I X O N , O 1908-11 2nd Lieut. 11th Batt. Royal Sussex Regiment

O S T R E H A N , L. B. 1904-8 Private Inns of Court O.T.C.

PAGE, W 1909-11 Trooper Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars P A S T F I E L D , J . T . R . ... M 1913-14 2nd Lieut. 1st Batt. Northamptonshire Regiment... Dec. 21, 19U

*PEECOCK, E. G 1908-11 2nd Lieut. 9th Batt. Royal Fusiliers P E R C I V A L , A. S. F. 1907-10 Private Public Schools Brigade P E R C I V A L , G. J. F. 1906-8 Private Winchester Rifle Brigade P E R C I V A L , H. F 1874-76 Citizens Defence Corps P L A I S T O W E , E. F. 1880-84 Private Sportsmen's Batt. Royal Fusiliers POTTER, B 1896-1901 P O T T E R , D 1894-99 2nd Lieut. 4th Batt. North Staffordshire Regiment POTTER, R 1894-99 2nd Lieut. 4th Batt. North Staffordshire Regiment

RAVENOR, H. T 187-1-84 R A W LINGS, G. W. 1906-10 2nd Lieut. 6th Batt. Hampshire Regiment

*READ, P. E 1910-12 Private 28th Batt. (Artists' Rifles) The London Regt. Invalided READER, H. C 1899-1903 Lieut. Royal Garrison Art i l lery R I D D L E , A. E. S 1903-9 2nd Lieut. 3rd Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I : Wounded R I D D L E , F . E . L 1903-11 2nd Lieut. 2nd Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I May 15, 191.

• R I D D L E , G. K 1907-13 Canadian Contingent

!

Name When at School Rank Name of Regiment

ROBERTS, E. L 1903-7 2nd Lieut. 2nd Reserve Regiment of Cavalry R O B E R T S O N , F . H . M . . . . 1904-5 5th Batt. Canadian Contingent Apl.12, 1915 ROBINSON, C 1905-10 Private Public Schools Force RYE, A. N 1888-92 2nd Lieut. Royal Guernsey Art i l lery and Engineers R Y L A N D S , H. B 1905-9 2nd Lieut. 16th Batt. Lancashire Fusiliers R Y L A N D S , R. V 1902-6 Captain 7th Batt. Manchester Regiment June 1, 1915

S A L M O N , F. A 1885- 2nd Lieut. East Surrey Regiment SAMSON, A. E. W. 1884-89 Private Sportsmen's Batt. Royal Fusiliers S E L F E , J. L 1887-89 Corporal 3rd Batt. Hampshire Regiment S H A W , A. A. ST . J. 1903-9 Private Public Schools Batt. Royal Fusiliers SKEELS, E. R. S 1884-86 Lieut. A r m y Pay Department S K E L T O N , D. S 1890- Major R.A.M.C Wounded S K E L T O N , E. G 1891-99 Captain West India Regiment S K I N N E R , B. M. , M.V.O.. . . 1872-74 Colonel R.A.M. College S M I T H , C. H 1883-89 Worcestershire Yeomanry S M I T H , J. C 1899-1900 2nd Lieut. 6th Batt. Royal Fusiliers

*SPROULE, A. L. B. 1908-13 2nd Lieut. The London Regiment S T A N D A G E , H. R 1905-9 Private 3rd Batt. Universities & Public Schools Brigade STANFORD, F. E 1909-10 Lieut. A r m y Service Corps S T E N H O U S E , V. D. 1884-88 Major Somerset Light Infantry

*STEVENS, A. R. I . 1909-13 2nd Lieut. Royal Fusiliers

T A Y L O R , E. W 1902-6 Sergeant Hertfordshire Yeomanry T A Y L O R , T. R 1902-6 Trooper Hertfordshire Yeomanry T H O M A S , T 1908-9 2nd Lieut. 9th Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I . T O W N S O N , E 1904-7 Captain 1 7th Batt. Manchester Regiment... Invalided

N a m e W h e n a t S c h o o l R a n k N a m e o f R e g i m e n t

( W o u n d e d . T R E N C H , D . L E P O E R . . . 1893-98 Captain 42nd Brigade, R.F.A { M e n t i o n e d in

1 A T

T R E N C H , S . J . L E POER.. . 1893-96 Lieut. Staffordshire Yeomanry ^desp. I V I . L ^ .

* V E S E Y - B R O W N , J. S. ... 1908-14 21st Batt. Royal Fusiliers

W A I N M A N , P. S. G. ... 1891-92 Captain 2nd Batt. Worcester Regiment... Sept. 26,1915 * W A L D E N , H. R 1911-15 2nd Lieut. 3rd Batt. Oxford and Bucks L . I .

W A L K E R , L 1900-6 Worcestershire Yeomanry W A L K E R , W 1895-1903 Worcestershire Yeomanry W A R D , W. W 1905-6 Lieut. Royal Marine L . I . W A R N E R , C. W. C. 1895-1900 Lieut. Egyptian Labour Corps W E B B - B O W E N , M. H . ... 1904-7 2nd Lieut. Royal Marine L . I . W E S T O N , H 1880-82 W H I T E , A. P 1900-6 2nd Lieut. 3rd Batt. Northants Regiment W H I T E F O O T , T . W. ... 1906-8 Signaller 3rd Cavalry Field Ambulance (Canadian) W H I T I N G , J. E 1905-6 Trooper Royal Bucks Hussars W H I T I N G , J. G. B. 1905-10 Trooper Royal Bucks Hussars W H I T T Y , L M 1912 2nd Lieut. 3rd Lancashire Fusiliers W I L K E S , A. B. E 1879-86 Driver 3rd Battery, New Zealand F.A. W I L K I N S , M. H 1904-6 Sergeant Rough Riders, City of London Yeomanry Aug. 21, 1915

• W I N C H , H. E 1908-11 Inns of Court O.T.C. * W I N C H , L. A 1909-13 Gunner Hon. Art i l lery Company * W O O L L I A M S , F . H . 1910-13 Private 28th Batt. (Artists' Rifles) The London Regt.

W R O U G H T O N , A. C. 1888-91 Captain 1st South Lancashire Regiment

YORSTON, S 1905-9 Manchester University O.T.C. / P r i s o n e r s ince \ N o v . i s t , 1914 Y O U N G , ST. J. M 1900-5 Corporal London Scottish ... / P r i s o n e r s ince \ N o v . i s t , 1914