The Fallen Latymerians of the Second World War 2024 Update

The Fallen Latymerians of The Second World War

Introduction and Acknowledgements

The summer of 2014 saw the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. To mark that occasion in a fitting way, a team gathered to search through all the relevant material in the Archive of Latymer Upper School and so make more widely known the school lives and service careers of the 221 Latymerians ( 220 former pupils and one member of the teaching staff) who made the supreme sacrifice in that conflict.

This was very well received indeed, as was the subsequent republishing of the war poems composed by Latymerians and published originally in the school magazine during the 19141918 war.

It seems very appropriate to follow the same path in remembering the sacrifices of those 121 Latymerians who fell in the Second World War of 1939 to 1945. This piece of work aims to do that and so complete the picture of the Latymer family’s service to their King and Country across the greatest wars of the twentieth century. Its publication would be appropriately timed to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the war, which will fall in 2020 or the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the School, which will fall om 12th October 2020

This project’s primary sources are the same as for the memorial of the Great War. The School Archive contains the admissions registers and editions of the magazine, which after the First World War took on its current title of ‘The Latymerian’.

Within the first of these two primary sources can be found the personal and family details of each fallen Alumnus, his examination performance while at school, whether he was supported by a scholarship from the Latymer Foundation, other charities or his County, and the next steps in his life after school in terms of university entrance or career. In the second, the magazines, we find some broader picture of his life in school, his enrolment in one of the armed services, his squadron, ship or regiment, his exploits and, inevitably, sadly but honourably, his obituary.

There are some differences, however, between the extent and depth of the information held on the Second World War Alumni and that on their predecessors of 1914-1918.

During the earlier war, London was not so greatly and directly affected by enemy action, the School remained in Hammersmith and, in many ways, life at Latymer simply went on much as it had before August 1914.

In the later conflict, of course, London came under sustained, direct and highly destructive attack during the Blitz of 1940-41 (the School itself being bombed in October 1940, when the Gymnasium was destroyed) and then the V1 and V2 attacks of the final years of the war. Latymer was also a community split in two by evacuation to Slough, though that sometimes seems to have meant at least some members of the School, pupils and Staff travelling out to Slough in the morning and back to Hammersmith in the evening and by late 1943 the School was more or less reunited in Hammersmith.

So whereas in the 1914-18 war, administration of the School carried on, and details of alumni service achievements and, sadly, of losses were thoroughly, dutifully and indeed proudly gathered, collated and published relatively easily in the then ‘Latymer Upper School Magazine’, edited with great care by Mr Clement Ayres, war reports and accurate details of individual service, heroism and loss were much harder to maintain at the same standard in the ‘Latymerian’ editions published between 1939 and 1945, despite the valiant efforts of the Old Latymerians Association Secretary Mr W. O Nidd. Without him and his conscientious

approach to the task before him, it has to be said, much of this document would have been impossible to compile.

Publication of school magazines was plagued by the shortages of ink and paper, and people to compile them, as staff members went off to serve in the forces and staff resources were extremely stretched. It is a tribute to Mr Frederick Wilkinson, the heroic Headmaster of the time and his equally heroic Teaching and Administrative Staff, that the processes of recording the School’s life achieved the levels that they did achieve, but, understandably, the data do read as rather less complete than in the First World War magazine articles and records.

Accounts of the service exploits of former pupils appear regularly in the ‘Old Latymerians Association’ section of the magazine, entitled ‘Old Boys Serving in the Armed Forces’ and the notices of their deaths in sections marked ‘Obituaries’ or within other news of births, marriages and deaths. It is most likely that news of service appointments, promotions, action on the battlefield, awards of medals and news of losses would come to the School from the families of serving and deceased alumni. That was certainly the case with the 1914-18 war, often with even notices of deaths more than tinged with the patriotic pride of the times.

But the very different conditions of the Second World War made reporting much less likely to be detailed. With the Blitz and the Doodlebugs came considerable chaos and disruption, with families being re- housed or moving in with friends and relatives and sometimes even being completely wiped out, informing a fallen family member’s old school of his loss would very naturally not always have the importance it might have had between 1914 and 1918.

Unfortunately, therefore, there are several alumni for whom some postings and other service details, even very honourable mentions of the award of medals and decorations are posted, but not their deaths. There are some whose deaths alone are mentioned and there are even a few listed on the ‘Roll of Honours’ as fallen but with no other mention anywhere at all of service history, postings or the place or date of their deaths.

It is likely that some of these were civilians who were killed by enemy action. Their deaths would therefore not appear in service casualty records, and news of their loss might only reach the school quite late and, understandably, not in detail. There are also some Alumni who left the School before they might have been expected to do so, perhaps due to moving away, whose losses might only have been reported later and in less detail.

Some names, often without other details, only appear in quite late versions of the list of the fallen, some indeed appearing only in 1946 or 1947 when the final version was being prepared in order to shape the memorial book. Having the name to record will understandably have been thought more important than looking for details. Three men are not mentioned at all in the final memorial book list but do appear on the slate memorial panel in the entrance to the Main Hall, made and dedicated much more recently. There are weaknesses too in the records found in the Admissions Registers.

Comparison with official service records and the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission does indicate differences between them and the school records in terms of several men’s names and initials, for instance.

For those who had entered the School in or after 1936-7 it is often the case that their entry details were recorded but not their examinations or leaving, for the reasonable reason that that recording will have fallen victim to the demands and pressures of wartime, as they will have left Latymer after war was declared.

Many of the alumni who gave their lives in the Second World War left Latymer several years before the outbreak of war in September 1939, the majority having been admitted to the School under Mr Wilkinson’s predecessor as Headmaster, The Rev. Dr Edmund Dale, who

retired in 1937. His record keeping seems, sadly, not quite as thorough as that of his predecessor, the Rev. C. J. Smith, in the First World War. A number of entries in the register have several significant boxes left empty.

There are a number of earlier boys who have no record of examination performance or of next steps in their careers or education included on their admissions records. Of course, it may very well be that they had no examination results to record. For boys in those days were not compelled to sit final examinations in the way that G.C.S.E. is now compulsory. Many will have simply left Latymer when their parents’ resources or patience ran out, or their families felt that they were educated enough to go into a trade or business and so start to earn their living. It is worth remembering too that movement from one form to another depended on progress rather than simply the passing of another year in a boy’s age and some boys were apt to repeat years if progress had been slow.

Boys who do have examination results noted will usually have sat the ‘General Schools Examination’ set by the University of London. This has a rough equivalence to G.C.S.E. and was taken at about the age that GCSE would be taken now, though brighter boys were often accelerated. Sufficient success in the ‘General Schools’ would see the University granting Distinctions and ‘Matriculation’ or the right to go on to the next examined stage of education, the ‘Higher Schools Examination’ also set by London University and roughly matching A Level.

Lack of examination results in this document is certainly not to be seen as any criticism of the young men recalled here, particularly in view of their gallant service of their country in uniform and their readiness to make the supreme sacrifice. It would be very unfortunate indeed if any of the gallant and patriotic alumni recorded here were wrongly judged on their prima facie less good or non-existent examination performance (or their apparent lack of further career or education) if that performance and information had simply not been recorded.

What is very clear from the Admissions Register information is the broad social background of Latymerians of the time. This is depicted in the ‘Parent’s Occupation’ section of each boy’s certificate. Latymer was certainly not a school taking its pupils from only ‘professional’ or ‘middle class’ backgrounds, as will be seen clearly in the individual accounts below. The descendants of Edward Latymer’s ‘eight poore boies’ of 1627 and the predecessors of those many students currently at Latymer on scholarships and other support truly, clearly and rightly have their honoured place in this document.

Latymer Upper School had an Officer Training Corps from 1916 They had trained partly on a rifle range parallel to the long corridor which had been opened in 1908 by Sir John French, later to be supreme commander of H.M. Forces in the Great War. In the inter war years this corps expanded into a Combined Cadet Force including a Naval and an R.A.F. section. This last section is particularly significant as it was one of the very first such groups set up in any English school. Significantly perhaps, the bulk of the Latymerians serving in the Second World War did so in the Royal Air Force, with the Army in second place and the Royal Navy some way behind in numerical terms. There are also a small number who served with great courage in the Merchant Navy, facing hardships just as great as their ‘service’ brothers.

The smaller scale of this project compared with that on the fallen of the First World War has meant that this work is less of a team effort than its predecessor, and more the effort of the now retired ex-archivist to see the task through. But it would have been impossible without the support of the Head, David Goodhew, and the Foundation Office team under Amanda Scott, in particular of Rishi Chopra and Sian Davies and above all the kind and active help, patience and support of the current School Archivist, Polly Foley. But any errors and omissions are wholly the responsibility of the author. Any such errors are not in any way a slight to the immeasurable dedication, patriotism, discipline, commitment and sacrifice of the

fine young men who are honoured here and should always be duly remembered. This piece of work is therefore, of course, dedicated entirely to them.

Malcolm Smith

(Teaching Staff 1976-2011, Hon. Archivist 2011-2018)

A very considerable amount of fine research, for instance in the archives of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, RAF Command and Army lists and newspaper records, has been done by student members of the Middle School History Society, led most ably by Mr Marc Stewart of the History Department. They have put considerable commitment, devotion and enthusiasm into this very thorough work, and they deserve every commendation for the research and for their contribution to the writing of the final version of the project document. They have been of enormous help in filling in gaps left in the admissions records and the magazine accounts, and in pointing up and correcting errors in those sources. We are very much in their debt, and I also acknowledge the work of those whose websites the students looked into.

Those who took part in this work are:

Olga Devine (Y10), Santiago Schmitt (Y11) and Benoit Mes (Y12), helped by:

Teymour Aldridge (Y11)Sam Clarke (Y11 Flynn Gordon-Thynn (Y11)

Joseph Laurencin (Y8) Phoebe Luxford (Y12) Jasmin Moody (Y11) Amelia Sargent (Y12) Gabriella Slater (Y12)

Just at the time when this Memorial document was first published in May 2020 for the 75th Anniversary of V.E. Day, the School was contacted, coincidentally, by Mr David Gilbert, the Archivist of the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. They work hard to keep alive the memory of the service and sacrifice of those who served and fell in this branch of the Royal Air Force. He was enquiring as to whether Sgt Joseph Medhurst was an Alumnus of the School, as his gravestone bore the then Latymer motto, ‘Paulatim Ergo Certe’ ‘It is an unhurried pace that guarantees success’. Indeed Sgt Medhurst was a Latymerian. We are enormously grateful to Mr Gilbert for his subsequent help in sharing the details of the service and final operations of the twenty- six Alumni who fell while serving with Bomber Command. The Middle School History Society’s additional research led them through the International Bomber Command Centre to other R.A.F. Memorial websites, as indicated in the text, and to the website of the British Newspaper Archive. This contained obituary notices on the following Alumni, and readers who are interested in their stories may well wish to consult the B.N.A..

A. W. Amos

J. E. Bate

J. P. Branson

D. W. Buck

A. H. Burr

G. F. Peck

A. Shearman

P. W. Dunne

D. W. D. Greenop

D. A. Nunn

It seems very appropriate to include in this piece of work the outline history of the Latymer Upper School Combined Cadet Force from R.C.(Archie) Davies’ fine history of Latymer published by the School in 1967, and an outline of the School’s wartime history taken from the project to collect and collate the recollections of those who were students during the 1940’s. This present document concludes with an account of the School’s Second World War Memorials.

Latymer Upper School between 1939 and 1945.

These notes about the life of the School précis the much more detailed account in Nigel Watson, ‘Latymer Upper School, a History of the School and its Foundation’ (James and James 1995). This was the book commissioned to mark the centenary of the Upper School, and it is an invaluable ‘Bible’ for all studying Latymer’s past.

1939-40

In the summer of 1939, as the international situation worsened, 110 boys and 4 masters were evacuated to Queen’s College, Taunton under a private evacuation scheme. These evacuees did not have a very happy time; though the fine weather enabled much sport and swimming, the food provided was far from good.

On August 25th the School was recalled and boys and masters returned from holidays, some of them involving homeward journeys from Europe which were indeed adventures.

Evacuation began on 1st September at 3.10 p.m, by Underground, Southern Railway and ‘bus, to Slough, and the School was divided into five groups: Mr Jackson and 550 boys went to Gerrard’s Cross, the Latymer Headquarters, Mr Clewley and 150 went to Iver Heath, 60 and Mr Fowles to Richings Park, 20 boys and Mr Mcintyre to Horton and 20 with Mr Goddard to Farnham Church. Billets were allocated, and the School Chaplain, Rev Monty Cann, who was based at Richings Park, kept a journal which survives in the Archive in a diary graced by some fine pictures of Stoke Poges church and churchyard, and which records some of the initial pastoral problems which arose.

Staff had to make local arrangements for accommodating the school at work, but a daily routine including daily roll call and prayers and morning and afternoon school sessions did develop, and the community was held together at least to a certain extent, by a messenger service from Headquarters at Gerrard’s Cross.

‘Proper’ schooling began on Monday 18th September, and then on Monday 9th October, the School met as a single unit in the Girls’ Secondary School at Slough. The senior boys who had been at Taunton rejoined them so that the Taunton boarders could take back their own school.

564 boys were taught at the girls’ school, with an almost full timetable except for the Lower School whose missing lessons were filled in with extra sessions of games. But the unification of the school and the re-establishing of routine - including providing 200 meals a day in a kitchen designed to produce 50 (under Mrs mcintyre and her team), and the boat club reopening at Eton - were a truly phenomenal achievement of Mr Wilkinson and his Staff.

There were inevitably anxieties. It seemed that admissions standards were being lowered, some boys became apathetic and less enthusiastic about their work and the older students

inevitably looked forward to being called up with some apprehension, and perhaps, as the Headmaster thought, they had to grow up too quickly.

At Slough the timetable ran from 9.25 to 3.10 in winter and 3.40 in summer, giving a nearly complete programme of teaching, but extra-curricular activities were very much curtailed. Athletics, gymnastics and (not always popular) cross country running replaced team games. Staff were called up, extra lady teachers replaced some of the gentlemen then donning their uniforms and some staff returned to work from retirement. But the School Cadet Corps and the Air Cadet Squadron no15, the first one to be established in a school, did flourish.

An increasing number of boys returned home and, perhaps counter-intuitively, travelled out to Slough each morning and back in the evenings to the London of the Blitz which followed the effective defeat of the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and travel was rarely smooth and easy.

In the April of 1940 350 out of 600 boys at Slough were living at home in London. From summer 1940, senior boys attended Harvest Camps in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire (and later in Kent and Sussex too) and found the farm work hard but rewarding.

In summer 1940 the London County Council permitted the re-opening of Latymer in Hammersmith for boys up to the age of 14, so on September 9th 212 boys returned to the school in King Street. Some staff then began to commute, teaching in Hammersmith in the morning and Slough in the afternoon. That year Speech Day was held twice in the same day, once at each site. Pressure from the Governors to return the entire School to Hammersmith began to increase.

October 12th 1940 saw the one great piece of air-raid damage at the School, the destruction by a bomb of the gymnasium building (now the site of the recital hall and dance studio), which was being used to store flour by the Ministry of Food. The Schoolkeeper Mr Crawley and his team worked constantly to keep the buildings clean and usable and air raid shelters were installed in the basement of what is now E block.

1941

From September 1941 the oldest boys at Hammersmith, the Lower Fifth (Year 10) were meeting monthly to discuss how to organise life in the School, a promising experiment in democracy, it was said.

1942

By Easter 1942 Mr Stollery was in charge of 300 boys at Hammersmith, and the School there had restored its sports teams, including a new fencing club as well as swimming and rowing, the Junior Gild, and its self confidence.

As the flow of the war began to move more in the Allies’ favour with the entry of the United States after the attack on Pearl Harbour, the halting of Hitler’s advance in Russia and the battle of El-Alamein, by Christmas 1942 there were 534 boys at Hammersmith and 246 at Slough. The School roll included no fewer than 219 new boys.

1943

On 9th September 1943, Latymer Upper School returned officially to Hammersmith, though 58 boys whose parents wanted them to stay there for the time being, remained at Slough.

1944-5

Despite the awful V1 and V2 raids- the V1 ‘doodlebugs’ being particularly turned on west London the School’s life began to revive with increasing speed as the war increasingly was taken to the enemy after the D-Day landings. The Autumn 1944 Magazine records that the

start of the autumn term had to be postponed due to the V1 menace but that that threat suddenly ceased owing to the victories of the allied armies in France and Belgium so the term in fact did start on the planned date of September 13th

There are anecdotes reported in the Watson centenary history of boys humorously ignoring enemy aircraft overhead in lessons, in examinations and in assembly and of an American military visitor being very impressed indeed by their insouciance. In April 1944 the first school concert since the declaration of war took place, and Handel’s ‘Messiah’ was performed at Christmas that year. Remembrancetide that year saw the well- remembered moment that Mr Wilkinson tried to leave the stage, emotionally completely overcome, at announcing the sad news of the loss in service of C.L. Fox, the 1940 School Captain, and was made to go back by the Second Master, Mr Tommy Waddams.

A History of the Latymer Combined Cadet Force From

R. C. (Archie) Davies ‘Latymer Upper School 1895-1967’

The Cadet Corps, as it was originally called, was founded during the 1914-1918 War on the 21st November 1916 and its first inspection by the Mayor of Hammersmith was held on 21st December 1916.The first Officer Commanding was E. D. Martin, with E. J. Fraley as Adjutant and F. G. Weekes as Quartermaster. C. E. Ayres, D. C Hutton, J, King, F. Logan and R. Palmer were Second Lieutenants. The Corps was affiliated to the 13th Battalion, The London Regiment (later Princess Louise’s 13th Kensington Regiment). Sir William Bull, MP and a Governor of the School was its first Honorary Colonel.

In 1920, Captain E. J. Fraley assumed command. He came to the school in 1908.He had been in the Regular Army and as a Colour Sergeant in the Rifle Brigade had fought in the historic battle of Omdurman (1898), the same battle in which Sir Winston Churchill charged with the 21st Lancers. When E.J. Fraley came to the school, he was known as Sergeant Fraley and was a ‘drill sergeant’. In the early part of the century, there was no physical training (PT) as we know it today. There were ‘drill’ periods in which pupils marched, formed fours and did a certain amount of trunk bending exercises, both forwards and backwards. But as I have previously pointed out, PT or gymnastic exercises – vaulting over the horse, swinging on parallel bars or climbing a rope – were an extraneous occupation performed voluntarily after school hours.

When the Cadet Corps was formed it was very useful to have for its Adjutant a man who had been a regular soldier and had seen active service. So Sergeant Fraley became Captain Fraley, later Major and finally Colonel. These, of course, were ‘Cadet’ commissions. But although E. J. Fraley belonged to the regular army of the previous century, there was never anything of the ‘old sweat’ about him. He was a man of easy charm, full of good fun and an easy ‘mixer’. For twenty-five years he was a school ‘Institution’ and those old boys and members of staff who knew him remember him with affection and admiration.

When E. J. Fraley retired in 1933, C.T. Waddams assumed command until 1944 when he retired with the rank of Colonel. C. T. Waddams had seen service in the 1914-1918 War when he was a Captain in the Territorial Army. He received severe shell shock and served for the rest of the war at the War Office. In 1944, Major F. J. Hill assumed command until

1948, when Major T. C. Stewart, MC was appointed to command, a post which he held with extreme distinction for eighteen years until the disbanding of the Force in 1966.

T. C. Stewart, an old boy of the School, had been Regimental Sergeant Major of the Corps from 1931-1933. After qualifying as a Teacher, he went to Sandhurst and was commissioned in the 10th Hussars which was an armoured regiment. In the North Africa desert campaign his tank ‘brewed up’ and he was badly burned and taken prisoner by the Italians. After the war, he joined the school staff. In 1948, the Junior Training Corps (the old Officer Training Corps), and the Public Secondary Schools Cadet Association joined to form the Combined Cadet Force and Latymer was a founder member. The purpose of the CCF was to combine all three services under one head. This was brought about because many schools had an R.A.F. section and administratively one contingent commander with service section officers was thought to be better than three commanding officers with three different methods of administration.

The R.A.F. section was formed in November 1938. It was number 15F; ‘F’ because the School was a Founder member of the scheme. The RN section was added in September 1948.

The culmination of each year’s work was the Annual General Inspection carried out by senior officers of the Services. The School unit has been inspected at various times by an Admiral, a General, and an Air Marshal. The practical application of the year’s work was demonstrated in the Proficiency Examinations taken by cadets and by the field training undertaken at annual camps. Never was there an annual camp without a contingent from the School.

The Corps had always shown initiative and in 1956, when the War Office was no longer able to run small arms courses, the School undertook to run annual Armourers Courses, organising the whole instructional, commissariat and administrative operation without service assistance. All schools in the London area and the Eastern Command sent cadets.

On 31st December 1966 the Corps was disbanded after an existence of fifty years. With the abolition of National Service and with the attraction of so many other school activities which appealed to boys, numbers began to fall until no more than a handful of keen cadets remained.; recruitment of officers was difficult and ultimately impossible. The first to be wound up was the R.N. section in 1962 because there was no officer available. The R.A.F. section ceased to exist in 1964-65 for the same reason. In 1966 the Army section was disbanded because enthusiasm among the boys was lacking and officer recruitment was nil. Another factor that may have contributed to the demise of the Corps may have been that, with the very highly mechanised state of the armed services and the very many complicated weapons they used, the training that the Cadet Force was able to give bore little relation to the actual conditions of the fighting services.

But weapons training was never the main object of the Corps. Throughout its whole history it tried to give boys a sense of responsibility, self-reliance, confidence and leadership. Throughout its fifty years many members of the staff gave devoted service to the Corps and to the boys and, with the end of the Corps, sincere and grateful thanks should be rendered to them.

The Individual Stories of The Fallen

Latymerians of The Second World War

[The dates by each name in the headings are the dates of attendance at the school, according to the Memorial Book.]

ALLEN M.C.1936-1939

Maurice Carlton Allen who was born on August 22nd 1923, was the son of Mr T. J. Allen, a Civil Servant of 69 Eagle Rd Wembley. Having previously studied at Wembley Grammar School he came to Latymer on April 12th 1933, entering Class 1B. No further details of his school life appear, sadly, in the admissions register.

‘The Latymerian’ reports that he was a Corporal serving in the West Yorkshire Regiment. In the edition of Autumn 1943 he was reported as having been killed in action in Sicily. After being wounded and temporarily blinded at El Alamein, he had spent time as a Specialist Instructor but had wished to go back to active service.

The research work of the Middle School History Society has produced some further information from the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. These show that when he lost his life he was serving as a Private in the 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders with the service number 4645202 and that he died on July 21st 1943. The Highlanders may have been the regiment he joined on returning to active service. Though listed in ‘The Latymerian’ as falling in Sicily, he is remembered on the Memorial at Cassino in Italy having most probably fallen in the intense fighting to capture the town and its mountaintop monastery from the occupying German forces.

Another Latymerian, Captain James Munn of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who also fell at Cassino, was also listed as having been killed in Sicily at much the same time, suggesting a completely understandable error in recording this set of news on the part of the school authorities, which is now corrected.

AMOS A.W.1929-1934

Arthur William Amos was born on December 6th 1917, His father, Mr R. Amos was a Book Repairer and the family lived at ‘The Orchard’, Heathside, Hanworth Rd, Hounslow. He came to Latymer, joining Class 2A, from Ellerslie Rd Elementary School on a full fee Scholarship from the London County Council on September 17th 1929 and left from Class 6A in July 1934 after passing his General Schools Examination set by London University, and going into ‘Commerce’

Regrettably, no details of service career or of his loss seem to have been published in the school magazines. He is though mentioned as serving in the R.A.F. in some editions of the ‘Roll of Honour’ published in the magazines.

The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission researched by the Middle School History Society offer a little more detail. His service number was 61311 and he served as a Pilot Officer (Pilot Instructor) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School. He was killed on 10th July 1941 and is buried in Hounslow Cemetery.

ATTWATER J.R 1936-1939

John Ross Attwater, the son of Mr D. R. Attwater, the Manager of Chas. Cook’s Furnishing Stores, was born on March 3rd 1923 and lived at 27 Mall Rd Hammersmith. A former pupil of

the Latymer Foundation Lower School, he came into Class 3B at the Upper School on September 15th 1936. His entry in the admissions register ends at that point.

In December of 1942 ‘The Latymerian’ listed him as having been in action in Libya when his tank was knocked out but he himself was safe. His service seems to have carried him some distance for at Easter 1943 he was reported to be in hospital in Johannesburg. Then in Spring1945 comes the report that he had been invalided out of the forces ‘after fine service’

The Middle School History Society researchers have discovered in the archives of the ‘West London Observer of February 7th 1947 the report that he had died on January 30th 1947 in St Charles’ Hospital in Kensington while being treated for the tuberculosis he had contracted during his time in the army.

AZOUZ M. D.F.C.1934-1939

Mark Azouz who was born on July 2nd 1922 was the son of Mr R. Azouz a House Furnisher and lived firstly at 43 Park Rd Chiswick and then at 41 Brockley Rd Chiswick. He had studied at Arlington Park College and entered Class 1A at Latymer on January 17th 1934. Regrettably, no further information was entered on his admissions register page.

It is known from other research in ‘The Latymerian’ that he was a very good swimmer especially in the back stroke, competing successfully for the School in a number of Galas, that he came first in the form in Form 2C in 1935 and passed his General Schools Examination in December 1938.

In the Autumn 1944 magazine he is listed as a Warrant Officer and as having recently been awarded the D.F.C. for gallantry and devotion to duty over Brest. His aircraft was hit and severely damaged by anti- aircraft fire during the run-up to releasing the bombs, but he successfully completed the mission and returned to base.

The Spring 1945 ‘Latymerian’ contains this fine final tribute to him:

‘Mark Azouz, who left the School in 1939, joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve to train as a pilot. Soon he reached the rank of Warrant Officer and was awarded the D.F.C. in August 1944 for gallantry in action over the Brest Peninsular. His aircraft was badly damaged during the run-in but he continued over the target, completed his mission successfully and managed to bring the damaged aircraft back to base. Shortly after the award, we heard that Azouz had been killed in action on September 16th 1944.’

The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, found by the researchers of the Middle School History Society, note that his parents’ names were Ralph and Esta and that the family lived in Chiswick, that his service number was 1398796, and that he served as a Warrant Officer (Pilot) in 196 Squadron and was killed on September 21st 1944, He rests in Jonkerbos War Cemetery at Gelderland in the Netherlands and his grave, along with the symbol indicating his Jewish faith, bears the inscription ‘He died that his people might live.’

BARKER L.S.1925-1930

Born on May 20th 1914, Leonard Samuel Barker was the son of Mr A. W. Barker, a cellarman, of 20H Munster Rd SW6. He entered Class 2B at Latymer from Halford Rd Elementary School with a full fee Scholarship from the London County Council and when he sat the General Schools Examination in June 1930 he was awarded a Distinction in English

and then left Latymer in 1930 to take up a Clerkship with W. Hall and Co of Rood Lane in the City.

The Summer 1942 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ lists him as serving as Observer on a night fighter - a Beaufighter. On 28th February he and his pilot shot down a German bomber off the East Coast but their engine caught fire and he bailed out over the sea, was rescued but died of exposure. He was 27 years old.

Information found by the Middle School History Society researchers from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives the further information that his service number was 1178664, that he served in 255 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Sergeant (Wireless Operator) and that he is buried in Scottow Cemetery in Norfolk. His grave bears the epitaph ‘He died that we might live, how worthier could he die?’ and his next of kin were his parents, Arthur and Louise Emma Barker and his widow Edith Mary who lived in Wandsworth.

BATE J.E.1925-1931

Jack Lynden Haynes Bate, the son of Mr H. J. Bate, a Clerk, was born on October 19th 1922 and lived at 42 Roxborough Avenue Isleworth. Formerly at Marlborough School in Isleworth, he joined Class 3D at Latymer on January 14th 1936, Sadly the admissions register entry for him contains no further information, for instance on his examination performance or his further career or education.

‘The Latymerian’ however tells us that he served in the Royal Engineers. He was awarded 1st Class Honours in Engineering from London University, a Military Scholarship and University Commission in the Royal Engineers. The edition of Easter 1942 records that, with the rank of Major, he had been killed in action in Malaya in December 1941. He had served before the war in India with the Royal Bombay Sappers at Quetta, and on the N.W. Frontier, where he had been awarded the N.W. Frontier Service Medal. He returned to India from England on outbreak of war, was sent to Malaya, and was killed in action against the Japanese. His early death at the age of 27, says the obituary, cut short what promised to be a brilliant career.

From the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the student researchers discovered also that his service number was 63047, that he was killed on December 12th 1941, and that he is buried in Taiping War Cemetery in Malaysia. His next of kin was his widow Stella.

BATEMAN A.F.1935-1940

Anthony Frederick Bateman lived at 26 Disraeli Gardens SW15. Born on March 16th 1924, he was the son of Mr E. Bateman, who was an Art Dealer. He had been a pupil at the Latymer Foundation Lower School and joined Class 2R in the Upper School on September 10th 1935 with a full fee Scholarship from the London County Council.

The Summer 1944 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ tells us that he was a Sub Lieutenant (A) in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and became an Observer in the Fleet Air Arm, He was about to go out to the East with a wing of Barracuda aircraft when he was killed in action. He had left school in 1940, and at the time of his death, sadly, he had only recently married.

The student researchers also discovered the following information. He was killed on June 7th 1944 the day after D-Day, and he lies in the graveyard of Rosskeen Parish Church, Ross and Cromarty, in a grave bearing the epitaph ‘He lived for youth and died for England.’

Listed as his next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission were his parents, Christopher and Ruby, and his wife Olwen, of Putney.

BELFIELD E.1935-1939

Eric Belfield was born on September 3rd 1923. The son of Mr G. H. Belfield, a Tax Officer with the Inland Revenue, he lived at 28 The Close, Pinner and joined Class 2B at Latymer from Pinner Elementary School on September 10th 1935 with a full fee Scholarship from Middlesex County Council. Sadly no further information about him appears in the admissions register.

In the School Magazine edition of March1941 he is listed as an R.A.F. Apprentice. No details of his further career or his loss appear, unfortunately. It may be that news of his death but not of its circumstances came to the School, as his name only appears in the final version of the Roll of Honour prepared for the Memorial Book.

However, the researchers of the Middle School History Society found in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that his service number was 576986 and that he reached the rank of Leading Aircraftman. He was killed on April 22nd 1943 and rests in the Yokohama War Cemetery in Japan, having been originally buried in the ‘U.K. niche’ of the Yokohama Mausoleum and reburied in 1946. He may very well therefore have been a prisoner of war. His grave has the epitaph ‘In memory’s garden we meet every day.’ His parents, George Henry and Ivy Mabel of Pinner, were listed as his next of kin.

BENJAMIN D.1933-1939

Daniel Benjamin was born on March 7th 1920. The son of Mr H. Benjamin, a Tailor who lived at 4 Melrose Terrace W6, he joined Class 3A at Latymer from Wembley Court School on September 12th 1932 with a total fee remission award from the London County Council. He sat and passed the General Schools Examination in June and December 1937 and then left the School but with no record of the next stage of his education or career The Spring 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ contains this obituary:

‘Daniel Benjamin, who left Latymer in 1939, was killed by enemy action early in 1944, when his house was destroyed by a bomb on February 19th of that year.’

He served in the Home Guard, the Middle School Historians discovered, and was killed at 4 Melrose Terrace on 19th February 1944.

BIRD S.P.V. D. F. C. 1930-1935

Sunny Philip Victor Bird lived at 140 Rusthall Avenue Bedford Park. He was born on July 31st 1919, the son of Mr J. C. Bird, a Grocer, and had been educated at Miss W. J. Zeischaug’s Private School in Esmond Rd before entering Class 1A at Latymer on April 16th 1930. He left Latymer from Class 4R in July 1935 and took up a Clerkship at Selfridges and Co.

In July 1941, ‘The Latymerian’ reported that he was serving in the R.A.F. with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and mentions reports in the local press that he had shot down a Junkers 88 In December 1942 he was a Squadron Leader, now based in Libya after serving In Malta and had won the D.F.C.

No details of his loss appear in the magazine, but considerably more comes from the research of the Middle School History Society. His name appears in the documents they found as ‘Surray’ rather than ‘Sunny.’ His service number was 70064 and he served with 148 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve’ with the rank of Squadron Leader (Pilot). He was killed on 4th July 1944 at the age of 24 and is buried in Budapest Way

Cemetery in Hungary, in a grave bearing the inscription ‘Hearts bleed within forever in remembrance; Dad, Mummy and Malcolm,’

His parents, Frederick Charles and Grace Dorothy, of Isleworth and his widow Peggy are listed as next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The operation in which he was killed was a very dangerous one. He flew with eight colleagues in JP286 a Halifax II aircraft of 148 Squadron on 3rd-4th July 1944 on a Special Operations Executive operation, the Halifax flying alone, without escorts, over enemy held territory, to re-supply the Partisan forces of Josip Broz (later Marshal Tito, the post-war leader of Yugoslavia). Such operations were not uncommon over Poland and Yugoslavia, inserting and extracting Secret Agents, supplying Partisan forces and bringing back enemy equipment and information captured or discovered by the Partisans. It is thought that JP286 was shot down by Luftwaffe Pilot Hauptman Leopold Federer at 01.50 hours 10km north east of Kaposvar on July 4th at 1700 metres above the ground. The Halifax crashed and exploded with the loss of all the crew. But the four ‘passengers’, the Secret Agents being transported, were not among them, so they had been dropped to carry out their task and in that, JP286’s crew had succeeded in their mission. The crew lost included men from France and Canada.

This information on Squadron Leader Bird’s final mission came from the website ‘Aircrew Remembered’ and their work is acknowledged here.

BRANDRETH M.1929-1936

Marshall Brandreth was born on February 17th 1916. He lived at 4 Black Lion Lane Hammersmith. His Mother, Mrs A. Brandreth, is noted as the Parent on the admissions register, and the ‘Parent’s Occupation’ is recorded as ‘Engineer’. That had very likely been his late father’s occupation. He had studied at the Latymer Foundation School and entered Class 3R at the Upper School on September 17th 1929 on a London County Council free place award. He sat and passed the General Schools Examination in June 1933 and then sat it again the following year and was then awarded his Matriculation and a Distinction in Geography. He went on to St Mark’s College, a training college for Teachers. He had been School Captain in 1935-6.

The March 1941 magazine edition reports that he had been killed during training while serving in the R.A.F. sadly no further details were published.

However more details of his service and loss have come to light thanks to the work of the student researchers. They discovered from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that his service number was 1152379 and that he was a Leading Aircraftman (Pilot Under Training) with 15 Flying Training School, R.A.F.V.R. He died on 17th January 1941, 24 years old, and lies in Chiswick New Cemetery, his grave bearing the inscription ‘To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die.’ His parents, Marshall and Anne Brandreth of Northolt Park and his widow Vera Dorothy Isabell of Chiswick, are listed as his next of kin. He and a fellow Leading Aircraftman were killed in the crash of an Oxford II aircraft no N4836 at the training school.

BRANSON J.P.1925-1931

John Peter Branson was born on March 13th 1913. He was the son of Mr T. J. Branson, an accountant, and the family lived at 137 Goldhawk Rd. He came to Latymer on a full fee scholarship from the London County Council and entered class 1b on 28th April1925, having previously been taught at Brackenbury Rd L.C.C. Elementary School. He left from form 7B on July 24th 1931, having passed and matriculated through the General Schools Examination

in June 1929. But, sadly, failing the Higher School Examination in July 1931, he took up a junior clerkship with Hammersmith Borough Council.

A Pilot Officer serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, he was reported missing in April 1941, and his death was confirmed in the obituaries section of ‘The Latymerian’ in July 1941 with this obituary: Pilot Officer J.P. Branson, aged 27, was reported missing in April after an action against the enemy. His death has now been confirmed. On leaving School he entered the Town Clerk’s office in Hammersmith but later transferred to Kensington and studied in his spare time at the University of London Law School. He was approved for the Middle Temple in 1938 and took his Ll.B. Degree in 1939. He gained his flying certificates while in the London University Squadron of the R.A.F.V.R., and on the outbreak of war became a Junior Operations Officer in the Air Ministry but was later moved to an operational squadron. He was an excellent skater and a keen sportsman and his death has cut short a very promising career.’

The International Bomber Command Centre records add that he is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial which recalls the fallen whose bodies could not be found and recovered. He joined the R.A.F. from the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and his service number was 72436. He served with Group 4, 40 Squadron as an Air Gunner, aboard a Vickers Wellington Bomber, R1493. His last operation was on 10th-11th April 1941, a night raid on Morignac in France which took off from RAF Alconbury but had to ditch in the English Channel.

His parents Frank Young and Dorothy Lilian, of Hounslow, were listed as his next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

BRESSLOFF S.1930-1938

Sidney Bressloff was born on April 16th 1921, His father Mr A. Bressloff, was a Furrier and the Bressloffs lived at 286 King St Hammersmith. He had attended Miss Wigg’s Preparatory School before he began studying at Latymer in Class 1B on September 16th 1930. The admissions register gives no date for his leaving the School. Sadly, he is also one of those pupils for whom no details of examination results or further education or career are given either.

The Easter 1943 edition of the school magazine reports that he was serving in the R.A.F. As a Leading Aircraftsman and that he had been about to receive his commission as a Pilot Officer when he was killed in a flying accident in Canada.

The Middle School History Society researchers, working on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database, discovered that he died on 13th December 1941, and he lies in the Burlington (Beth Jacob) Jewish Cemetery in Ontario in Canada. His grandparents had come to London as Jewish refugees from Ukraine.

BROAD R.C.W.1931-1938

Ronald Charles William Broad, born on November 20th 1919 and the son of Mr W. M. Broad, a Civil Servant of 241 Dover House Rd Roehampton, entered Class 2A at Latymer from Huntingfield Rd Elementary School on September 17th 1931 with a London County Council Junior Scholarship which was later extended. He passed the General Schools Examination with a Distinction in Chemistry in June 1934 and the Higher Schools Examination in June 1937 and then took up Laboratory Work.

Serving in the R.A.F. with the rank of Pilot Officer, he is reported in the Autumn 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ as having been killed in action near Gibraltar in 1942 when his Wellington aircraft was shot down.

Additional and slightly different information on him has come to light through the Middle School Historians. He served in 37 Squadron of the R.A.F. as Flying Officer with the service number 42188 and was lost on 21st February 1941 in fact. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt as his body was not recovered. Based in Malta, his aircraft was on a night mission to Rhodes when it was shot down.

BROOKE H.J.1921-1926

Howard James Brooke was born on April 2nd 1909. The son of Mr E.J. Brooke, who was a jeweller, his home was at 162 Southfield Rd Bedford Park W4. Having previously studied at Acton Commercial College, he came to Latymer on January 18th 1921 in Class 2B and left from Class 6A in July 1926. There is no record of his examination performance, but he became a Clerk in an Auctioneer and Surveyor’s Office.

Reported missing in April 1944, in ‘The Latymerian’ of Spring 1945 it was stated that he was now officially presumed killed in action. No other details of his service were given.

But the Middle School researchers have come up with a little more information on him through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. They find that his service number was P/MX 635849 and that he served as a Petty Officer (Motor Mechanic) in the Royal Navy. He died on 24th April 1944. He is remembered on the Royal Naval Memorial at Portsmouth as his body was not recovered from the sea. His parents, James and Agnes of Gunnersbury Park, are listed as his next of kin.

BROWN P.G.F.1930-1938

Peter George Fleming Brown was the son of Mr G. H. Brown a Draper Buyer of 21 Addison Rd Bedford Park. He was born on May 11th 1921 and entered Class 1B at Latymer on September 16th 1930, having previously attended Arlington Park Preparatory School for 2 years. He left Latymer in 1938 having sat and passed the General Schools Examination in December 1937 and took up a Clerkship in Exporting.

In July 1942 ‘The Latymerian’ listed him as a Pilot Officer in the R.A.F. but no details of his loss are given.

However, rather more of his story has been brought to light by the Middle School Historians. He served in 54 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and was killed on 18th April 1944 at Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia. He was first buried in Pine Creek and then reburied in the Adelaide River War Cemetery in a grave bearing the inscription ‘In proud and loving memory of a very dear son. While life and memory last, we shall remember you.’

His parents, George Fleming and Freda Brown of Pershore were listed as his next of kin.

He flew a Spitfire LFVIII, A58-309 (previously numbered JF846), which crashed near Katherine following an engine failure on a ferry flight, he bailed out successfully, but then, tragically, landed in the blazing wreckage.

BUCK D.W. 1932-1939

Douglas William Buck was born on February 5th 1921. His Mother, Mrs M.V. Buck was listed as his parent in the admissions register as his father who had been an Engineer had died. The family lived at 161 Dawes Rd Fulham and Douglas entered Latymer on a London County Council Scholarship on September 18th 1932. No other details are given in the admissions register, unfortunately.

A Sergeant Pilot in the R.A.F., he was reported missing in Malta. ‘The Latymerian’ of Spring 1944 contains a notice that ‘Sgt Pilot Douglas William Buck is now presumed to have been killed when his aircraft went missing off Malta’. He had worked as a draughtsman after leaving school and enlisted in the R.A.F. on the outbreak of war. He was the only son of Mrs Mary Violet Buck and 20 years old when he died.

The School archive has a small suitcase case of his memorabilia given to the School by the family, after being lovingly kept by his mother. It is a very fine collection. Including reports, programmes of athletics events in which he performed excellently, several examples of his artwork displaying great skill in draughtsmanship and drawing, and condolence letter from H.M. The King.

He served in 18 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Sergeant Pilot and flew in a Proctor 1a, number P6060 from Malta. His service number was 1254035. He was noted as lost on September 19th 1941 and is remembered on the Malta Memorial.

BURBERRY J.A.K. 1932-1936

John Arthur Kent Burberry was born on May 28th 1920 and lived at 19 Bouverie Rd West Harrow. His father, Mr A. E. Burberry, was a Commercial Artist. He entered Class 2B at Latymer on September 13th 1932, with a Middlesex County Council Scholarship, having previously studied at Alpha Preparatory School. There is no mention in his admissions register entry of his examination performance, but he left from Form Upper V H om 22nd December 1936 and began work with Messrs Maples, the furniture makers.

The ‘Latymerian’ reports that he volunteered for service in the Royal Navy aged 19, when he ‘had only recently left school’ and that he died at sea on active service on March 26th 1942.

The efforts of the student researchers provide some additional information. He served as an Able Seaman with the service number 33447 in H.M.S. Jaguar, a Leopard Class Type 41 Frigate, built for the Royal Navy by William Denny Brothers of Dumbarton in Scotland. She took part in the Dunkirk evacuation.

In March 1942 she took part in the battle of Cape Matapan. Jaguar was struck by two torpedoes fired by the German Submarine U-652 and sank off Sidi Barrani in Egypt on 26 March 1942 with the loss of 3 officers and 190 of her crew. 8 officers and 45 crewmen were rescued by the naval whaler H.M.S. Klo

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that Able Seaman Burberry is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial as his body was not recovered from the sea. He was twenty two years old. His parents, Mr A.E. and Mrs Kathleen Alice Burberry of West Harrow, are listed as his next of kin.

BURGER I.E. 1938-1942 and BURGER R.N. 1939-1944

Ivan Edward Burger was born on November 17th 1925 and came to Latymer on September 14th 1938 with a full fee Scholarship from the Governors of the Latymer Foundation. Ralph

Norman who was born on August 19th 1927 joined the School on September 19th 1939, again with a full fee Scholarship from the Governors.

Neither of their entries in the admissions register contains a home address or a father’s name. On Ivan’s entry the Parent’s Occupation is listed as Butler and on Ralph’s as Caterer.

The obituary in ‘The Latymerian’ tells us ‘Private Ivan Edward Burger and his brother Ralph Norman, still a pupil at the School, were both killed in their home in a flying bomb attack during August 1944. Private Burger was at home on leave when the house was destroyed. There are 3 other brothers in the Forces, all Old Boys of the School.’

The Middle School historians conducted further research into the especially poignant loss of these two brothers and discovered some further information about them. Ivan was serving in the 2nd Operations Training Battalion of the Royal Corps of Signals as a Signalman with the service number 14724635. They share a grave in North Sheen Cemetery, with the inscription ‘In loving memory of Ivan and his brother Ralph, killed by enemy action, in death not divided.’

They were killed at 17A Beaumont Crescent on August 2nd 1944.Their parents, Gottfried and Martha Ellis Burger are listed as their next of kin.

BURGESS W.C. 1931-1937

William Charles Burgess, the son of W. Burgess who worked as an Aero Engineer and lived at 78 Masbro Rd W14, was born on August 2nd 1920 and was a pupil at Addison Gardens Elementary School before entering Class 2B at Latymer on a London County Council Scholarship on September 17th 1931. He sat the General Schools Examination in June 1936 and achieved his Matriculation but his admissions register entry does not record his sitting of the Higher Schools Examinations. He may have done so, however, as he left the School in July 1937 and entered the Clerical Grades of the Civil Service.

In the December 1941 edition of the ‘Latymerian’ he is noted as serving in the R.A.F. but no details are reported of his loss.

But from the records of the International Bomber Command Centre we learn that he had married and that he and his wife Peggy Kathleen Burgess lived in West Kensington. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and with the service number 1331062 and the rank of Sergeant, served in Group 5, 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron as the Navigator of an Avro Lancaster, W4841. His last operation was a night raid, mine laying in Stettin Bay, taking off from R.A.F. Waddington on 10th March 1943. The aircraft crashed at Sassnitz on Jasmund, to the north of Berlin. It was reported as on fire flying at a low level before the crew finally attempted to bail out, He is buried in the 1939-1945 War Cemetery in Berlin, having first been buried in Stralsund Cemetery.

BURR A.H. D.F.C. 1930-1935

Born on October 6th 1919, Arthur Henry Burr was the son of Mr H. J. Burr, a Solicitor, of 223 Jersey Rd, Osterley. Before entering Latymer in Class 1A on September 16th 1930, he had been a pupil at Spring Grove Elementary School. There is no record of his examination performance in the admissions register but he left Latymer from Class LVH on December 19th 1935 and went on to a Tutorial College in preparation for a Service Cadetship examination.

A Pilot Officer in the R.A.F., he was awarded the D.F.C. for attacking 15 enemy aircraft which were raiding an Arctic convoy. Launched by catapult from a merchant ship, he shot

down 2 Heinkels and drove off the rest, then saved his own machine by flying to the Russian coast landing with only 7 minutes of fuel left. He had left Latymer in 1935 and volunteered for the R.A.F. in 1940. He was trained in Canada. On returning to England he lectured for the Air Ministry and was employed on instructional duties. It was on such a flight that his aircraft crashed and he was killed. This was reported in the Spring 1945 'Latymerian'.

Research by the Middle School Historians adds a few more details to his story. With the service number 66513, he served with no 7 Service Flying Training School, R.A.F. with the rank of Flight Lieutenant (Flying Instructor). He was killed on March 25th 1945 and rests in the churchyard for St Leonard’s Church, Heston.

BURRELL P.A.M. 1930-1937

Peter Arthur Merrick Burrell, who was born on June 14th 1920, was the son of Walter E. Burrell who worked as a Hospital Official and the family lived firstly at 24 Aldbourne Rd, Hammersmith and later moved to 29 Cranford Lane, Heston. Before entering Latymer in Class 1B in January 1930 he had been educated at Sherbrooke Rd School in Fulham and Wormholt Park School. He left Latymer in July 1937 and went into Journalism.

He was reported in the Autumn 1946 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ as having been killed in action while serving in the R.A.F., but no details of place or date were given, unfortunately.

However, the records of the International Bomber Command centre do offer further information: his service number was 580941 and he served as the Observer in a Bristol Blenheim Bomber, L8834, in Group 2, 40 Squadron. His last operation took place on 23rd May 1940, a day raid taking off from R.A.F. Wyton to bomb an enemy troop column near Arras. The aircraft was brought down by ground fire near Miraumont, and the crew were given burial in Miaumont Communal Cemetery.

His grave bears the inscription ‘Strong in will to live, to seek, to find and not to yield.’ The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records note his parents Walter Ernest and Catherine Burrell, then of Ipsden in Oxfordshire as his next of kin.

CADMAN E.K. 1937-1939

Eric Kenneth Cadman, born on June 14th 1923 and the son of Mr W. E. Cadman, a Civil Servant in the Ministry of Labour, of 6 Montrose Villas, The Mall, Hammersmith had previously been educated at King Edward’s Grammar School Aston in Birmingham before, presumably, his father was posted to London. He came into Latymer with a total fee Scholarship from the London County Council on April 13th 1937. No information is given in the admissions register about his examinations, date of leaving or the next stage in his education or career. The memorial book has his dates of attendance at Latymer as 19371939, which suggests a move to another school or area in the latter year.

A Gunner in the Royal Artillery serving overseas, the Easter 1943 edition of the school magazine reports that he had been killed in action in Tunisia. He was a member of a small British party of troops which made a thrust towards Tunis on Nov 28th 1942. They were divebombed and he was among those killed. He is buried at Tebourba. Letters from his Major and Captain to his family said that he was a Signaller in an observation post and that he had ‘died doing his duty’.

The Middle School History Society’s researchers found a few additional details about his service. His service number was 932584 and he served as a Gunner in the 132 (The

Glamorgan) Yeomanry Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery. He lost his life on November 28th 1942 at the age of 19. He was first buried at Baharine Cemetery and reburied in August 1944 at Medzez-al-Bab War Cemetery in Tunisia. The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission note that his grave bears the inscription ‘Jesu mercy, Mary blest, grant him thine eternal rest. We will remember him.’ His parents, Wilfred Ernest and Alice Adelaide Cadman, are listed as his next of kin.

CARSLAW W.B. 1942-1944

William Bennie Carslaw, the son of William and Margaret Lindsay Carslaw, was still at School and actually in the process of taking his Matriculation examinations when he and his mother were killed by enemy action on Sunday July 2nd 1944. The flat in which they were living, 33, Cromwell Avenue, very close to the School, was completely destroyed by a flying bomb. At the funeral service which took place at Rivercourt Methodist Church the School was represented by the Headmaster, Mr D.G. Jones, Mr D. Jewkes and Mr E.D. Goddard, who played the organ. The School and the Cadet Corps sent wreaths as tributes ‘to a loyal scholar and a keen cadet’. The Summer 1944 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ was dedicated to his memory.

On checking the Admissions Register of Latymer Upper there is no mention of William Bernie Carslaw ever having attended the school. It is perhaps more likely that he was a student at the Latymer Foundation School.

CASTLEMAN H. 1922-1925

Henry Castleman entered Latymer from Arlington Park College on 18th January 1922, going into Class 2B. Born on 30th March 1910, he was the son of Mr S. Goodwin Castleman, a Surveyor, living at 62 Wavendon Avenue, Chiswick. There is no record of his examination results in the admissions documents, but he became a Cadet on the Glen Line ship ‘Glen Shield’.

Unfortunately, the magazines do not seem to contain any record of his service or his death. His name does not appear in the Roll of Honour until Autumn 1946. News of his death may simply have come to the School after the war without details of date place or circumstance.

The Middle School History Society however have found a fuller set of details of his service in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. At the time of his death on September 16th 1940 he was a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers and his service number was 118725. He rests in the Old Cemetery in Chiswick.

CHAFFÉ G.R. 1937-1939

George Richard Chaffé, born on January 2nd 1923 and the son of Mr G. Chaffé, a Hat Manufacturer of 98 Sutton Court, Sutton Court Rd Chiswick, entered Form Lower V M at Latymer on January 19th 1937 from Sir William Borlase’s School in Marlow, where one imagines his family lived before moving to London. No further details are provided on his admissions register entry, sadly. The memorial book has his dates of attendance at Latymer as 1937-1939, which suggests a move to another school or area in the latter year.

‘The Latymerian’ of Autumn 1945 records him as serving with the rank of Sergeant in the R.A.F. He was reported to have been killed in action earlier that year, but no details of date or place are given unfortunately.

More information was found by the student researchers through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the ‘R.A.F. Commands’ website. His service number being 135923, Flying Officer Chaffé served with 265 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He lost his life on 20th August 1944 when his Catilina 1B Flying Boat FP104 crashed in Egypt. Twelve other servicemen were also killed. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt as his body could not be recovered. His parents, George Eden and Gladys Anne Chaffé were listed as his next of kin.

CHEESEMAN S.H. 1934-1938

Sydney Hatfield Cheeseman came into Class 3B at Latymer on September 11th 1934 from Luxford School in Ilford. His father, S.G. Cheeseman, was an Officer in the Metropolitan Police Force who moved to serve in west London at the time his son came to Latymer and the family lived at 95 Ladbroke Grove. Regrettably, no further details of his examination performance or the next steps in his education or career were ever recorded in the admissions register. Given the relatively short time he spent at School according to his dates in the memorial book and the likelihood of his father being promoted or re-posted to another police station, it is not impossible that he left the School before taking any examinations.

He is one of those fallen Latymerians whose service and sacrifice were not recorded in the magazine. Only the notice of his death appears in the final Memorial Book.

The Middle School Historians, however, were able to trace a little more of his story. He served in 501 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (service number 152360) with the rank of Flying Officer. He was lost on February 22nd 1944 and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, as his body could not be recovered for burial. He flew a Spitfire Vb whose number was BL311 and crashed within the United Kingdom, though no further details were given. His next of kin, his parents Sydney George and Jessie May lived at the time of his death in Sheppey in Kent.

CODD P.W. 1937-1938

Peter William Codd was born on October 27th 1924. The family lived at 17 Brookbank Avenue London W7 and his father, Mr W. G. Codd was a Salesman. He began studying at Latymer on September 14th 1937 in Class 3D. It is not recorded where he had been at school before then, and his date of leaving is noted as July 25th 1938. The admissions register entry ends with a note that ‘the family migrated to Guildford’.

‘The Latymerian’ records that Sergeant Pilot Peter W Codd volunteered for the R.A.F. in 1943, after working in a shipping office. He trained in Southern Rhodesia then served as a pilot in the Near East, taking part in many operational flights. Later he was transferred to Italy and stationed at Foggia; he met his death when a Liberator crashed into Mt Vesuvius, during a night flight, killing the entire crew. Writing in condolence to his mother, his WingCommander paid tribute to his popularity and to his sterling qualities as a pilot.

His service number being 1804088, he flew with 178 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Sergeant Pilot. He was lost on July 12th 1945, rather tragically therefore after the war in Europe had ended and he might have expected to return home safe. His grave in the Naples War Cemetery bears the inscription ‘His task ended, he has joined the immortal band. A very gallant gentleman.’ The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list as his next of kin his parents William George and Violet Ada Codd; they had moved to Horsham in Sussex by the time of his death.

CORKE H.W. 1936-1939

Harry Walter Charles Corke was born on March 3rd 1924 and entered Latymer (Class 2B) on April 28th 1936 from Hounslow Town Elementary School with a full fee Scholarship from Middlesex County Council. His father, Mr W. J. Corke, was a Clerk and the family lived at 36 Carrington Avenue Hounslow. The admissions register does not record his examination performance or the next steps in his education or career.

The memorial book has his dates of attendance at Latymer as 1936-1939, the relatively short length of time he was at the school suggests a move to another school or area in the latter year.

The December edition of ‘The Latymerian’ for 1942 records that he was a Corporal, having been employed at N.A.A.F.I. Head Office and then volunteered for the army. He had offered his services for glider flying and sadly been killed in a glider accident.

Some further details of his service appear through the Middle School Historians’ researches. His service number was 5781849 and he served in the 1st Wing, The Gilder Pilot Regiment

A.A.C. as a Corporal. He was killed on September 15th 1942 and his grave in Isleworth Cemetery bears the inscription ‘In proud and treasured memory of our gallant son and brother.’ His parents Walter Thomas and Emily Corke of Hounslow are listed as his next of kin.

DAGLEAS P.J. 1925-1930

Peter James Dagleas, whose date of birth was October 16th 1913, entered Class 2B at Latymer from Ellerslie Rd Elementary School with a London County Council Junior full fee Scholarship, on September 15th 1925. His father, Mr J. E. Dagleas, was a Butler, and the family lived at 23 Bloemfontein Rd W12. He sat and obtained his pass certificate in the General Schools Examination in 1930 and then left Class 6C at Latymer to take up a Clerkship with Wiggins Teape and Co, Paper Makers of Aldgate.

Serving with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, he died of wounds in enemy hands on May 27th 1940, after being reported missing in the retreat to Dunkirk.

His service number as discovered by the Middle School History Society in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, was 88904, and he served in No 57 (1st /5th The East Surrey Regiment) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant. He lies in the Bubure Communal Cemetery in France, where his grave carries the inscription ‘”Love is eternal”. In everlasting memory of my husband Peter.’

His widow Sheila of Drayton, Berkshire is noted as his next of kin.

The Christmas 1941 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ contains this further report:

The following appreciation of Dagleas has been sent in by D. J. Allen.

”I see in the obituary notice a reference to the death in enemy hands of Lt P.J. Dagleas. May I be allowed to make a small correction?

The notes state that he joined the R.A. on the outbreak of war. Actually he joined the Roughrider Battery, Royal Horse Artillery early in 1932, where he served until the Battery lost its horses in 1938. A mechanised Anti-Aircraft job did not appeal to ‘Daggles’ as he was known to all ‘Roughs’ so he took a commission in a London Anti-Tank Battery of the Royal Artillery. ’Daggles’ was not a born horseman; in fact his long legs (you may remember that he was well over six foot tall) brought forth an exclamation from the Riding Instructor on his 23

first visit to the Riding School which remained a joke with his friends in the Battery for many years……’Dagleas, bend your ……………legs. Your horse will think he’s in the shafts of a Carter Patterson cart.’ However as in all things he put his heart and soul into the job and was soon able to sit anything in the way of horseflesh that he came across. I shall always remember him heading the signallers in a hell-for-leather gallop through the Long Valley at Aldershot or across the plain at Larkhill or Lugdershall.

I have heard, from two of his men who tried to carry him to safety that they were shocked and surprised to hear of his subsequent death. When they went back to fetch him, he was apparently only suffering from wounds in the thigh and shoulder. The two gunners, owing to his weight, found it difficult to move him very far, and he ordered them to leave him and retire with the Battery. Poor chap, he must have lain there a long time before the enemy picked him up, for his wounds to have proved fatal.”

DAY L.H. D.F.C. and Bar 1925-1928

The son of Henry Day, a Chauffeur living at 45 Westbourne Terrace Paddington, Leonard Henry Day was born on September 15th 1912 and entered Class 2B at Latymer from St James’ Elementary School in Paddington on January 10th 1925. His final Class being 5A, he left in July 1928 to take up a Clerkship in the Inveresk Group of Newspapers.

Despite his extraordinary achievement in winning the D.F.C. and Bar, regrettably no details of his death or his service career came into the school magazines. His name appears only on quite late lists of the fallen Alumni, so news of his death but not the details may have been all that came to the School and that only after the war, when the memorial book was being prepared.

But there is more on his story in the records researched by the Middle School Historians. His service number was 43478 and he flew with 38 Squadron of the R.A.F. with the rank of Squadron Leader. He lost his life on July 6th 1942 and is remembered on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt, as his body was not recovered. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record his parents Henry and Lily Jane Day, then of Barking, as his next of kin.

The R.A.F. Commands website notes: The squadron was based in Fayid, Egypt to form a night bomber wing and engage in regular attacks on Italian ports along the North African coast in order to hamper the movement of supplies to the Italian forces in the Western Desert. Further raids took place against the Greek islands and Yugoslavia after Germany invaded Greece. In January 1942 the squadron became part of No. 201 group engaged in anti-shipping duties and carried out night torpedo attacks on enemy shipping in the Mediterranean from March to October 1942.

It will have been on one of these attacks that he was lost- and in this sort of service perhaps that he won his D.F.C. and Bar, making him one of the most decorated of Latymerians.

DREW G.

Gordon Drew was born on 20th November 1921. His father, Mr J. Drew, worked as a Toolmaker and the Drews lived at 11 Davisville Rd W12. He had previously been a pupil at Ravenscourt House School and he entered Latymer in Class 1b on !4th September 1931. He left from Form 3C on July 29th 1936 and the Admissions Register records that he went on to ‘The Polytechnic’ (perhaps in Regent St) but no examination results are recorded.

In the Summer 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ it is recorded that Leading Aircraftsman G Drew had been killed in action in the Middle East. Regrettably no further details are given.

More information has, though, come to light in research by the Middle School historians. They have found that his service number was 1393234, that he served as a Leading Aircraftman (under training as a pilot) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer reserve. He lost his life on May 4th 1943 and was buried in Grahamstown New Cemetery in South Africa, (rather than the Middle East as suggested, perhaps wrongly in the ‘Latymerian’) where his grave bears the inscription ‘Dear Son, we thank our God upon every remembrance of you.’ The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record his parents Jacob and Edith Mabel Drew of Shepherds Bush, as his next of kin.

DUNNE P.W.1936-1940

Patrick William Dunne, born on November 2nd 1925, was the son of Mr W. Dunne, a Garage Warden for the London Passenger Transport Board, of 122 Munster Avenue Hounslow. He had been a pupil at Hounslow Heath Junior School and had gained a total fee Scholarship from Middlesex County Council to bring him to Class 2B at Latymer on January 14th 1936.

‘The Latymerian; tells us that he served as a Private in the Royal Fusiliers, continuing ‘Patrick William Dunne had been Drum Major of the Hounslow Cadet Band and never missed a parade. He joined the Amy in 1942 and saw service in N. Africa, Sicily and Italy, where he was killed in action in September 1944. ‘

The student researchers have found out a little more about him. He served in 1st Battalion, (City of London) Royal Fusiliers, with the rank of Fusilier, and the service number 6482114. He died on September 26th 1944 and lies in the Faenza War Cemetery in Italy, where he was reburied in May 1945, after being first interred in an isolated battlefield grave along with three other soldiers. On his grave in Faenza can be read the epitaph ‘Deep in our hearts a memory is kept of one we will love and never forget.’ His parents William and Edna Dunne are listed as his next of kin.

DUNNELL G.M. 1925-1928

George Malcolm Dunnell was born on August 30th 1911. His father Mr G. Dutton had been a Gas Fitter but had died by the time George entered Latymer in June 1925. George had attended Preston Grammar School but when he was a pupil at Latymer the family lived at 208 Goldhawk Rd. He won a Scholarship from the Latymer Foundation Governors and when he sat the General Schools Examination in June 1928 he gained his Matriculation and Distinctions in English, History and French, but he did not continue to the Higher Level Examinations and left to take up a Clerkship with the Westminster Bank.

The Roll of Honour listing Alumni in uniform as published in the December 1939 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ lists him as serving in the London Scottish Regiment. Then in the Spring 1946 edition comes the notice that Lieutenant Dunnell of the Durham Light Infantry had been accidentally killed on manoeuvres in 1943.

He served, as the Middle School historians have discovered, as a Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry with the service number 138530. He lost his life on July 28th 1943 and he is buried in Rake Lane Cemetery, Wallasey in Cheshire. His grave there bears the inscription ‘Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day.’ He had married and his widow Daphne of Scorrier in Cornwall is listed as his next of kin along with his parents George William and Kate.

EAMES C.W. 1931-1936

Cyril William Eames, whose date of birth was February 12th 1920, was the son of William Eames, a Plumber, of 81 Manse St Paddington. He attended Beethoven St Elementary School and was awarded a London County Council Junior Scholarship which brought him to Class 2A at Latymer on September 17th 1931. He left Form Upper V M in July 1936, having sat and passed the General Schools Examination. There is no note of his next place in career or education in the admissions register and very regrettably, no details of his service record or his loss were published in the ‘Latymerian’. His name first appears in the ‘Roll of Honour’ of those known to have been killed by enemy action published in the magazine edition of Summer 1947, in which there is a note in the ‘News from Old Boys’ section from another Alumnus, S. Jarvis, a school contemporary of Mr Eames, mentioning his death.

The Middle School Historians have discovered that he served in 57 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Pilot Officer (Observer) with the service number 108243. He lost his life on July 29th 1942 and rests in Feltwell Churchyard in Norfolk in a grave bearing the inscription ‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.’ It is likely that he was stationed at an RAF base in Norfolk. His parents, William and Lydia Eames were listed as his next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

EASTWOOD A.K. 1926-1932

Alfred Kenneth Eastwood, the son of Mr A. Eastwood who was a Master at Latymer, was born on February 11th 1914. He had previously studied at Cambridge County High School but the family had moved to 21 Galveston Rd Putney by the time he entered Class 3B at Latymer with a Scholarship from the Governors of the Latymer Foundation on January 19th 1926. He sat the General Schools Examination in June 1929 and achieved Distinctions in Elementary Mathematics and Mechanics. Gaining his Matriculation then, he sat the Higher Schools Examinations in July 1931 in Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology and English and also sat further papers (though the subjects are not mentioned in the admissions registers) in July 1932.

The Autumn 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian; contains this obituary notice: ‘Captain Kenneth Eastwood M.B., Ch.B.,of the Royal Army Medical Corps was a son of the late Mr A Eastwood of the School Staff. In 1932 he gained an Open Exhibition to Caius College, Cambridge where he graduated in Medicine. During the War he served with the R.A.M.C. in the Far East. He was taken prisoner and was one of the Doctors who lost their lives while caring for prisoners and coolies whom the Japanese worked to death on the Siam-Burma railway construction.150,000 Tamil coolies and 16, 000 British and Allied prisoners died during the building of the railway, and returning prisoners assert that no praise is too high for the medical officers such as Captain Eastwood, who gave their lives in an effort to alleviate the appalling sufferings of others under the Japanese.’

Some further details of his service were found by the student researchers through the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He was based at 1 Military General Hospital serving as a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps and his service number was 175665. He died on March 7th 1944 and is remembered on the Singapore Memorial, which suggests that his body was not recovered from its grave in the jungle.

EBBS J.L. 1897-1903

James Lawrence Tyssen Ebbs was born on the 20th June 1886, the son of Mr A. Ebbs, an architect and surveyor. The family lived at 183, The Grove, Hammersmith. He had been privately educated before he entered Latymer on 19th January 1897. He left in June 1903 and joined his father’s architecture practice. He left the School in 1903 and was killed by a flying bomb during August 1944 at the age of 58. He was the oldest Old Latymerian killed in the Second World War.

Research by the Middle School Historians finds that he was killed on June 15th 1944 at his home address, 79A High Street Whitton. The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which the researchers consulted give his name as Joseph Lawrence Tyson Ebbs. He is one of the over 67,000 Civilian losses recorded in the memorial book in St George’s Chapel at Westminster Abbey.

EDWARDES J.W. 1932-1937

John William Edwardes joined a firm of Electrical Engineers when he left Form Upper V B at Latymer in July 1937 after passing his General Schools Examination in that month. He had entered Class 2A on September 10th 1932 from Finlay Street Elementary School with a Junior Scholarship from the London County Council. He was born on February 22nd 1921 and the family lives at 18 Abbotsford Rd Putney. His father, Mr C. Edwardes was a Confectioner’s Manager.

In the ‘Latymerian’ edition of Autumn 1944, we read that ‘Corporal John William Edwardes left School in 1937 and joined the R.A.F. on the outbreak of war. He had been in service in India for some time and died in Ceylon on November 9th 1944.’

The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission consulted by the student researchers give some further information on his service. He served in 22 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Corporal and his service number was 1444467. He rests in the Colombo (Liveramentu) Cemetery in Sri Lanka, and his grave bears the inscription ‘He took the sunshine from our lives when he kissed us, never to return.’ His parents, Mrs and Mrs C. Edwardes of Strawberry Hill, whose grief prompted the epitaph, are listed as his next of kin.

ETHERINGTON A.J. 1937-1941

Alan John Etherington entered Latymer (Class 3D) from Ashton House School in Hounslow on September 14th 1937. The son of Mr H. W. Etherington a House Furnisher who lived at 731 London Rd Hounslow, he was born on December 23rd 1924. No further information was written in his admissions register entry, unfortunately.

He was first mentioned in ‘The Latymerian’ of Spring 1944 as being a 2nd Lieutenant serving with the Indian Army. In the Summer 1944 edition comes the report that ‘Alan John Etherington 2nd Lt, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, but attached to the King's Own Scottish Borderers, was killed in action against the Japanese in Burma in May 1944. He left school in 1941 and was 19 years old when he died.

His service number, discovered in the work of the student researchers of the Middle School, was 326923 and he was killed on May 15th 1944. He is remembered on the Rangoon Memorial in Myanmar (formerly Burma), which suggests that his body was not able to be recovered. His parents, Henry Walter and Ivy May Etherington, of Hounslow, are noted as his next of kin.

EVANS F.K. 1933-1936

Francis Kent Evans whose date of birth was September 26th 1919 was the son of Mr A. E. Evans, a Physics Lecturer, and the family lived at 10 Elers Rd Ealing. He had previously been a pupil of Kimbolton School in Huntingdonshire and entered Class 3B at Latymer on September 12th 1933. He left the School in July 1936 from Form Upper V H. He had sat and passed the General Schools Examination in June 1936, achieving Matriculation but did not continue at school to sit the Higher Schools Examination, taking up instead a Clerkship with the North British Insurance Company.

This tribute was paid to him in ‘The Latymerian’ edition of Autumn 1944.

‘Francis Kent Evans left School in 1936 and joined the R.A.F. on the outbreak of war. He won the Distinguished Flying Medal on his first tour of operations as a Flight-Sergeant Navigator. After gaining his commission as a Flying Officer, he was killed on his second tour of operations when his Mosquito was shot down over the sea near the coast. The life of his pilot was saved through Evans' efforts, but Evans himself was drowned. His body was recovered and he is buried in the military cemetery near Cambridge.’

The International Bomber Command Centre records tell that he had married and he and his wife Stella Browning Evans lived in Ealing, that he had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and with the service number 127520, served in Group 5, 627 Squadron as the Navigator of W4072, a de Haviland Mosquito IV. His final operation was a night raid on Frankfurt on 8th-9th January 1944. Taking off from R.A.F. Oakington, the aircraft came down in the sea off the Essex coast. His grave bears the inscription ‘One of the few for the many.’

EVANS N.G.C. 1934-1938

Norman George Carteret Evans whose date of birth was November 16th 1920, had been a pupil at the Latymer Foundation Lower School before entering Class 3A of the Upper School on April 18th 1934. He was the son of Mr G. Evans a Bank Clerk of 85 Rannoch Rd W6. He left Latymer in July 1938.

In the December 1942 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ it was reported that he had been killed on active service in 1940, though without any further details concerning his service except that he had been in the Army.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour provides his date of death, 10th November 1940, and includes him as among the civilian war dead

FAINT D.W.D. 1931-1935

Douglas William Drummond Faint was born on February 21st 1919 and entered Class 1A at Latymer from Southfield Rd Elementary School on September 17th 1931. His father Mr W. Faint was an Electrical Engineer and the family lived firstly at 13 Park Crescent Finchley before moving to 25 Rusthall Avenue Bedford Park. After leaving Latymer in May 1935, from Class 4R, he became an Articled Pupil in a firm of Estate Agents.

He served in the R.A. F. with the rank of Pilot Officer and in the December 1941 edition of the ‘Latymerian’ comes the note that his mother had sent the School the sad news that he had been killed in action, when his Wellington bomber was shot down in a raid over enemy territory.

From the International Bomber Command Centre we learn that having joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve he served with the service number 89791 in Group 1, 12 Squadron

as the Pilot of W5379, a Vickers Wellington II. His final operation was a day raid on Cologne on 10th October 1941. Taking off from R.A.F. Binbrook, the aircraft crashed at 0325 hours at Haamstede in Holland and he is buried in the Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery in the Netherlands.

His grave there bears the inscription ‘Thoughts go back to happy days; life moves on but memory stays.’ The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list his parents, William Henry and Maud Faint of Finchley as his next of kin.

FEATHERSTONE H.A. 1927-1934

Herbert Arthur Featherstone entered Class 1B at Latymer from Wembley Hill Elementary School on September 13th 1927. He was born on August 26th 1917, the son of Mr A. E. Featherstone, a Civil Servant, of 53, Cecil Avenue, Wembley. He studied at Latymer until he left Class 5A in June 1934 to take up a Clerkship at Messrs Crosse and Blackwell.

‘The Latymerian’ records that he was killed in action in Libya on 13th June 1942, though without any further details of his service, sadly, except that the ‘Roll of Honour’ published in the Spring 1945 edition records that he had served in the Army.

Further information about him has been found by the student researchers, however. His service number was 6969530 and he served as a Rifleman in the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade. He was killed on 18th June 1942 and is remembered on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt; his body was not able to be recovered. His parents, Albert Edward and Nellie Westwood Featherstone are listed as his next of kin.

FIRTH D.W. 1932-1936

Dennis William Firth of 14 Willoughby Rd W3, and the son of Mr W. Firth, a Clerk, was born on January 28th 1921. He had been a pupil at Wendell Park Elementary School at came to Latymer from there, entering Class 1A on September 13th 1932. On leaving from Form Lower V H on 23rd December 1936, he took up a Clerkship at Cadby Hall with J. Lyons and Co.

The Autumn 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ records that Dennis William Firth, serving in the R.A.F, with the rank of Sergeant Wireless Operator, was killed on 28th August 1943, while returning from a raid over Nuremberg.

The records of the International Bomber Command Centre tell us that he had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, that his service number was 1330260 and that he served in Group 4, 102 (Ceylon) Squadron as the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in JBB35 a Handley-Page Halifax II. His final operation, taking off from R.A.F. Pocklington on 27th August 1943, was a night raid on Nuremberg, partly to test in use H2S radar which was carried on the aircraft and did not need ‘line of sight’ contact with stations in England, and the Oboe navigational system fitted to Pathfinder aircraft such as Mosquitoes which went ahead of the bomber force. 674 aircraft took part in this raid and not all the bombs fell where intended. 33 aircraft were lost in the raid, including JBB35, which was shot down by a night fighter and crashed near Namur in Belgium. Sgt Firth rests in the Heverlee War Cemetery at Jemeppe on Maas. On his grave is this epitaph ‘Thoughts go back to happy days; life goes on but memory stays.’ His parents, William and Emily Julia Firth of Sudbury Hill, Middlesex are listed as his next of kin.

FLEMING G. 1932-1937

Gordon James Walter Fleming, whose father, Mr W. H. Fleming was a Telephone Operator, was born on March 17th 1921. The family lived at 42 Wingate Rd Hammersmith and he entered Class 2C at Latymer from Brackenbury Rd Elementary School on a free place award from the London County Council for Music. When he left Form Upper V L at Latymer on July 27th 1937, having passed the General Schools Examination that month, he entered the Royal College of Music.

Serving in the R.A.F. with the rank of Sgt Observer, he was reported missing in a raid over Germany in the Easter 1943 edition of the ‘Latymerian’. Then in Autumn 1943 came confirmation of his loss when his aircraft was destroyed.

More details of his service and loss come from the International Bomber Command Centre. His service number was 1380918 and he served in Group 3, 214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron as Wireless Operator of Z8953, a Vickers Wellington I. His final operation, flying from R.A.F. Stradishall, was a night raid on Hamburg. The aircraft came down in the North Sea and Sergeant Fleming and his 5 fellow airmen are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial as their bodies could not be recovered from the water.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission provides the date of his death, 30th November 1941, and his parents William Hart and Lousia May Fleming as his next of kin.

FORRESTER C.A.C. 1934-1939

Cyril Alfred Charles Forrester, who was born on March 27th 1922 and lived at 192 King Street Hammersmith, was the son of Mr A. Forrester, a Grocery, Provisions and Wine Merchant. He came to the Upper School on January 17th 1934 from the Latymer Foundation or Lower School and joined Class 1A. Regrettably, the other sections of his admissions register entry on examination performance and the sections on his further education and career were left uncompleted.

The Easter 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian records that he was a Sergeant Observer in the R.A.F., previously serving in Africa and also in Middle East, he was at that time serving in Persia. In the Autumn 1943 he was noted as an R.A.F. Transport Command Flight Sergeant serving in French Morocco. The Autumn 1944 edition contained this tribute. 'Cyril Albert Charles Forester left School in 1939 and soon joined the R.A.F. He served in the Middle East and in Morocco as a Flight-Sergeant, then as Warrant Officer in Transport Command. He was killed on an operational flight soon after gaining his commission as Pilot Officer.'

Some further pieces of information about him were found by the Middle School History Society from the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. With the service number 175058 and with the rank of Pilot Officer by the time of his death, he lost his life on 26th June 1944. He was first buried in Masirah Cemetery in Iraq and then reburied in the Basra War Cemetery in July 1946, in a grave bearing the epitaph ‘In loving memory of our devoted only son who crashed on June 26th 1944. God bless him.’ His parents, Alfred and Anne Barbara Forester, are listed as his next of kin. The spelling ‘Forester’ appears in the C.W.G.C. records.

FOX.C.L. 1932-1940

Charles Laurence Fox, the son of Mr Julius Fox, a School Master of 130 London Rd Wembley (his mother’s name was Marie) and born on March 26th 1922, had been a pupil at Wembley Hill Elementary School before entering Latymer in Class 1B on September 13th 1932. No further details appear in his admissions register entry. He had been School

Captain in 1940 and one of the greatest sprinters the school had produced. He gained a Scholarship to Cambridge and spent the time wating to join his unit of the R.A.F. teaching languages at the School during its time in Slough. In 1940 he held the Southern Counties Junior Athletics competition record for the 440 yards race.

‘The Latymerian’ traces his service in the R.A.F. In December 1941 he was reported to be in training as observer in Canada and training as Pilot Officer. A year later he was serving In India now with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. In1943 he was stationed in Yorkshire and training as an Instructor. He was training as a Pathfinder and on operations over Europe in Summer 1944 when he was lost in action over enemy territory. His was the loss that caused the Headmaster Frederick Wilkinson so much grief that he broke down while announcing it in Assembly and wanted to leave the stage but was forced to continue by Mr Waddams the Second Master.

This tribute appeared in the Spring 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian’. It was written by his friend, Officer Cadet P.G. Mellett who was serving in India.

‘Charles Lawrence Fox, Captain of the School in 1940, Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge, and one of the finest short-distance runners the School ever had, [ he held the record for the 440 yards race in 1940 at the Southern Counties Junior Athletics Championships] was killed in September 1944. He was navigator in the famous squadron of Wing Commander Tait and while flying home in bad weather after an attack on the Battleship ”Tirpitz”, his plane was forced down and crashed in Norway with the loss of the entire crew.

‘It means a big gap in their lives to those who knew Fox well. His friendship was a valuable possession and to have his company was to see oneself enlarged, for, under a cloak of abundant self-confidence, he was shy and intellectually modest. He analysed the passing world with reserve, and his view was always reasonable, for, while in all things he sought the distinction of perfection, he never sought that of originality for its own sake. His influence was therefore steadying, yet full of vitality; and his personality exceptionally fine. Fox will be well remembered and his relatives, whose loss is the greatest, are offered the deep sympathy of many Old Latymerians who knew him.’

We learn a little more from the International Bomber Command Centre archive. Flying Officer Fox was the Navigator of PB416 an Avro Lancaster III of Group 5, 617 Squadron. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and his service number was 138131. His final operation was the attack on the battleship ‘Tirpitz’ on 16th -17th September 1944, which damaged her very badly. The aircraft had flown from the Russian base at Yagodnik and were on their way home when they crashed into high ground in Norway. He and his eight fellow airmen are buried in Nesbyen Churchyard, in Norway, approximately 180 kilometres north west of Oslo.

His grave has the inscription: ‘O valiant heart; in all the glory of his youth he died that we might live.’

FRIES F. 1923-1931

Felix Theodore Fries, whose father, also named Felix, was a Caterer and lived at 91 Prebend Gardens Hammersmith (though interestingly ‘Hammersmith’ was firmly crossed out and replaced with ‘Chiswick’ in the admissions documents) was born on January 9th 1913 and attended Southfield Rd Elementary School. He was awarded a full fee Scholarship by the Governors of the Latymer Foundation on entering the Upper School in Class 1B on January 16th 1923. He left from Class 7B on July 24th 1931 having achieved a Distinction in History in the General Schools Examination of June 1929, matriculated and passed the Higher Schools Examination in English, Modern History, French and Mathematics in July 31

1931. He went on to Peterhouse, Cambridge on a College History Exhibition with the award of a Middlesex County Council Senior leaving award and a Leaving Exhibition from the Latymer Governors.

The July 1942 ‘Latymerian’ reports that ‘he had died from illness while training as an Officer Cadet aged 19. [This seems to be an editorial error in the magazine - 29 is the age given on his grave in Chiswick New Cemetery and in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which also gives his death as 4th April 1942, as discovered by the Middle School History Society.]

At Peterhouse Cambridge he had had a very promising academic career as a historian ahead of him after gaining a First in the History Tripos and a Ph.D. On the Historical Foundations of Fascism. He was also an authority on ecclesiastical history and the Tudor period, contributed regularly to the ‘Times Literary Supplement’ and had a large share in the writing of Volume II of the ‘History of “The Times”’ which allowed him to apply his wide knowledge of modern history and in which his collaborators acknowledged their debt to his patient research.’

He rests in Chiswick New Cemetery and is also remembered on the War Memorial of Peterhouse.

FULLER C.B. 1934-1939

Cyril Bernard Fuller was born on March 28th 1923. He was the son of Mr H. J. Fuller, a Warehouse Manager and the family lived at 136 Bronsart Rd, London SW6. He joined Latymer in class 2a from Munster Rd Elementary School on 11th September 1934, his fees being paid for by London County Council.

The July 1942 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ records that he had only recently become an Officer Cadet in the Royal Navy when his ship (her name is not given) was torpedoed on March 25th 1942, and he was killed.

He had, said the obituary, an unusually charming personality and his death ‘is keenly felt by all who knew him, especially by the School Scouts’.

The Middle School researchers have discovered additional information about his service and loss in the uboat.net website.

He served on the ‘S.S. Narragansett’, a motor tanker of 10,389 tons, built in 1936 by Friedrich Krupp of Kiel in Germany, registered in London and owned by the British Mexican Petroleum Co Ltd, of London. She was sunk by U-Boat 105, commanded by Heinrich Schuch, at 0609 hours on 25th March 1942, while en route without escort from Port Arthur in Texas to the United Kingdom, via Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. She was hit in the stern by one torpedo from U-105, about 400 miles east of Hampton Roads, Virginia and sank burning, after having been missed by a spread of three torpedoes at 0401 hours and a spread of two torpedoes at 0408 hours. Her Master Michael Blackburn Roberts and all her crew of forty two seamen and six gunners were lost.

Officer Cadet Fuller is listed on the list of those lost in the sinking as a Cadet in the Merchant Navy, rather than the Royal Navy as ‘The Latymerian’ has it. He is remembered on the Merchant Navy Memorial on Tower Hill in London. His parents Harold James and Rebecca Fuller of Fulham are recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as his next of kin.

GEMMELL K.C. 1932-1935

Kenneth Campbell Gemmell was born on 14th February 1920, and was the son of Mr J. C. Gemmell, a Sound Cinematographer of 112 Rusthall Avenue, Acton. He had previously attended Southfield Road Elementary School, and was admitted to Latymer on 12th January 1932 in class 1a. He left the school from class U.v.L. on 19th December 1935, taking up work, presumably with his father, in a film studio.

There is no record of his service record or loss in the ‘Latymerian’ unfortunately. His name appears only in the Memorial Book itself, suggesting that news of his death perhaps came late to the School and without information on date, place or circumstances.

The Middle School Historians have discovered, though, that he served in the Royal Air Force as a Sergeant Pilot with the service number 911890. His squadron is not listed, but he lost his life on 29th May 1941 and is at rest in Mortlake Cemetery and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission list his parents, John Campbell and Phyllis Dorothy Gemmell of Chiswick as his next of kin.

GILLIS H.D D.F.C. 1936-1940

Hartley David Gillis was born on November 7th 1922. The son of Mr R. A. Gillis, a Secretary and Accountant, of 35 Shaftesbury Avenue W6, he entered Latymer on January 14th 1936 from Chiswick Central School. Nothing more about him appears in the admissions register but ‘The Latymerian’ tells us that he served with great distinction in the R.A. F. And mentions him several times.

In the Easter 1942 edition he was listed as ‘Training as Observer in the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve. In Easter 1943 he is reported as having also qualified as a Navigator. The Autumn 1943 magazine records him being on a Pathfinder Course and continues, ‘He has done 20 operational flights including raids on Berlin, Hamburg, Essen, Cologne, Munich, Kassel, Nuremberg and Milan. Then in Summer 1944 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross 'for long, meritorious service'. After completing all his original tours of service, he volunteered for pathfinding and had only 2 more operations to complete on his second operations series when he was reported missing on a night raid over Germany.

Further information on his service and loss has been provided by the International Bomber Command Centre archive. His service number was 170350 and he served in Group 8, 156 Squadron as the Flight Engineer of ND577, an Avro Lancaster III. His last operation was a night raid, flying from R.A.F. Upwood, to attack railway lines and yards near Versailles on 7th8th June 1944, so the day after D-Day, when a force of 337 bombers attacked enemy communication lines behind the Normandy beachhead. There was a heavy enemy nightfighter response and 28 aircraft were lost including ND577 and the crew, though the objectives of the operation were achieved. Flt Lt Gillis and his comrades rest in the churchyard of Les Mesnuils near Yvelines in northern France. Their grave bears the inscription ‘We light the way.’

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record his parents Robert Archibald and Mary Watson Gillis of Paddington as his next of kin.

GOLDIE A.B. 1929-1935

Alexander Bryan Goldie, whose date of birth was August 21st 1919, lived at 65 Stamford Brook Rd, Hammersmith. His father, Mr A. Goldie, was a Company Director. Educated at Wendell Park Elementary School, he entered Class 1B at Latymer on January 15th 1929 and left from Class 6A in July 1935. He is recorded as failing the General Schools Examination in June 1934 but repeated the Examination in the following year and achieved a Distinction in Elementary Mathematics and his Matriculation, but did not continue at Latymer, going to work instead in an Accountant’s Office.

He served in the R.A.F. The magazine of Autumn 1943 reported that he had drowned accidentally while bathing near his base in Scotland.

Some further details about him have been found by the student researchers. His service number was 981009 and he served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Corporal. He died on July 30th 1941 at the age of twenty one and is buried in Newmilns (Loudoun) Cemetery in Ayrshire. His next of kin are listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as his parents, Andrew and Jenny Steel Goldie of Ealing, Middlesex.

GOODWIN W. 1929-1937

William Goodwin, the son of Mr J. Goodwin who was a Wheelwright’s Assistant, was born on September 15th 1918 and lived at 244 Harrow Rd, Paddington. Previously studying at Harrow Rd Elementary School he entered Class 2B at Latymer on September 17th 1929 with a full fee award from the London County Council. He sat the General Schools Examination in June 1933 and achieved his Matriculation and Distinctions in Latin, French and Elementary Mathematics. He then went on to sit the Higher Schools Examination in July 1934 and also in July 1936 achieving a Distinction in French and again in July 1937 achieving another Distinction in German. He was then awarded an Open Exhibition in French at Magdalen College, Oxford and an Exhibition from the Latymer Foundation Governors too.

He served in the Field Security Police: in its Summer 1943 edition ‘The Latymerian’ reports that the was a Sergeant in the Field Security Police, had served in N Ireland and Norway and was now with the Intelligence Corps. In Spring 1945, he is listed as a Captain in the Intelligence Corps, attached to Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, but very sadly there is no record of his loss. He is first mentioned as fallen only in the Roll of Honour in the magazine edition of Spring 1947.

The Middle School History Society’s researchers have ascertained that his service number was 295087 and that he was indeed a Captain in the Intelligence Corps. He lost his life on September 29th 1945, so a little after the end of the war. He rests in Brookwood Military Cemetery. His parents John and Eleanor Goodwin and his widow Esme, noted as living in Westminster, are listed as his next of kin.

GRAVES P.J. 1933-1937

Peter John Graves left Latymer in July 1937 to become an Aircraft Apprentice. The son of Mr. H. J. T. Graves, a Stores Department Manager, of 251 Boston Rd Brentford, he was born on December 2nd 1920 and came to Latymer from Northfield Elementary School, entering Class 1A on January 17th 1933.

‘The Latymerian’ records that he served in the R.A.F. with the rank of Pilot Officer. In the December 1942 edition it is reported that he had trained in Canada and served mainly as an instructor, and that he had been killed in a glider accident while instructing recruits.

The student researchers have found his service number, 47721 and that he was serving as a Pilot Officer (Pilot) with no 29 Elementary Flying Training School, R.A.F. when he lost his life on September 30th 1942. He is at rest in St Peter’s Churchyard, Clyffe Pypard in Wiltshire, presumably not far from the training school, and his grave has the inscription ‘Thank you, “Chummie” for our lovely memories’.

GREENOP D.W.D. 1933-1939

Derek William Dudley Greenop, the son of Mr C. D. Greenop, a Bank Clerk, who lived at 16 The Drive Spring Grove Isleworth, was born on May 11th 1923 and joined Class 1B at Latymer from Wyndham School, The Grove, Osterley on September 12th 1933. He is unfortunately one of the boys whose admissions register entry is empty from that point onwards.

The Spring 1944 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ reports that he had served in the R.A.F. in the Middle East and was at that time a Sgt Wireless Operator in the Coastal Command.

The Spring 1945 edition contains this Obituary:

‘Derek William Dudley Greenop left the School in 1939 and soon afterwards became a Sergeant Wireless Operator in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He served in England and the Middle East with Coastal Command and was reported missing after an operational flight in May 1944. It has now been officially confirmed that his aircraft crashed into the sea eight miles off the south west coast of Cyprus on May 31st with the loss of its crew. Greenop was just 21, his birthday being on the 11th of the month in which he met his death.’

As his body could not be recovered from the sea, he is remembered on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt. His service number was 1800303. His parents, Cecil and Edith May Greenop of Isleworth are listed as his next of kin.

GRIFFIN K.C. 1933-1937

Kenneth Compton Griffin left Form Upper V M at Latymer in July 1937. He had sat and passed the General Schools Examination that month and achieved his Matriculation, but did not continue to the Higher Schools Examination, leaving school to begin work at the Stock Exchange. He had entered Latymer in Class 1A on January 17th 1933 from Arlington Park College. He was born on April 14th 1921, the son of Mr A. J. Griffin, a Company Director of 50 A Park Road W3.

His service in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps is recorded in ‘The Latymerian’. The Spring 1945 edition records ‘Kenneth Griffin left school in 1937 and was articled to a firm of Accountants. He volunteered for army service in 1941, went abroad in December of that year and was captured by the Japanese when Singapore fell in February 1942.He died in Malaya in Japanese hands in November 1943 aged only 22 In the time he was imprisoned his parents received only 2 postcards from him, and they did not hear of his death until about 2 months afterwards.’

Research by the Middle School Historians has found that he served as a Private in Number 4 Store Company R.A.O.C. with the service number 10541955. He died on November 5th 1943 and was buried in Kami Sonkrai Cemetery, but was reburied in December 1945 in the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Myanmar (then known as Burma.), where his grave carries the epitaph ‘Our loving son; not just today but every day we remember, Mum, Dad, Ron’

‘Mum and Dad’ were Albert Sydney and May Griffin of Worthing in Sussex, listed as his next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

HALES E.M. 1935-1939

Edwin Marshall Hales joined Class 2B at Latymer from St John’s House School Hounslow on September 10th 1935. He had been born on January 24th 1924. His father, Mr A. E. Hales, was a Sales Manager and the family lived at ‘The Chestnuts’ Sutton Lane Hounslow. Sadly, no further details appear in the admissions register, and no details of service or loss appear in the school magazines.

But the student researchers in the Middle School have ascertained that he served in 298 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Flying Officer (Air Bomber) with the service number 177565 and that he lost his life on 24th March 1945. He was presumably shot down over Germany as he was buried in Wittenhorst and then reburied in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany in May 1947. His grave bears the inscription ‘In memory always of our much-loved Jerry.’ The Commonwealth War Graves Commission listed as his next of kin his parents Arthur Edwin and Florence Gladys Hales, then of Weybridge in Surrey.

HAMILTON J. 1932-1937

John Hamilton lived firstly at ‘Haute Villa’ Sutton Lane Hounslow and then at ‘Lindisfarne’ on the Great West Rd in Hounslow. He was born on October 2nd 1919 and his father, Mr John Finlay Hamilton was a Wholesale Grocer. He entered Latymer in Class 1A on January 12th 1922 from Alexandra Elementary School and left from Class Upper V F in July 1937 having sat and passed his General Schools Examination in that year at the second attempt. Though awarded Matriculation, he left the School then and began to work in the office of a firm of Chartered Accountants.

In the Autumn 1946 ‘Latymerian’ he was reported as having been killed in action, but no other details of his service were published.

His death is commemorated on his father’s gravestone at St. Leonard’s, Heston, where it says that Rifleman John Hamilton was posted missing in action in North Africa in 1943. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website provides his death date as the 20th or 21st August 1943.

HARDY G.F. 1926-1930

Gerald Frederick Hardy, the son of Mr E. P. Hardy, an Assistant Engineer on the Underground Railways, was born on January 22nd 1915, lived at 40 Aldbourne Rd Shepherds Bush and attended Victoria Elementary School in Becklow Rd W.10 before entering Class IB on January 19th 926. It is very poignant indeed to read the Headmaster’s note at the foot of his admissions register entry that he left the School ‘owing to Father’s financial circumstances’. Several admissions register entries for the fallen alumni have this note, sadly.

The Autumn 1946 edition of the magazine reported that he had been killed in active service in a flying boat accident, but no other details of his service appear.

A little more information, however, has been discovered by the Middle School Historians. They have found his service number, 905414 and that he served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Warrant Officer (Flight Mechanic Engineer/Rear Gunner). He died on October 16th 1943 and rests in the cemetery of Mortlake Crematorium. His next of kin were his parents, Emil P. and Phoebe M. Hardy, of Chiswick.

HARRY P. 1932-1936

Peter John Humphries Harry left Latymer in December 1936 to take up a Clerkship with the Midland Bank, having sat and passed his General Schools Examination in that summer. He had gained his matriculation but did not stay on at school to sit the Higher Schools Examination. The son of Mr C. F. Harry, a Pharmaceutical Chemist of 64 Crown Rd St Margaret’s in Twickenham and born on July 27th 1920, he had entered Latymer in Class 1A from Gilean’s School on January 12th 1932.

In the December 1940 edition of the ‘Latymerian’ he was listed as having been killed on active service, but there are no other details given there, unfortunately.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records that Sergeant Harry served in the Royal Air Force Reserve, and died on 24th September 1940, and that he is buried at All Hallows Churchyard, South Cerney, Gloucestershire.

HEAP W.G.

Lieutenant Walter Geoffrey Heap was born in 1912, and was the only one of the Heap brothers, (Leading Aircraftsman A. N. Heap R.A.F., Lieut. G. Heap R.N.V.R. and Lieut. J.C. Heap R.A.) who did not attend Latymer but he was married to Mary, the daughter of Mr C.T. Waddams of the School Staff. He saw service at Narvik in Norway and then went to Egypt, passed through the siege of Tobruk as a Corporal and after gaining a commission, was in Africa and Italy where he was killed in action on September 19th 1944. In civilian life he had been on the staff of Barclay’s Bank in Greenford. He left a widow and a small son.

HEATH P.A.C. 1932-1938

Peter Charles Alfred Heath lived at 5 Cawdor Close in Hanwell. He was born on January 19th 1921 and his father, Mr C. J. Heath was an Auditor. He came to Latymer from Northfields Elementary School, joining Class 1A in April 10th 1933, but he is one of those pupils for whom no further sections of his admissions register entry were completed, unfortunately.

He served as a Lieutenant Navigator in the Fleet Air Arm. In the Autumn 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ it is reported that he had been killed in aircraft accident on October 9th 1943. His Commanding Officer wrote that he could have parachuted from his aircraft but tried to bring it under control until the last minute as his crew had not bailed out '-in fact he died a hero's death'.

HENDERSON G.B. 1924-1928

Gavin Burns Henderson, born on April 10th 1909, the son of William Henderson, a Civil Servant of 31 Rylett Rd Shepherds Bush W12, had attended Nottingham High School before moving to London and joining Form 5A of Latymer on September 16th 1924, with a Scholarship from the Latymer Foundation. He took and gained his matriculation from the General Schools Examination in June 1926, with a Distinction in Chemistry, and then sat

and passed the Higher Schools Examination in English, French and History (gaining a Distinction in the last of those subjects) in July 1928.

The Autumn 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ contains this obituary. ‘Gavin B Henderson M.A. Ph. D. Gained an Exhibition to Selwyn College Cambridge in 1928 and took first class Honours in each part of the History Tripos, researched for his Doctorate, became a Research Student at Selwyn and was appointed Lecturer in History at Glasgow University, researching into diplomatic history and travelling throughout Europe. After working for the Ministry of Information, he became a full-time lecturer in the Forces; he was probably one of the best known and most learned lecturers on current affairs in Britain. His work for the Forces took him to all parts of Britain, and to Iraq, Persia, Egypt, N. Africa and Malta. Then at the end of the War he resumed his post at Glasgow but was asked by the R.A.F. to undertake one more month's special lectures in Italy and met his death when the aircraft bringing him home to England crashed.’

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that civilian Henderson died on 24th June 1945. He is also remembered on the War Memorial of Glasgow University.

HIGGINS S.W. 1935-1939

Sydney William Higgins was born on January 21st 1924. His father, Mr S. Higgins was a Guard on the Underground and the family lived at 44 Lochaline St W6. He had been a pupil at Fulham Palace Rd Elementary School and a London County Council full fee Scholarship brought him to Class 2A at Latymer on September 10th 1935. There is, sadly, no further information about him in the admissions register.

He served in the R.A.F. with the rank of Leading Aircraftsman and the Autumn 1946 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ reported that he had been killed on air operations over Germany, though no date is given for his death.

Fuller information comes from the archive of the International Bomber Command Centre. Sgt Higgins, whose service number was 1319732, served in Group 4, 578 Squadron as an Air Bomber in NA 604, a Handley-Page Halifax II. His last operation, flying from R.A.F. Burn, was on 12th-13th August 1944, a night raid on the Opel Motor factory at Russelsheim, part of a force of 297 aircraft, of which 20 were lost, NA 604 was brought down at Monchbruck in Germany and the crew rest in Durnbach War Cemetery.

HITCHCOCK L.R. 1928-1932

Leslie Herbert Richard Hitchcock, the son of Mr W. Hitchcock, a Laboratory Manager of 10, Lime Grove, Shepherds Bush, was born on February 14th 1916 and attended St Stephen’s Church of England School before entering Class 3R at Latymer on September 11th 1928. He left from Class 5A in March 1932, and went into laboratory work, presumably with his father. The admissions register entry does not record his examination results.

In December 1940 ‘The Latymerian’ lists him in the Roll of Honour as a Sapper in Bomb disposal, and reports that he had been killed while removing the fuse of a bomb in London. He had a brother (it seems, not a Latymerian) who served in the R.A.F. and was reported missing in Spring 1944, compounding his family’s loss and bereavement.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that Sapper Hitchcock served in 5 Bomb Disposal Company, of the Royal Engineers, and that he died on 7th October 1940. He is buried at South Ealing Cemetery.

HOWARD J.M. 1936-1942

John Milman Howard was born on December 16th 1923 and entered Latymer in Class 3A from Plymouth City Corporation Grammar School on September 15th 1936 with a Scholarship from Middlesex County Council. It is reasonable to imagine that his father’s occupation (Mr H. Howard was a Civil Servant) had brought the family from Devon to live at 17 Gunnersbury Gardens in Acton. No further details were recorded on his admissions register entry, unfortunately.

In the Summer 1946 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ it is reported that John Milman Howard died in March 1946 as the result of an accident while serving in Singapore and was buried in the beautiful cemetery in the north east corner of Singapore Island. He was 22. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that Lieutenant Howard served in the Royal Cops of Signals, and died on 6th March 1946, and that he was buried at Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore.

HOWARD S.C. 1911-1916

Stanley Cecil Howard, whose father bore the same name and worked as a Hotel Manager, was born on 1st October 1901. He lived at 16 Farrell Mansions, Queens Club Gardens and later at 1 Burlington Avenue, Kew. He had previously been a pupil at Stafford Grammar School, and entered Latymer on September 12th 1911, in Class 1B. He left from Class VB on July 26th 1916 and became an apprentice on a liner, though neither the ship in which he was apprenticed nor her line are given in the admissions register.

Serving as a Lieutenant in the South African Air Force, in Autumn 1946 it was reported that he had died of injuries received on active service. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that Sergeant Howard, serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve died on 2th September 1944, and that he is buried at West Thurrock Cemetery in Essex.

JEWKES J.R. 1926-1930

Joseph Robert Jewkes was born on December 7th 1913, the son of Mr J.H. Jewkes, a Wholesale and Export Hardware Agent of 79 Deans Rd Hanwell. He came to Latymer from Oaklands Rd Elementary School in Hanwell on January 19th 1926, entering Class 1A and left from Class 4B in July 1930. No details are recorded of his examination performance, but he became a Commercial Traveller.

A Gunner in the Royal Artillery, Joseph Robert Jewkes, brother of a Latymer Master, had served in the advance from El Alamein and in the campaign in Tunisia, been torpedoed on his way to Malta and taken part in the landing at Salerno. He was seriously wounded in March 1944 while helping to clear a minefield in the forward area and died of his injuries on 14th March. He was buried in the Military Cemetery overlooking Naples.

JONES E. 1930-1936

Edgar Stewart Jones was born on 21st December 1919 and attended Arlington Park Preparatory School for 5 years before entering Latymer (Class 1A) on September 16th 1930. His father, Mr L. R. Jones, was the Manager of a Branch of the National Provincial Bank and the family’s home was at 47 Wilmington Avenue Chiswick.. He had taken and passed the General Schools Examination in June 1936 and achieved his Matriculation but did not remain at the School. He followed his father’s profession, taking up a Clerkship at the National Provincial Bank

His Obituary in the Magazine tells us that Edgar Stewart Jones left school in 1936, He was mobilised in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve just before the war broke out. He

wished to be a Pilot, but at an urgent request volunteered to be an Observer and attained the rank of Sergeant Observer. On April 9th 1941 he and two others took off on reconnaissance from an East Coast airfield but their aircraft was never seen again and in the Summer 1944 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ he is listed as ‘officially presumed killed in action’.

JOYCE T.F. 1929-1934

Trevor Francis Joyce was born on July 16th 1918. His father, Mr P.H. Joyce, of 28 York Rd Ealing, was a Commercial Traveller who put his son into Ealing College before his admission to Class 1A at Latymer on September 17th 1929. No details of his examination performance appear on his admissions register entry, sadly, but he went on to Northampton Polytechnic after leaving from Class 4C at Latymer in July 1934.

No details of his service career or his loss appear in the school magazines unfortunately. This omission may be simply the result the family move to Northampton.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records that Trooper Joyce served in “C” Squadron, 3rd The King’s Own Hussars (the Royal Armoured Corps), and that he died on 17th June 1944. He is buried in Bolsena War Cemetery in Italy.

KNAPP A.J. 1930-1936

Anthony John Knapp, who was born on January 26th 1919, was the son of Mr A. Knapp, a Builder, living at 1 Eastbourne Rd Chiswick. After attending Sutton Court Private School, he joined Class 1A at Latymer on September 16th 1930, and left School in 1936 from Class Upper V R with a pass in the General Schools Examination in June of that year. He achieved his Matriculation but did not stay at the School, taking instead an apprenticeship with a firm of Architect’s Surveyors.

Regrettably there are no details of his service career or death listed in the magazines. His name seems to appear only in the final list prepared for the Memorial Book, perhaps suggesting that news of his death reached the School late and without information as to place, time or circumstances.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records that Sergeant Knapp was a member of the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve unit, and that he died on 4th February 1942. His name is included on the Runnymede Memorial, near Egham, Surrey.

KNIGHT N.A. 1924-1930

Norman Arthur Knight was born on November 20th 1913. His father, also named Arthur Knight, was a Divisional Assistant Superintendent in the Prudential Assurance Company and the family lived at 9 Sinclair Rd London W14. He had attended Cumberland House School in Albert Rd Brighton before entering Class 1B at Latymer on September 16th 1924. He took and passed the General Schools Examination in June 1930 and left from Class 6C in July of that year. Sadly, there is no record of the next stage of his education or career in the admissions records.

In the Spring 1946 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ there is a notice in the Obituaries section that ‘N. A. Knight Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force was killed in action in Italy in November 1943. No further details were given, sadly.

But the International Bomber Command Centre archive does give more information though it differs in the details of his loss, from the information given to the School for inclusion in the magazine. From it we learn that he was married to Eva Marie Knight and that they lived in

Bloomsbury. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and, with the service number 82736, he served in Group 2, 105 Squadron as Observer on T1891, a Bristol Blenheim IV. He and his two colleagues flew on their last operation from R.A.F. Watton on 28th-29th October 1940. The date is supported by the loss reference in the National Archive at Kew. The operation was a night raid on Hornburg. The aircraft was lost without trace and the crew are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

LOCKYEAR D. M.M. 1926-1931

Denis Lockyear (his surname is printed as ‘Lockyer’ in some places), who was born on January 22nd 1915, was the son of Sergeant B. E. Lockyear of the Metropolitan Police. Having previously been taught at Portobello Rd Elementary School, he came into Class 2b Latymer on September 14th 1931 on a full-fee Scholarship from the London County Council. He sat, passed and gained his matriculation through the General Schools Examination in June 1931, winning a Distinction in Mathematics and then went on to take up a Clerkship with the Car and General Assurance Company.

It was reported in the Spring 1946 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ that he had been killed in action in Italy in November 1943. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms his death on 23rd November 1943. He held the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and had been awarded the Military Medal but no further details appear in that edition of the magazine.

However, the Middle School History Society researchers have produced the medal recommendation document from the National Archives. His rank as of that time is given there as L/Sgt and the recommendation was made by Lt. Col. K.W. Hervey R.A. L/Sgt Lockyear was serving in 258 A/Tank Battery, Royal Artillery, 65th (North Yorkshire) Regiment in the North Africa campaign which culminated in the battle of El-Alamein.

The recommendation reads, ‘On 13 Dec 41, during a heavy tank attack west of Gabr el Abidi L/Sgt Lockyear was the Troop Sergeant. His troop of anti-tank guns was forward of and in defence of the Field Artillery. Under heavy fire he was of the greatest assistance to his Troop Commander during the operation and when last seen that night, was still fighting the only remaining gun of the Troop. He remained with the Troop Commander, who was wounded, all night and was found by a patrol the following morning. Recommended for the IMMEDIATE award of the Military Medal.’

LOVELACE W.J. 1923-1930

Walter James Lovelace, whose date of birth was 25th September 1913, was the son of Edwin J. Lovelace a ‘Merchant and Manufacturers’ Agent’ of 48 Wavendon Avenue Chiswick. Previously a pupil of Belmont Elementary School, he entered Class 1B at Latymer on April 17th 1923 and left from Class 6A in July 1930, having passed his General Schools Examination in June 1930 at achieved a Distinction in Elementary Maths. He went on to train as an Architect.

He was serving as a Sergeant in Royal Engineers when in the July 1941 ‘Latymerian’ comes a report that, ‘serving in Bomb Disposal, he had lost his life in the courageous performance of his dangerous duties’. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that Serjeant Lovelace served in 3 Bomb Disposal Company, the Royal Engineers, and that he died on 16th April 1941. His name is commemorated at Mortlake Crematorium.

LOWRY P.S. 1934-1937

Peter Sydney Lowry was born on April 8th 1922 and joined Class 2B at Latymer from Belmont School Chiswick on September 11th 1934. His family lived at 525 High Rd Chiswick and his father Mr A. S. Lowry was a Garage Proprietor and his son went to work for him on leaving school in March 1937.

It is very regrettable that ‘The Latymerian’ contains no reference to his service or loss.

But detail of his fine service have been provided by the International Bomber Command Centre. Joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, he held the service number 1321590 and served with the rank of Sergeant in Group 6, 431 (Iroqois) Squadron, as the Wireless Operator of LK640, a Handley-Page Halifax V. On his last operation, on 18th-19th November 1943, he and his six fellow crewmen took off from R.A.F.Tholthorpe on a night raid on Mannheim. This was a diversionary raid while the main raid attacked Berlin. This diversionary raid, though plagued by low cloud cover, did inflict heavy damage on the Daimler- Benz motor works resulting in a 90% loss of production.

Sgt Lowry’s aircraft crashed into the sea, though the cause of the crash was recorded as not established. His body was recovered near Wimereux on November 18th 1943, and he rests in the Marquise Communal Cemetery in France.

The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission list his parents Albert Sydney and Alice Ethel Lowry of Chiswick as his next of kin.

LUCKETT K. 1935-1939

Kenneth Luckett, born on August 12th 1922 had lost his father (who had worked as a Foreman Carpenter) before he entered Class 3D at Latymer from The Latymer Foundation Lower School on September 10th 1935 with a full fee Scholarship from the Latymer Foundation Governors. He and his mother, Mrs G. Luckett, lived at 70 Lonsdale Rd Barnes.

‘The Latymerian’ records that Kenneth Luckett left school in 1939, volunteered for the R.A.F. in 1941 aged 19, trained as a Navigator, gained the rank of Sergeant, spent a short time on flying duties in the UK and was then sent abroad. He died on active service carrying out his duties as Navigator in September 1944.

Research by the Middle School Historians adds more detail to the picture of his service. His service number was 1810372 and he served as a Sergeant Navigator with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 70 Operational Training Unit. He lost his life on September 27th 1944, when the Marauder III aircraft in which he was serving in north Africa, an American bomber type leased to the R.A.F with the number HD404, crashed on approach to El Shatt in Egypt, after its engine caught fire. All the crew were killed. He rests in the Suez War Memorial Cemetery in Eqypt and his grave bears the inscription ‘Sweet is the memory of those that loved him. Joan and Mother.’

MACK M.C.X. D.F.C. 1923-1927

Michael Charles Xavier Mack lived at 14 Horbury Crescent Notting Hill Gate. The son of J. B. X. Mack, an Engineer, he was born on 9th April 1911 and attended St Mary Abbotts Church of England Elementary School in Kensington before joining Class 3A at Latymer on September 18th 1923 on a Scholarship from the Latymer Foundation. He sat the General Schools Examination set by London University in June 1927 and achieved Distinctions in History, Latin, French and Elementary Mathematics and matriculated with honours. But he left Latymer without proceeding to the Higher Examinations in July 1927 and took up a Clerkship with Balfour Williamson and Co, General Merchants.

Serving as a Pilot Officer, in Autumn 1946 ‘The Latymerian’ recorded that M.C.X. Mack D.F.C. was reported killed ‘during air operations’.

Significant extra information on his service and his loss is to be found in the archive of the International Bomber Command Centre, however. From there we learn that he had married Kathleen Ann Mack, that he had joined the Royal Air Force Auxiliary Air Force, with the service number 91224 and served in Group 8, 35 (Madras Residency) Squadron as the Navigator of HR928, a Handley-Page Halifax II. He had been promoted to Squadron Leader by the time of his death.

His final operation was a night raid on Berlin, flying from R.A.F. Graveley on 23rd-24th August 1943. This was the heaviest raid attempted on Berlin so far in the war, with 727 aircraft taking part. Major damage was inflicted on the government district and twenty ships were sunk. But there was fierce resistance and the losses (56 aircraft) were the heaviest suffered on a single raid up to that point in the war. One of those losses was HR928, shot down by a night-fighter over Wensickendorf near Berlin. Squadron Leader Mack and his fellow airmen rest in the Berlin1939-1945 War Cemetery. They were reburied there in April 1947, after being first buried in Wensickendorf Cemetery.

MANN J.R. 1933-1938

John Robert Mann was born on January 21st 1922. His father, Mr J. C. Mann was a Civil Servant and the family address was ‘Ardgowan’ Arlington Park Chiswick. Before entering Class 2B at Latymer on January 22nd 1932 he had studied at Miss Wilkins’ School Marlborough Rd and Sutton Court Private School. Sadly, no further sections of his admissions register entry were completed.

This fine obituary of him appeared in the Autumn 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian. ‘Jack Mann who stood over 6 feet in height and was a fine goalkeeper and fast bowler, enlisted in the 10th Buffs in 1940. A Sergeant in the 10th Buffs and an instructor in weapons training, he later transferred to the Army Air Corps, learned to fly planes, and became a glider pilot with the rank of Sergeant. In September 1944 he piloted a glider to Arnhem with the 1st Airborne Division. His glider was hit in the air. He was wounded, but landed the machine safely. They then came under intense mortar fire and as he was the last man in the group able to walk, he attempted to reach the Aid Post to obtain help for the others. They saw him collapse after a shell fell near him, and he was carried into the Post. Immediately afterwards a second shell hit the Post killing the Medical Officer and the position was overrun by Germans. Sgt Mann, previously reported missing, is now officially presumed killed in action.

Some further details were discovered by the student researchers. His service number was 6291394 and he served in The Glider Pilot Regiment, 1st Wing, of the Army Air Corps. He was first buried in an isolated battlefield grave and then reburied in August 1945 in the Arnhem Oosterbeck War Cemetery in the Netherlands, where his grave bears the inscription ‘There us a link death cannot sever. Love and Remembrance live forever.’ He had the honour of being mentioned in despatches.

MASTERS P.W. 1934-1940

Peter William Masters was born on June 27th 1923 and attended Belmont School Chiswick before entering Class 2B at Latymer on September 11th 1934. His father, Mr A. G. Masters was a ‘Manager’ and home was at 162 Gunnersbury Lane W3. As with several other boys who entered the School in that year, no other details were, sadly, every entered onto his entry in the admissions register, not even the year in which he left.

In the Summer 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian’, Pilot Officer Masters was reported missing after operations over enemy territory on March 23rd. The aircraft of which he was the navigator failed to return.

This fuller tribute came in the Autumn 1945 edition:

‘Peter Masters joined the RAF soon after leaving school and his keenness soon gained him a recommendation for a commission. He became Pilot Officer at the age of 19. On the night of March 23rd 1943, his aircraft failed to return from an operation, and it was later learned that his Wellington had crashed and all the crew were buried in a 'comrades' grave' in the Municipal Cemetery at Pontgouin, Eure et Loire, near Chartres. They were on a leaflet flight in the Orleans area and it was their first night operation.’

The International Bomber Command Centre archive confirms the details of his final operation, adding that this type of leaflet drop would normally be the final sortie before a trainee crew graduated to joining an operational squadron, and that Pilot Officer Masters joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer reserve with the service number 131294 and served in 92 Group, 16OTU (Operational Training Unit) Squadron as a Navigator. On his last operation he was flying in X3991, a Vickers Wellington III, from R.A.F. Upper Heyford.

The Middle School History Society’s researches add that his grave in Pontgouin bears the epitaph ‘Lo, I am with you always.’ His parents, Alexander George and Winifred Ellen Masters of Acton were listed as his next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

MEDHURST J.E. 1933-1938

Joseph Ernest Medhurst, the son of Mrs M. E. Medhurst of 20 Howell St W11, born on June 4th 1922 and previously a pupil of St Clement’s Church of England Elementary School, came to Latymer on September 12th 1933, entering Class 2B, with a London County Council Scholarship. His father’s occupation is recorded as ‘none’ in the admissions register. He sat and passed the General Schools Examination in June 1938 and left the School but the next stage in his education or career is not recorded in the register.

The Summer 1946 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ contains a fine tribute to him from his brother Major W F Medhurst, who wrote ' Joseph Ernest Medhurst was killed over Cologne on the night of October 10th -11th 1941 at the age of only 19. He was at School from 1933-1938 and though a high spirited and cheerful boy was nicknamed rather inaptly "The Mouse. He left school without matriculating, but won the junior half mile in 1937. ‘The Mouse’ enjoyed every minute of his short but happy life, and his Latymer days, he said, were the happiest of all. He is buried with the other members of the crew of his aircraft just outside Cologne.'

Information from the International Bomber Command Centre adds that his service number was 1281206 and that he served as an Observer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. The aircraft in which he was flying at the time of his death was a Vickers Wellington Z8897of 57 Squadron based at R.A.F. Feltwell. He is buried in Rheinberg war cemetery in Germany and the epitaph on his grave reads: ‘Paulatim Ergo Certe: Sunset and Evening Star and One Clear Call for Me’, the Latymer Motto of his time and a quotation from Tennyson.

MEREDITH R.J. 1930-1934

Reginald John Meredith was born on January 4th 1919. His father, Mr Evan Meredith worked as a Supervisor at Golham Press Ltd. His home was at 109 Fulham Palace Rd and later 15 Stamford Brook Rd. He had been a pupil at Kingswood Rd Elementary School before beginning in Class 2A at Latymer on September 16th 1930, supported by a London County

Council Junior Award. He sat the General Schools Examination in June 1934 and achieved a Distinction in French. He gained Matriculation but did not continue his education at Latymer as the family moved at that stage to Luton in Bedfordshire.

A Lieutenant in the Royal Corps of Signals, he was reported in the Summer 1946 edition of the magazine as having been killed on active service in Burma. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website reports that Lieutenant Meredith served in the Gloucestershire Regiment, that he died on 14th September 1945, and that he is buried at Madras War Cemetery, Chennai, India.

MUNN J.E.T. 1922-1929

James Ernest Thomas Munn was the son of Mr C. W. Munn whose occupation is recorded in the admissions registers as ‘Carman’. He was born on December 3rd 1910, lived at 40 Acklam Rd, North Kensington and entered Class 2A at Latymer from Portobello Rd L. C. C. Elementary School on September 12th 1922. He was awarded a full fee Scholarship by the London County Council at the Junior level and this award was renewed at the Intermediate level in 1927. He achieved Matriculation and Distinctions in English and Mathematics in the London University General Schools Examination in June 1927 and two years later passed at the Higher Level in Physics, Chemistry, Zoology and English and went on to a medical studentship at St Mary’s Hospital.

He served with the rank of Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps and had seen action in the Middle East, before being reported killed in the Sicily campaign during 1943.

The Middle School Historians have discovered the additional information that, with the service number 185294, while serving in the RAMC, he was attached to 9th Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment and he lost his life on December 3rd 1943. He rests in the Cassino War Cemetery, suggesting that his last duties were in the siege of Cassino or Montecassion rather than in Sicily. He was reburied in the cemetery in May 1945, after being first buried in a field grave. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list as his next of kin his parents, Charles William and Edith Munn, and his widow Louisa Elsie Munn, of Thatcham in Berkshire.

NEWMAN P. 1932-1937

Peter Newman was born on December 10th 1921 and lived at 158 Boston Rd Brentford. His father, Mr Wallace Henry Newman worked as a Manager and Supervisor. He came to Latymer from Lionel Rd Elementary School on September 13th 1932 and left on July 26th 1937 to go to Harrow County School.

Serving in the Army with the rank of Lieutenant, though his Regiment is not given, he is reported in Summer 1946 as having been killed in action. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that Lieutenant Newman served in the Royal Artillery, and died on 16th April 1945. He is buried at Sage War Cemetery in Germany.

NICHOLLS P. 1928-1930

This boy went by several names. He was born on 20th October 1918, and his birth registration was as Barry Niekirk. When he entered Latymer on 17th January 1928 his name was given as Barry Paul Van Niekirk. However his name on the War Memorial is given as P. Nicholls, an anglicising of Niekirk.

Barry Paul was the son of Mr. P.B. Niekirk, an engineer, of 95 Highview Rd West W. Ealing. He came to Latymer from Chester House School on 17th January 1928, entering Class 1b and left from Class 3C on March 19th 1930. The family moved to Alexandra Park.

He served in the R.A.F. though his rank was not given. In Autumn 1943 ‘The Latymerian’ recorded that he had been killed in a flying accident earlier that year.

However, the ‘Latymerian’ entry of his death is in error as The General Records Office Death Index records his death in Hillingdon, in 1982, as Barry Paul Van Niekirk.

NILSEN C.C. 1922-1927

The son of Charles William Nilsen, a Hairdresser, who lived at 89 Larden Rd Hammersmith, Clarence Carl Nilsen was born on 20th June 1911 and attended Cobbold Rd London County Council Elementary School before joining Class 1B at Latymer on January 18th 1922. He left from Class 4C in April 1927 and joined the hairdressing business.

He joined the R.A.F. in 1936, and was a Sergeant Pilot at the start of the war. He then obtained a commission and reached rank of Flying Officer. In its July 1942 edition, ‘The Latymerian’ reported that he had been killed in a flying accident, leaving a widow and a daughter aged 2. He had been a distinguished athlete both at School and afterwards, a champion sprinter a member of C.A.V. harriers and the winner of no fewer than 62 prizes for running and swimming. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that Flying Officer Nilson died on thy January 1942. His name is commemorated at Oxford Crematorium.

NUNN D.A. 1933-1938

Douglas Arthur Nunn, born on November 8th 1921 and the son of Mr H. H Nunn, a Master Plumber and Hot Water Engineer, of 2 Upper Sutton Lane, Hounslow, was a pupil at Alexandra Elementary School before entering Class 1A at Latymer on January 17th 1933. He left in July 1938 after sitting and passing the General Schools Examination that month, and took up a Clerkship with the contractors McAlpine Ltd.

‘The Latymerian’ of Spring 1944 records that he served in the R.A.F. with the rank of SgtObserver, and had recently returned from Canada. Then in Summer 1943, having been reported missing in air operations, he was now presumed to have been killed. He was aged 21.

We learn from the archive of the International Bomber Command Centre that he had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and served, with the service number 1160293 in Group 1, 199 Squadron as the Navigator of HZ263, a Vickers Wellington X. His last operation was a night raid on Essen, from R.A.F. Ingham, on 12th-13th March 1943. The aircraft and crew of five were lost in the sea off the Essex coast. They are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

OSBORN J. 1936-1940

James Osborn was the son of Detective Sergeant J. Osborn of the Metropolitan Police Force. He was born on August 4th 1922 and the family lived at 31 Sinclair Rd W14. He had been a pupil at the Latymer Foundation Lower School and entered the Upper School in Class 3D with a total fee Scholarship from the London County Council on September 15th 1936. At that point the recorded information on his admissions register entry ends.

The Summer 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ records that he had been a Sergeant in the R.A.F. and that he had been killed in action in the Middle East on November 3rd 1942.

PAINE A.F.C. 1919-1924

Albert Frank Cyril Paine whose date of birth is 24th September 1903, was the son of Mr A.J. Paine, a Schoolmaster, and the family lived at 24 Knollys Rd Streatham, SW6. He entered Latymer from Ascham College Clacton on Sea in January 1919, going into Class 5A, and left from Class U7B in July 1924. In June of 1921 he sat the London University General Schools Examination, being awarded a Certificate and Matriculation, enabling him to proceed to the Higher Schools Examination which he sat and passed in June 1924. On leaving Latymer he trained as a teacher at the London Day Training College.

In its edition of December1940 the School Magazine records that he had died after an operation in Leatherhead Hospital. He was noted as dying while on active service, though no further details appear.

Some further details of his service appear in the research work done by the Middle School Historians. His service number was 2100052 and he served in 304 Battery, 27 Searchlight Regiment. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission also records him as serving with 27th London anti-aircraft battalion (London Electrical Engineers), Royal Engineers, (Territorial Army), as a Gunner. He was one of the men whose duty was to protect London from enemy air attack especially during the ‘Blitz’. He died on October 6th 1940 and rests in Streatham Park Cemetery. His parents, Albert and Asa Paine, of Norbury Hill in south London are listed as his next of kin by the Commission and he himself is listed as a Schoolmaster with a B.A, Degree from London University.

PARKINGTON J.G. 1934-1938

John Gershom Parkington was born on April 14th 1921. His mother Mrs L. J. Parkington is recorded as his Parent on the admissions register, and his father’s occupation given as Musician. They lived at 35 Gwendwr Rd W14. He joined Class 3R at Latymer from the Lower Latymer Foundation School on September 11th 1934 and left from Form Upper V H in July 1938 after passing the General Schools Examination that summer and subsequently took up a Clerkship in a Tea Warehouse.

The Easter 1942 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ gives him the rank of Corporal, but not his regiment, and records that he had been reported missing in Libya, and now confirms the news that he had been killed on active service, at only 19 years old. It also recalls that his father was a professional musician, the leader of the Gershom Parkington Quintet.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website says that he served in the 2nd Armoured Division Signals unit, the Royal Corps of Signals, and that he died on 18th April 1941, and that his name is listed on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.

PECK G.F. 1933-1936

Geoffrey Francis Peck, born on October 23rd 1921 and the son of Mr R. J. Peck, a Bank Clerk of 67 Kneller Gardens Isleworth, came into Class 1A at Latymer on April 12th 1933 and left from Form Upper V M in the summer of 1938 after passing the General Schools Examination in that year. What he did after leaving the School is not recorded in the admissions register unfortunately.

The July 1941 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ lists him as being ‘on deferred service'. He did serve in the R.A.F. In the Easter 1943 magazine he was reported as having been killed on active service on March 19th 1942. He was 21 years old and at the time of death was the Captain of a Halifax. That edition of the magazine also records that before the war he had

been in the Dominions and Overseas Branch of Barclays Bank and that he had undergone his flying training in Rhodesia.

The International Bomber Command Centre adds some further details. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and served with the service number 1332790 in Group 4, 10 Squadron as the Pilot of W1039, a Handley-Page Halifax II. His final operation was a ferry operation from R.A.F. Melbourne on 10th March 1943. His aircraft crashed and caught fire 13 miles south west of York, and he is buried in Twickenham Cemetery. His grave there bears the inscription ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records have his parents, Reginald John and Elsie Elizabeth Peck of Isleworth as his next of kin.

PEWSEY A.R. 1922-1927

Alan Reginald Pewsey was born on December 10th 1909, the son of Mr R. A. Pewsey, a Tailor’s Cutter, of 86 Prebend Gardens W6. Previously at the Latymer Foundation School, he joined Class1A of the Upper School on May 8th 1922 and left from Class 4A in March 1927. The admissions books give no record of his examination performance, but he became a Clerk with the North British and Mercantile Assurance Co.

This obituary appears in the Spring 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian’: ‘Sergeant Alan Reginald Pewsey left School in 1927 and served for some years in the R.A.F. which he joined soon after the outbreak of war. He was killed in action during February 1945 at the age of 36.

Research by the Middle School History Society has produced some additional information about him. He served as a Flying Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the service number 181348. He lost his life on February 11th 1945 and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial as his body was not able to be recovered. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have his parents, Reginald and May, and his widow, Doric May Kathleen Pewsey of Chiswick as his next of kin.

POTTER G.B. 1927-1933

Geoffrey Barnabas Potter, the son of Mr J. H. R, Potter, a Claims Assessor for the Automobile Insurance Company, of 87, Lonsdale Rd Wembley but later moving to 4 Calton Ave, East Wembley Park, was born on August 19th 1917 and attended Wembley Grammar School before joining Class 1B at Latymer on September 13th 1927. In the summer of 1933 he sat and passed the General Schools Examination, achieving a Distinction in Elementary Mathematics and left from Class 6A to join his Father’s business.

The Spring 1945 edition of the School Magazine records that ‘Geoffrey Barnard Potter who left School in 1927, joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at its inception, and had completed 3,000 flying hours as a Pilot. We learn that this experienced Officer was killed on Active Service on December 10th 1944.

A little more about him has been discovered by the student researchers. He served as a Flight Sergeant (Pilot) in 575 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the service number 81932. He lost his life on December 10th 1944 and rests in Haycombe Cemetery in Bath in a grave bearing the inscription ‘Where now the wings of dreamless sleep are spread.’ The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records have his parents Thomas Henry and Frances Maud Potter, of Wembley, Middlesex as his next of kin.

PURROTT L.K. 1928-1933

Leslie Kenneth Purrott was born on March 15th 1917. Before entering Class 1B at Latymer on April 24th 1928 he had attended Erconwald St Elementary School. His father had been a Postman but had died before his son entered Latymer, so Mrs S. E. Purrott is recorded as his parent on the admissions register. He left the School from Class 5C in July 1933 and took up a Clerkship at J. Lyons and Company. No details of his examination results appear on the admissions register entry for him.

No details of his service record or accounts of his loss are recorded in the school magazines, but the Middle School History Society have discovered that he served in 37 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) with the service number 967979. He was killed on April 8th 1941 and lies in Phaleron War Cemetery in Greece. He was originally buried in the 3rd Municipal Cemetery at Kokkinia, near Athens and reburied in the war cemetery in January 1945. His grave bears the epitaph ‘In memory of my dear son; to live in hearts we leave behind his not to die.

Mum.’ His mother Sarah Elizabeth Purrott -and his late father Francis Herbert- are recorded as his next of kin.

ROGERS J. 1931-1937

Jack Rogers, born on September 25th 1920, was the son of Mr J. W. Rogers a Factory Manager and the family lived at 49 Norton Rd Wembley. Entering Latymer in Class 1A on September 17th 1931 from Alperton Council School, he began to work in the Patent Agency after leaving Form Upper V M at the School in July 1937.

He was undergoing training as a Pilot according to ‘The Latymerian’ published in December 1940. In the Summer 1943 edition it is reported that he had lost his life in an explosion while bathing on a beach he did not know was mined while on leave. No further details were given.

ROOT-REED M. 1926-1930

Maurice Root Reed, who was born on July 12th 1914, was the son of Mr W.H. Reed, an Engineer, of 65, Richmond Rd, Bayswater and had attended Richmond Rd Elementary School in Bayswater before entering Class 1A at Latymer on January 19th 1926. He left from Class 3A in May 1930, as Dr Dale wrote in the admissions register, ‘due to his Father’s financial circumstances’ and became an Office Boy.

He was reported missing in the Spring 1944 ‘Latymerian’, while serving as a rear gunner in a heavy bomber, after 27 operational flights, during which he had shot down a Messerschmidt 109 and been wounded over Berlin. It was later confirmed that his aircraft was shot down after attacking its target at Kassel on October 3rd 1943 and that all the crew were lost. They are buried at the Heiligenrode Cemetery 5 kilometres from Kassel.

His grave there carries the inscription ‘In loving memory of Maurice; sadly missed by Mother, Wife and Son.

We learn from the records of the International Bomber Command Centre that he and his wife Muriel lived at the time of his loss in Withdean in Sussex, that he had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and with the service number 145911 was serving in Group 5, 61 Squadron as an Air Gunner aboard W4279, an Avro Lancaster I. The last operation for him and his six fellow crewmen was indeed a night raid on Kassel, taking off from R.A.F. Syerston on 3rd October 1943. The aircraft was brought down over Rothwesten, north north east of Kassel.

ROUGH B.D. 1935-1940

Bryan Duncan Rough, whose date of birth was April 8th 1924, was the son of Mr G. Rough, a Book Dealer and Window Cleaner of 326 Ladbroke Grove W10, and he entered Class 2B at Latymer from Buckingham Junior Elementary School on September 10th 1935 with a total fee Scholarship from the London County Council. There is no further information about him on the admissions register, unfortunately. The memorial book states that he left School in 1940. He is likely to have been a civilian killed at a young age by enemy action in the London Blitz.

This is confirmed in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission by the student researchers. He was injured on September 16th 1940 at 69 Frithville Gardens, where he lived, and died of his injuries on September 18th at Hammersmith Hospital. His is one of the more than 67,000 names of civilians lost to enemy action in the United Kingdom, listed in the memorial book in St George’s Chapel in Westminster Abbey.

SANDFORD R.P.A. 1932-1938

Richard Peter Archibald Sandford, the son of Mr R. T. Sandford, a Civil Servant of 33 Tavistock Rd N. Kensington, was born on March 14th 1923 and came to Latymer from Oxford Gardens Elementary School on September 13th 1932. Unfortunately, no further details appear in his admissions register entry.

The Summer 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ records that he was serving as a Leading aircraft Fitter (electrical), Fleet Air Arm, in the British Air Squadron attached to U.S. Naval Air Station at Quonst Point Rhode Island, when he was killed in a flying accident.

Research by the Middle School History Society has confirmed that he served in the Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) with the rank of Leading Aircraft Fitter and the service number FX75302. He was officially stationed at the time of his death on May 8th 1943 in H.M.S. Saker II, a shore establishment at Newport Rhode Island in the United States, a base for those Royal Navy personnel working with the American allies. He is buried in Newport (Island) Cemetery. Richard Frederick Peter and Lily Maud Sandford, his parents, then of West Horsley in Surrey are recorded as his next of kin.

SHARPIN P. 1925-1927

Patrick Frank Sharpin, whose date of birth was June 14th 1910, was the son of Mr J. E. Sharpin, a Company Secretary of 69, Creffield Rd, Acton. He had been a pupil at Colet Court and entered Latymer in Class 4A on April 28th 1925, leaving from the same form in April 1927 and going on to Regent Street Polytechnic.

In Summer 1943 the school magazine reported that he had been killed in action in the Middle East, but there are no further details of his service, regrettably.

However more of his story has been discovered by the student researchers. His service number was 235212 and he served as a Lieutenant in the 12th Royal Tank Regiment. He had qualified as a Solicitor and he and his wife Eileen Nancy lived in Warlingham in Surrey. She is listed as his next of kin along with his parents Frank Ernest (there may have therefore been a recording error on the School admissions register) and Dorothy.

He lost his life on April 29th 1943 in the El-Alamein campaign in North Africa and was buried originally in Baharine but reburied in August 1944 in the Medjez-el-bab War Cemetery, where his grave bears the epitaph ‘Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved, your memory hallowed in the land you loved.’ This is a quotation from the remembrance hymn ‘O Valiant hearts.’

SHEARMAN A.C. 1929-1938

Anthony Charles Shearman, Ph.D., D.I.C., A.R.C.S. A.Ins.P., the son of Mr W. R. Shearman, a Civil Servant, of 58 Treesbank Avenue, Wembley, was born on October 6th 1920 and educated at Ellers Lane School, Sudbury before entering Latymer (in Class 1B) on September 17th 1929 with a Governors’ Award and London County Council Award. He sat the General School Examination in June 1935 and was awarded a Distinction in Light Heat and Sound, and Electricity and Magnetism. Gaining his Matriculation in that examination, he sat the Higher Schools Examination in July 1937 in Science and went on to study at the Royal College of Science. He and his brothers were both noted swimmers in their time at School.

‘The Latymerian; gives this obituary for him in its edition published in Spring 1944. ‘Dr Anthony Charles Shearman B.Sc Ph. D. was killed in an accident at Chiswick in January 1944, when an anti-tank mine exploded prematurely during a Home Guard demonstration. After graduating from London University, he had a distinguished scientific career and at the time of his death was engaged in government research work on explosives (His family have suggested that he had been working with Barnes-Wallis -MJS.). He was awarded his Doctorate at 22 and was only 23 at time of the accident. He had not long been married and a son was born posthumously. His brother Sgt Pilot P Shearman was reported missing some time ago and his younger brother Neville is a Commando.’

The Middle School Historians have discovered some further information. Dr Shearman was serving as a Sergeant in the 6th County of London Battalion of the Home Guard, and was killed on January 10th 1944. He rests in the cemetery of Mortlake Crematorium and his next of kin were recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as his parents William Richard and Muriel Louise and his widow Adeline Ida of Brentwood in Essex.

The accident in which he lost his life was reported in newspapers in various cities including Nottingham, Liverpool, Coventry and Dundee. It also took the lives of Capt. H. T Rawlins and Colour- Sergeant Buckwell, both of the Home Guard.

SHEARMAN P.J. 1932-1939

Peter James Shearman, the brother of Anthony listed just above was born on 7th November 1923. He had attended Sudbury Council School before entering Latymer in Class 1B on January 10th 1922 with a London County Council Scholarship. The admissions register entry for him, unfortunately has no mention of the date he left, or of his examination performance or the next stage of his education or career.

In the December 1942 ‘Latymerian’ he is listed as a Sergeant Pilot in the R.A.F. serving in the United States. Then as reported in the Summer 1943 edition, as a Sergeant Pilot, he took part in a daring raid on the Skoda works at Pilsen, in what was then Czechoslovakia. The press account states that for some time he flew at roof level so that his gunner could rake barracks and buildings on an enemy airfield. In Autumn 1943 he was reported missing and in Summer 1944 ‘The Latymerian’ gives the news that ‘Peter James Shearman, brother of the late Dr A.C. Shearman and Neville Shearman has been missing for over a year and is now presumed killed. He and his brothers were a trio of celebrated all-round athletes. Peter had performed several acts of conspicuous bravery. (e.g the Skoda raid.)’

Some further details of his service and death have come to us from the International Bomber Command Centre archive. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and his service number was 146112. He served in Group 5, 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron as the Pilot of W4949, an Avro Lancaster I. His final operation was a night raid on Oberhausen on 14th- 15th June 1943 Taking off from R.A.F. Dunholme Lodge, W494 was shot down by a night fighter manned by Major I Radusch and crashed, with the loss of all the crew, near Vento in

Holland. Pilot Officer Shearman is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, as his body could not be recovered.

SMITH B.F. 1932-1938

Bernard Francis Smith, whose date of birth was January 16th 1921, was the son of Mr A. T. Smith, a Clerk, of 12 West Court, Great West Road, Osterley and came to Latymer from Isleworth Lower School with a London County Council Scholarship, on September 13th 1932. No further details appear in his admissions register entry sadly.

Serving as a Lieutenant in the Parachute Regiment, he is reported in the Summer 1946 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ as having been killed in action in Malaya. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that he died on 27th November 1945, and is buried at Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore.

SOMERS J.V. 1934-1940

John Vidal Somers was born on Christmas Eve in 1924. His father, Mr W. H. Somers, was a Civil Servant and the family lived at 243 Bush Rd Hounslow. He came to Latymer on September 11th 1934 from Hounslow College, entering Class 1B, That, sadly is all the information about him contained in the admissions register.

The Autumn 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ reports that Sergeant John Vidal Somers joined the RAF soon after leaving School, volunteered for aircrew duties and became a rear gunner in a Lancaster heavy bomber. He was killed in action during flying operations on the morning of April 14th 1945.

The records of the International Bomber Command Centre add some further information. At the time of his death his parents had moved to Blackpool. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and, his service number being 1589666 and with the rank of Sergeant, he served in Group 3 186 Squadron as an Air Gunner on PB483, an Avro Lancaster III. His last operation was a night raid on Kiel to bomb the U-Boat yards there. Flying from R.A.F. Stradishall, the aircraft was lost in a collision with another Lancaster, PB488.

STEPHEN A.G. 1929-1932

Allan Garth Stephen was the son of Police Constable J. B. Stephen, of 32A Lambrook Terrace, SW6. Born on April 22nd 1916, he had attended Ringwood Rd Elementary School before he joined Class 3R at Latymer on April 16th 1929. He left from Class 4A in July 1932. There is no note of his examination results on his admissions register entry, but he went on to study at the School of Building in Buxton.

The memorial book has his dates of attendance at Latymer as 1929-1932, the relatively short length of time he was at the school suggests a move to another school or area in the latter year.

He served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and had been stationed in Singapore when he was reported missing since early 1942 and confirmed as deceased in the Easter 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian.’The Summer 1947 edition reports that he had died while a Prisoner of War of the Japanese. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that he died on 27th September 1943, and is buried at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Myanmar.

SUTTON A.P.B.G. 1927-1935

Antony Patrick Benson Graham Sutton was born on November 22nd 1916. His father, Mr E. G. Sutton was a Master at Latymer and the family lived at 42 Bath Rd Chiswick. Having previously attended Arlington Park College, he entered Class1B at Latymer on September 13th 1927 and left from Class 7B in July 1935. In June 1934 he sat and passed the General Schools Examination with a Distinction in English and obtained his Matriculation in January 1935. He then entered University College in October of that year with a Bartlett Exhibition in Architecture, and a Leaving Exhibition from the Latymer Governors too. He went on to practice as an Architect.

He was first mentioned in the December 1939 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ as serving in the R.A.F. with the rank of Acting Pilot Officer. The Easter 1942 edition gives this obituary for him.’ Flying Officer Antony Sutton has been killed on active service. The son of Mr G Sutton a Master at the School, he Joined the R.A.F. in May 1939. He served as a BomberNavigator and Observer with Coastal Command and then as an Instructor and Junior Adjutant. He went to the Middle East in July 1941 as a Senior Navigator in a detachment of Beaufort aircraft to form a new Squadron in Egypt. After many operations over the desert and the Mediterranean, he made a forced landing on the sea on November 1st 1941. He was rescued but died of exposure and a fractured skull on 25th November. He was 25 years of age. His brother S.G.Sutton is a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, whom the Easter 1943 magazine mentions as a Liaison Officer on a Greek navy Destroyer in the Mediterranean. The magazine expressed the School’s sympathy to him and to his Father.

Additional details of his service were discovered by the Middle School student researchers. His service number being 42278, he served with 39 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. His promotion to Acting Pilot Officer on probation was announced in the London Gazette of June 24th 1939. His next of kin are recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as his parents E. Graham and Edithe Beryl Sutton, then of Keswick in Cumberland. He is remembered on the Alamein Memorial.

TAYLOR R.H.F. 1924-1931

Ronald Harry Frank Taylor, the son of Mr P. W. Taylor, an Export Manager, was born on July 29th 1912. His family lived at 48 Westerburg Rd Ealing and he attended Little Ealing Infants and Elementary Schools before gaining a Scholarship from the Latymer Foundation and entering Class 1B of Latymer Upper School on January 15th 1924. He left from Class 7C in July 1931 having achieved matriculation level in the General Schools Examination of June 1928, but being recorded as failing the Higher Schools Examination in June 1930. There is no note of his subsequent career or education in the admissions register, nor, sadly, any details of his military career or loss in the school magazines.

His name appears under ‘Deaths’ in the ‘Births Marriages and Deaths’ section of the Summer 1946 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ but without any mention of service in the forces. It is not unlikely that he was a civilian victim of enemy action. The General Records Office Death Index gives his death in Brentford, in December quarter 1941.

THURLOW M.R. 1938-1940

Montague Robert Thurlow, born on December 10th 1922, was the son of Mr M. A. Thurlow, a Tailoring Buyer at W. M. Whiteleys Ltd of 23 Hazelwood Rd Isleworth. Having attended Isleworth Town Junior School, he joined Class 1A at Latymer on January 15th 1935. That is, sadly, all the information recorded about him in the admissions register.

The memorial book has his dates of attendance at Latymer as 1938-1940, the relatively short length of time he was at the school suggests a move to another school or area in the latter year.

In the Autumn 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian comes the report that Leading Aircraftsman Montague Robert Thurlow who left in 1940, trained for the R.A.F. and was later posted for overseas duties. He died, aged 22, from injuries sustained in an accident while on duty at Kinnagon in Burma in May 1945.

Some further details have been brought to light by the student researchers of the Middle School. His service number was 1604281 and he served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. His death occurred on May 28th 1945 and he was first buried at Meiktula War Cemetery and then reburied in the Taukkyan War Cemetery in Myanmar, in a grave with the epitaph ‘Blest are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’ His parents, Montague Arthur and Elise Thurlow of Isleworth are listed as his next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

THURSTON E.E. 1934-1939

Eric Edward Thurston, the son of Mr E. J. Thurston, a Builder’s Foreman, of 85 Cambridge Rd W6, was born on July 16th 1922. He came into Class 2B at Latymer from Brackenbury Rd Elementary School on a London County Council Junior Scholarship on September 11th 1934. No further details were ever added to his admissions register entry, unfortunately.

A Leading Aircraftsman in the R.A.F., the Summer 1944 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ gives him the rank of Sergeant Pilot and records that he had returned from training in Canada.

This obituary tribute appears in the Spring 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian’: ‘Eric Edward Thurston left School in 1939. He joined the R.A.F.V.R. and rose to the rank of Sergeant-Pilot but he was killed in a flying accident on a training flight near Lossiemouth on 10th January 1945. His body was brought to Hammersmith, where the School Chaplain conducted his funeral service and his R.A.F. colleagues acted as bearers.’ He rests in Mortlake Cemetery.

From the records of the International Bomber Command Centre, we learn that his service number was 1604281 and that he served in Group 91, 20 (Officer Training Unit) Squadron, as the Navigator of HE490, a Vickers Wellington X. The accident in which he lost his life was a collision with a Hurricane PG529, at Llanbryde. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list his parents, Edward John and Lily Thurston of Hammersmith as hie next of kin.

TOMLINSON F.L. 1932-1937

Francis Louis Tomlinson sat and passed the General Schools Examination in December 1937 and then left form Upper V A at Latymer to enter Regent Street Polytechnic. He had come to Latymer from Colet Court in January 1922 and entered Class 1A. He was born on April 10th 1920 and his father, Mr R. R. Tomlinson, of 39 Park Rd Chiswick was the Senior Inspector of Art for the London County Council.

He served in H.M. Minesweeper 'Watchful', the March 1941 Latymerian tells us, with the rank of Sub Lt. In the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. By the publication of the Summer 1943 edition he had been promoted to Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R. and was in command of a Motor Torpedo Boat when he was killed in action in the Mediterranean. The Boat's Commander was killed at once in an air attack and Tomlinson though badly wounded and lying in pain on the deck, continued to direct the ship and before losing consciousness he instructed his coxswain on how to get the boat safely back to harbour. The report concludes

'He must have had clearness of conscience and peace of mind at having conducted himself and his ship with courage and dignity in the face of the enemy.'

From the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Middle School History Society researchers ascertained that he served on His Majesty’s Motor Torpedo Boat B73, and the he lost his life on 11th June 1943. He is remembered on the Naval Memorial at Chatham, which suggests that his body was not recovered, or that he was buried at sea. His parents, Reginald Robert and Emily Elizabeth Tomlinson are listed as his next of kin.

TREWIN B.J. 1928-1934

Bernard James Trewin, the son of Mr W. A. Trewin, an Oil Dealer of 141 Lower Richmond Rd SW15, was born on July 14th 1918, and had been a pupil of Hotham Rd Elementary School before he came to Latymer on September 11th 1928. He went into Class 3R. He had been awarded a London County Council Scholarship. He sat the General Schools Examination in June 1931 and was awarded a Distinction in Elementary Mathematics. He sat the General Schools Exam again in June 1932 and again received Distinctions in Mathematics, Heat Light and Sound, Electricity and Magnetism. Achieving his Matriculation to further study, he sat the Higher Schools Examination in June 1934 and achieved Honours in Intermediate Science. He then went on to a Clerkship with the Wheat Commissioners at 10, Smith Square.

In the March 1941 edition of the school magazine, he was reported has having died on active service in the R.A.F. Unfortunately, no further details are given.

The student researchers found in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that his service number was 9232348 and that he served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Aircraftsman 2nd Class. He died on December 15th 1940 and rests in Putney Vale Cemetery. Walter Alfred and Jane Trewin of Putney are listed as his next of kin.

TURTON L.W. 1931

Leslie William Turton was the son of Mr F. Turton, a Sales Manager of 37 Whitehall Gardens, Acton. He was born on November 8th 1920 and attended Sutton School Gunnersbury before entering Latymer (Class 1B) on January 12th 1931. His family moved out of London later in that year and he then studied at Cambridge County School.

He went to the Middle East with the Royal Engineers in 1940 and served in the Wavell campaign in N Africa. He was badly wounded in Greece then taken prisoner in 1941. He was liberated on the day before V.E. day and came home via Italy but it is noted, poignantly that he died on October 1st 1945 in Dryburgh Military Hospital as the result of a road accident while he was returning to his unit after being at home on leave.

The Middle School Historians ascertained that he served as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers with the service number 1875805. He was buried in St Andrew’s churchyard, Chesterton in Cambridgeshire and his grave bears the epitaph ‘Leslie (Leo) in proud and loving memory. Gone from our midst but not from our hearts.’ His parents, Thomas Fremantle and Daisy May Turton of Cambridge are listed as his next of kin.

TWINE W.S. 1929-1935

William Stanley Twine was born on December 30th 1917. His father, Mr J. H. Thomas worked as a Tailor’s Cutter and the family lived at 3 Lena Gardens, Hammersmith. With the award of a Junior Scholarship from the London County Council, he entered Class 2A at Latymer on September 17th 1929 from Lena Gardens Elementary School. He sat and passed the General Schools Examination in June 1935 and went on, says the admissions register entry, to a ‘Clerical Post’.

Unfortunately no details of his service career or his loss appeared in the magazines. His name first appears only in the Roll of Honour published in the Summer 1946 edition of the School Magazine.

However the researches by the Middle School History Society have ascertained more about his service history. He served in the 1st Battalion The London Irish Rifles, Royal Ulster Rifles as a Rifleman with the service number 7016145, and lost his life on January 26th 1944. Sidney Herbert and Edith Twine of Hammersmith, his parents, are listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as his next of kin,

VALGREN C.R. 1930-1934

Cyril Raymond Valgren was born on May 13th 1918. His father, Mr C. Valgren worked as a Tailor and the family lived at 26 The Fairway, Wembley. He entered Class 3C at Latymer from the Latymer Foundation School on September 16th 1930 with a Scholarship from the Governors of the Latymer Foundation. He sat and passed the General Schools Examination in June of 1934. The admissions register entry marks him as going on to work for the Great Northern Telegraph Company and the University of London Press.

‘The Latymerian’ reports that Lt Cyril Raymond Valgren was commissioned in the 2/4th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. He lost his life in action in Italy on 8th November 1944.

The Middle School History Society researchers have ascertained that his service number was 165765, that he died of wounds suffered in the Italian campaign and that he is buried in Meldola War Cemetery which lies between Bologna and Rimini in Italy. There his grave bears the inscription ‘Cherished memories of you always in our hearts, Mum, Dad and Eric. His parents, Carl who had come to London from Sweden, and Annette of North Wembley are recorded as his next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission along with his widow Violet. They had a son named Roy.

.

VINCE R.L. 1931-1936

Born on March 16th 1920, Ronald Lionel Vince was the son of a Schoolmaster, Mr P. Vince and lived at 56 Earls Court Rd. Previously a pupil at St Barnabas’ and St Philip’s School in Kensington, he came to Latymer on a London County Council Scholarship and entered Class 1A on January 13th 1931. He sat the General Schools Examination in June 1935, passed and matriculated but left Latymer a year later, before taking the Higher Schools Examination and took up a Clerkship at the Westminster Bank.

The Autumn 1943 ‘Latymerian’ reports that he had been appointed to an operational Night Flying Squadron of the R.A.F. on the East Coast after training in Canada. He was later transferred to Malta, and last heard of 6 months before, while flying from Malta to the Middle East. He was reported missing and his death was now officially marked as ‘presumed’ by the Air Ministry.

Some extra information comes to us from the records of the International Bomber Command Centre. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was given the service number 1283892. He was to serve in Group 91, 27 Squadron in a Vickers Wellington no HF849. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website gives his death as on 22nd April 1942.

He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

WARNER S.G.A. 1926-1930

The son of Mr A. A. Warner, a Commercial Traveller, of 29 Devonport Rd Shepherds Bush and then 17 Lingwood Gardens St Mary’s Crescent in Osterley, Sydney George Adolphus Warner was born on October 22nd 1914. He attended St Stephen’s Church of England School and entered Class 1B at Latymer on September 14th 1926, leaving from Class 4A in April 1930 to take up a Clerkship in an Estate Agent’s Office, being, as the then Headmaster noted, ‘compelled to leave owing to his father’s financial circumstances.’

He was first listed in the Summer 1944 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ as serving in the R.A.F. with the rank of Pilot Officer and stationed near Hull: The Autumn 1944 ‘Latymerian’ records that, now a Flying Officer in Bomber Command, he had been reported missing, presumed killed, after a Mosquito raid on Mannheim. His death in that raid during August 1944 was confirmed in the Spring 1945 edition of the magazine.

Some further details of his service and loss come from the archive of the International Bomber Command Centre. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was given service number 169580. He served in Group 8, 692 (Fellowship of the Bellows) Squadron as Pilot of ML965, a de Haviland Mosquito XVI, one of 33 Mosquitos lost in the night raid on Mannheim on 27th -28th August 1944. He had flown from R.A.F. Gransden Lodge.

The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, consulted by the student researchers, record that he and his fellow crew members of ML965 were buried in Wormstadt Cemetery and then reburied in May 1948 in Rheinberg War Cemetery.

WEBB F.L. 1934-1937

Llewellyn Frank Webb was born on March 3rd 1921. His father, Mr J. J. Webb worked as a Salesman and the family’s home was at 64 College St London SW15. He came into Class 3R at Latymer from Oxford Gardens Elementary School with a London County Council part fee Scholarship on September 11th 1934, sat and passed the General Schools Examination in June 1937. Though he obtained his Matriculation in that examination, he did not continue at the School to sit the Higher Schools Examination and left to take up a Clerkship.

His initials appear reversed on the School War Memorial but the name above is as recorded in the admissions registers.

He served in the R.A.F. and was reported killed in action in the July 1941 edition of ‘The Latymerian’, though no further details were given. The March 1941 edition carries this note, however, ‘O/Sig P.H. Sawford wrote the school a long letter describing the death of his friend F. L. Webb. He mentioned that Webb was in the R.A.F.V.R. while still working for the Pearl Assurance Co and that after being called up he took part in many raids over enemy territory and that he was highly praised by his Pilot for his coolness, courage and judgement.’ The letter, sadly, does not seem to have survived.

The student researchers of the Middle School History Society have ascertained that he served in 110 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, with the rank of Sergeant and

the service number 755836. He lost his life on November 1st 1940 and is buried in the churchyard of St Andrew’s Church, Hatfield Peverel in Essex.

WELLER D.B. 1929-1934

Derek Brian Weller was the son of Mr B.W. Weller, a Bank Manager who lived at 64 Haslemere Avenue West Ealing. He was born on September 24th 1918 and had studied at ‘Pen-y-Craig, Requiem Rd West Ealing before he joined Latymer, entering Class 1B on September 17th 1929. Leaving from Class 5A in December 1934, he went on to a Clerkship in a Builder’s Office.

A Lance Bombardier in the Royal Artillery, he was killed in action in the Middle East in March 1943. He had been badly wounded at Dunkirk but volunteered for service in Middle East with the 8th Army.

The student researchers have found out some additional information about him in the record of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.. His first name might in fact have been spelled ‘Deryk’. His service number was 936884 and he served with 32 Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery. He fell on March 23rd 1943 and was initially buried in a battlefield grave near Medenine, then reburied in the Sfax War Cemetery in Tunisia in August 1944 in a grave which has the epitaph, from Laurence Binyon’s famous poem ‘To the Fallen’, ‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.’

His widow Peggy Bronte Weller and his parents Brion and Ellen of West Ealing are listed as his next of kin.

WESTERLAND R. 1921-1926

Reginald Westerland, the son of Mr P. E. Westerland, who was a Tailor by profession and lived at 15 Mark Mansions, Westville Rd W12, was born on August 19th 1910 and educated at Coverdale Rd London County Council Elementary School before joining Class 1A at Latymer on April 12th 1921 with a Junior Scholarship funded by the London County Council. He sat the London University General Schools Examination in June 1926, achieving Matriculation level and gaining Distinctions in Electricity, Magnetism and Chemistry, but did not continue at School, leaving from Class 6A in July 1926 to join a Shipping Office as a Clerk.

A Flying Officer in the R.A.F., he was killed in an air accident in October 1943.

Some further details of his service and loss have been found by the Middle School Historians. He served in 297 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Flying Officer (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) with the service number 131109. He lost his life on October 14th 1943 during the campaigns in North Africa and was buried, along with the two other members of his aircraft’s crew, in a battlefield grave before being reburied in January 1944 in Enfidaville War Cemetery in Tunisia. He had married Vera Louisa Efforth and they lived in Tolworth in Surrey. She and his parents Patrick Engelbert and Sigrid Westerman are recorded as his next of kin.

WESTON B.W. 1937-1939

Basil William Weston, the son of Mr C. H. Weston, a Civil Servant, was born on December 9th 1923 and lived at 132 Whitmore Rd Harrow, came to Latymer on September 14th 1937 but his previous school is not mentioned in his entry in the admissions registers and in fact no further details appear there, unfortunately.

The memorial book has his dates of attendance at Latymer as 1937-1939, the relatively short length of time he was at the school perhaps suggests a move to another school or area in the latter year.

He was reported in the Spring 1947 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ as having been killed on active service in 1944, but no further details were given.

But some additional details of his service have been brought to light by the student researchers. He served with the rank of Sergeant (Navigator) and the service number 1803760 in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was lost on November 11th 1944 during the campaign in Italy. He rests in the war cemetery at Bari and his grave is marked with the epitaph ‘A volunteer so young, so brave. All that he had he gave. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list as his next of kin his parents, Charles Francis and Gladys Evelyn Weston, of Harrow-on-the-Hill in Middlesex.

WHIFFEN A.R. 1934-1939

Arthur Robert Whiffen was the son of Mr A. Whiffen, whose occupation is listed in the admissions register as ‘Operator (tobacco trade)’ and the family address was 37 Hemlock Rd W12. He was born on December 19th 1922 and joined Latymer on September 11th 1934 from Ellerslie Rd Elementary School with a London County Council Scholarship. The sections of his entry in the admissions register dealing with examination performance and the next stages of his career or education were not completed.

The Spring 1945 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ carries this obituary. ‘Arthur Robert Whiffen left school in 1939 and joined the R.A.F. in which he gained the rank of Sergeant Pilot. A keen and able airman, he met his death on service overseas. He was reported missing in December 1944, after a raid by Italian-based aircraft, from which his machine did not return, and it was later learnt that he had been shot down and killed.

The Middle School History Society researchers have ascertained also that his surname might have been spelled ‘Whiffin’ as it is in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and on the War Memorial panel in the School Hall, that he served in 70 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the service number 1802346 and the rank of Sergeant (Pilot). He lost his life on December 2nd 1944 flying in a Wellington Bomber number BX LP 239. He is remembered on the Malta War Memorial as his body was not recovered from the sea. His next of kin are given as his parents Arthur and Violet Whiffin of Shepherd’s Bush

WHITE C.T. 1927-1933

Charles Thomas White was born on August 26th 1916 and lived at 90 The Square, Peabody Estate Hammersmith. His father, Mr G. White was a Chef. Previously a pupil at Fulham Palace Rd Elementary School, he was awarded a London County Council full fee Scholarship and entered Latymer in Class 2A on September 13th 1927. He sat the General Schools Examination in the summer of 1933 and was awarded a Distinction in Elementary Mathematics. He achieved Matriculation but left from Class 6A to take up a course in forestry.

A Sergeant Observer in the RAF, he was reported missing in May 1940, and is later known to have been killed in action.

The International Bomber Command Centre records add that, with the service number 580429 he served in Group 2 40 Squadron as Observer on P4913, a Bristol Blenheim IV and that his final operation was a daytime raid on Dinant on 15th May 1940. Flying from R.A.F.

Wyton, the aircraft fell victim to enemy fighters and crashed near Charleroi. Along with his pilot and wireless operator he rests in the Communal Cemetery of Ecaussines d’Enghein in Belgium, where his grave bears the inscription ‘God grant him eternal rest; dearly loved by his mother, brother and sisters. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists his parents George and Clarissa Mary Ann White of Hammersmith as his next of kin.

WHITING R. 1924-1929

Ronald Montagu Whiting, the son of Montagu Percy Whiting a Commercial Traveller of 32 Juliens Rd Ealing, was born on April 18th 1913 and attended Little Ealing Elementary School, entering Class 1B at Latymer from there on September 16th 1924 and leaving from Class 5A in March 1929. There are no records of his examination performance in the admissions registers, but he took up a Clerkship in a company based in New York called Guaranti and Teas.

Lt Col Ronald Whiting served in the Royal Armoured Corps. The Spring 1946 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ contains a letter from his father who wrote, ' My son was killed in a flying accident in India while on special duties. He had been mentioned in dispatches for distinguished service in February 1945. He was always very proud of being an Old Latymerian.'

The Middle School Historians have brought to light the following information on his final operation.

He was a member of the secret Special Operations Executive, with the aim to sabotage. He flew in a Liberator C.VII EW629. The aircraft was making a night transport run from Palem to Dum Dum and there were nine persons on board. After a flight time of about 41/2 hours, the No 1 engine failed because of an oil leak, which also prevented the propeller being feathered. The pilot elected to land at a USAAF airfield (USAAF Ondal Bengal) which had poor night flying facilities, rather than to divert to an RAF base with better lighting etc. Although there was a moon, there was a ground haze which partly obscured the poorly lit runway at low altitude. The pilot failed to select flaps and the aircraft crashed into the undershoot and was destroyed by fire.

Further information may be found at

http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/remembering-today-16-december-1945-the-crew-ofliberator-c-vii-ew629.44261/ and

http://www.specialforcesroh.com/showthread.php?23543-Whiting-Ronald-Montague

They have also ascertained that his service number was 203818 and that he had served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Armoured Corps before joining the Special Operations Executive. He lost his life on December 16th 1945 and rests in Calcutta (Bhowanipore) Cemetery at Kolkata, his grave bearing the epitaph ‘There’s some corner of a foreign field that is forever England.’ His parents, Montague Percy and Ellena Rosa Whiting, then of Portsmouth, are recorded as his next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

WILKINSON H.D. 1939-1943

Howard David Wilkinson was born on 8th January 1928, the son of a Despatch Clerk. His school fees were all paid for by the L.C.C. Information on him is scarce. There is no reference to him in ‘The Latymerian’.

The Memorial Book gives the dates of his time at the School as 1939 – 1943. He is very likely therefore to have been a student and civilian who at a tragically young age fell victim to enemy action.

WILLIS J.D. 1930-1936

John David Willis, the son of Mr C. G. Willis, an Ironmonger of 19 Wachsi Rd W14, was born on April 12th 1919 and entered Latymer (Class 2B) on September 16th 1930 from William St Elementary School on a London County Council Scholarship. He achieved Matriculation in the General Schools Examination of June 1935 and left Latymer to join the R.A.F. College at Cranwell.

A Flight Lieutenant in the R.A.F., he was reported in the Summer 1946 edition of the school magazine as having been killed in action but no further details were given.

However, the student researchers have discovered some further information on his service and loss. The ‘London Gazette’ records that he passed out of Cranwell with the rank of Pilot Officer on July 29th 1939 and was promoted to Flying Officer on September 3rd 1941. He then served with 42 Squadron with the service number 33447. He lost his life with the loss of aircraft ICT2545, a Wellington flying from Malta, on August 28th 1942 and is remembered on the Malta Memorial as his body could not be recovered from the sea. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have his parents. Cuthbert Gordon and Margaret Marie Willis of Chiswick, as his next of kin.

WINDSOR R.J.F. 1925-1930

Reginald John Frederick Windsor was born on February 22nd 1913. His father, Mr G. L. Windsor, was a ‘Departmental Buyer’. The family lived at 16 St Andrew’s Mansions, Barons Court, and he attended Bowes Rd Elementary School before winning a Scholarship from the Latymer Foundation Governors and entering Class 1B of Latymer Upper School on January 13th 1925. He sat the General Schools Examination in June 1930 and was awarded Distinctions in Chemistry and Mathematics. He obtained his matriculation in those examinations, which would have allowed him to continue to the Higher Level Exams, but left Latymer from Class 6A in the summer of 1930 and took up a Clerkship with John Bailieu and Company.

In ‘The Latymerian’ we read that he served in the R.A.F. with the rank of Flying Officer, and was the Pilot of a Lancaster in 106 Squadron, which failed to return from a sortie. He and crew are buried at Fuerth near Nuremberg.

We learn from the records of the International Bomber Command Centre that his next of kin included his wife Alice, that he had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, his service number was 116092 and that he served in Group 5. 106 Squadron as Pilot of W4886, an Avro Lancaster I. On 25th February 1943 he took off from R.A.F. Syerston on a night raid on Nuremberg and his aircraft crashed near Fuerth. The circumstances that brought the loss about are unknown. He was first buried in Fuerth Cemetery with the six other members of his aircraft’s crew and then reburied in Durnbach War Cemetery in Germany in July 1948. His grave there bears the inscription ‘And night shall fold him in soft wings.’ The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list his widow Alice and his parents George Louis and Gertrude Windsor, then of Chiswick, as his next of kin.

WRIGHT M.W. 1935-1939

Maurice Winter Wright, whose date of birth was November 28th 1922, lived at 103 Lynton Rd Acton. His father, Mr H. E. Wright worked as a Furrier. Educated previously at St Francis’ School in Acton, he joined Class 3R at Latymer on January 15th 1935. There is, sadly, no information about his examination performance or the next stage of his career or education in the admissions register.

He served in the R.A.F. and was reported missing after heavy raids on Berlin in November 1943: ‘The Latymerian’ edition of Spring 1944 reports that he was now known to have been killed when his aircraft was destroyed. He had trained in S Africa and was attached to Bomber Command as a bomb-aimer, and the flight on which he was killed was his 16th operation. He was 20 years old.

Some further information about him comes from the archive of the International Bomber Command Centre. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and served, with the service number 132198, in Group 3, 49 Squadron as Air Bomber on JB368, an Avro Lancaster III. His final operation, on which his aircraft was lost without trace was a night raid on Berlin, flying from R.A.F. Fiskerton on 22nd March 1943. However, the authoritative Commonwealth War Graves Commission website gives his death as 22nd November 1943. He and his fellow crew members are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

There are three men whose names were not given on the list of the Fallen issued for the unveiling and dedication of the War Memorial window and Book, but are listed on the slate memorial panel in the Hall entrance. At present it is not possible to give details of them from the admissions registers.

They are

ALLEN W.

William Archibald Allen was born on 22nd December 1916, the son of W. A. Allen, a builder, of n238F Guiness Buildings, Hammersmith. He entered Latymer from West Kensington Elementary School on 16th September 1930. He must have shown promise from the start as his fees were pain in full by the London County Council. He took the London General Schools exam in June 1933 and passed, and he took the exams a year later, when he passed again with a distinction in Elementary Maths, which qualified him as matriculated at the University. However, after leaving Latymer on 26th September 1934, he took a clerk’s job at Woolworth’s Ltd.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records that Gunner Allen served in the 64 Medium Regiment of the Royal Artillery, and that he died on 5th July 1942. He is buried at El Alamein Cemetery in Egypt.

AMES W.

Walter James Ames was born on 10th September 1922, the son of Walter and Ethel Ames of 119, Peabody Buildings, West London. He entered Latymer form Ellerslie Road Elementary School on 12th September 1933, and his fees were paid for by London County Council. He took the London General Schools exam in June 1938, and passed. He left Latymer on 29th October the same year.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records that Ordinary Seaman Ames served in the Royal Navy, with the service number C/JX 300551. He was killed on September 22nd 1943 and is buried in Mortlake Cemetery

DEL VALLE R.

Ronald Courtney del Valle was born on 6th June 1918, the son of Jacob and Dorothea Del Valle of 91, Sinclair Road, West Kensington. He entered Latymer from Bedford Park High School on 11th September 1928. He took the London General Schools exam in June 1934, and passed with a distinction in Elementary Maths. This qualified as matriculation to London University, but after leaving Latymer on 26th July 1934 he went on to study at Acton Polytechnic.

His service number being 217358, he reached the rank of Captain and served in the Suffolk Regiment though at the time of his death he was attached to the 1st West Yorkshire (Prince of Wales’s Own) Regiment. He fell in the campaigns in Burma, now Myanmar, on 25th March 1945, and was buried in the Christian Cemetery at Meiktila and then later reburied in Taukkyan War Cemetery. His grave bears the inscription ‘Till we meet again.’

There are two other men who were each mentioned once only in ‘The Latymerian’ as having been killed but they do not appear in the final version of the Memorial Book lists and there are no entries for them at all in the Admissions Registers.

BLACKWELL A.A.

Alan Arthur Blackwell was serving as a Captain in the East Yorkshire Regiment when it was reported in the Summer 1943 edition of ‘The Latymerian’ that he had been killed in action in N Africa.

The research work of the Middle School History Society has brought to light a little more about him. They confirm that his rank was Captain, and add that he served with the 5th Battalion of his regiment. He fell on April 6th 1943 at the age of 26 and was first buried in an isolated battlefield cemetery with two other officers and a Lance-Corporal from his regiment and a Private serving with the Green Howards. They were all reburied in Sfax War Cemetery in Tunisia in May 1944. His grave bears the epitaph ‘None died that day with greater glory. Many died and there was much glory.’ He was mentioned in despatches for his bravery. His next of kin were his widow Margaret Joan and his parents, Frederick and Anne Elizabeth Blackwell of Whitton in Middlesex.

SIMMONS H.

The Summer 1943 ‘Latymerian’ reports that he was serving in the R.A.F. (without mentioning his Squadron or Rank) when he was killed in an enemy air raid on the South Coast town where his unit was stationed.

The memorial book, window and panel.

Alongside the fine memorial panels to the fallen Latymerians of the First World War designed by Sir Frank Brangwen R.A. which stand in the Main School Hall, the fallen Alumni of the Second World War are recalled by a Slate Memorial Panel, a Memorial Window and a Memorial Book.

The Slate Panel records all the names of the Latymerians who gave their lives in the conflict and stands on the wall of the Narthex or entrance way of the Main Hall. It was dedicated and blessed by the School Chaplain, The Rev. Peter Simpson in a special service held on Armistice Day, November 11th 2005. It was unveiled by three surviving alumni who had served in the war: Eric Foinette who served in the Royal Air Force and had been a Prisoner of War in Bavaria, George Terry who after active service in the R.A.F. became School Secretary, then a Geography Master and long serving Second Master at Latymer, and James Millen.

The ‘Last Post; was played by George Auckland, a student and fine trumpeter.

The Memorial Book with its fine cover of tooled red leather marked with the full School Crest and its exquisite calligraphy, was crafted by Ida Henstock of Petersfield in Hampshire.

The Memorial window at the South End of the Hall, depicting Saints Nicholas, Michael and George above a vanquished dragon representing the evils against which the war had been fought, was designed and executed by Pilgrim Wetton. He had been a boy at Latymer before the war. He was then known by the surname of Taylor, and probably became ‘Wetton’ when his widowed mother re-married. We learn this from the Admissions Register entry for him:

Charles Antony Pilgrim Taylor of 11 Redcliffe Square London SW10. His father is noted as a ‘Consulting Engineer (deceased)’ and so his parent is listed as Mrs Hilda Taylor. He came to Latymer from Colebrook House School, Bognor Regis in Sussex. His date of birth is given as July 9th 1924 and he entered Latymer Upper School on February 15th 1937.

There is no information on his examination performance, date of leaving or next steps in his life. But it is noted in ‘The Latymerian’ of Spring 1947, that he had gone to live in Canada, presumably with his mother and step-father, had returned after the war, was now known as Pilgrim Wetton and was then working as a sculptor.

In fact he was working very successfully indeed in the medium of stained glass. He made not only the memorial window noted here, but the two windows in the School Chapel and the Latymer window in the Church of St Peter at Freston in Suffolk, where the Latymer family were Lords of the Manor and many were buried. The Freston window was dedicated and blessed in 1952 by the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in the presence of a large party from the School and the Foundation.

Pilgrim Wetton’s distinctive work graces many churches and other public buildings across Britain and he also produced fine works by woodcut. All his works show a distinctive style, often recalling mediaeval art.

The Memorial window in the Hall originally had the images of the three saints in its lower half, with the three crests one in each light above the saints. The building of the new organ in the Hall in the 1980’s in front of the window (and replacing the instrument built with the funds left over from the appeal for the First World War memorial and marked ‘In Memoriam 19141918’) necessitated refitting the saints in the upper half of the window and the crests in three of the four side panels. At its foot is the inscription

DESIGNED & EXECUTED BY PILGRIM WETTON ASSISTED BY D.LUCKER, FOR F.H. SPEAR.1949

The Memorial Book was cherished for many years in a glass case in the School Chapel, beneath the Wetton window commemorating Colin Wright a School Captain killed in an accident in Switzerland. When the Chapel rather fell out of regular use, it was moved to the Headmaster’s Study and is now treasured in the Archive.

The Window and the Book were both formally received by the School, dedicated and blessed at a Service on Founder’s Day, Ascension Day Thursday May 26th 1949.

At this service (a full copy of the Order of Service is kept in the School Archive) the worship and prayers for the repose of the Fallen and the comfort of the Bereaved were led and the Blessing given by the School Chaplain, The Rev M.R.M. (‘Monty’) Cann M.A. (an Old Latymerian)

The Lesson was read by the School Captain, Nigel Spearing. The Sermon was preached by the Headmaster, Frederick Wilkinson M.A.

The names of the Fallen were read out by Alumni who had served in the war:

Lieutenant J.G.Rhodes of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Major T.C.Stewart M.C. of the Royal Armoured Corps

Flight Lieutenant A.G.Terry of the Royal Air Force

Major E.W. Phillips M.B.E. of the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry

Major Stewart and Flight Lieutenant Terry were members of the School Staff, Major Phillips was later Chairman of the Governors.

Major Phillips presented the Memorial Book, representing the Memorial Committee as the committee member responsible for the making of the Book, and it was received by Mr W.F.West Chairman of the Old Latymerians Association and a Governor of the School.

It was placed on a table by the Captain of the Junior School, J.R. Tilbury.

The window was unveiled by Major Stewart and Flight Lieutenant Terry, who had both served on the Memorial Committee, with Mr W. O. Nidd, Committee Member and Secretary and Treasurer of the Old Latymerians Association speaking the words of gift. It was accepted by Mr H. H. G. Bennett M.A. Chairman of the Governors.

Wreaths were then presented and placed under the Window by Senior Members of the School’s Combined Cadet Force:

Leading Seaman J. A. Rotgans of the Royal Naval Section

Company Sergeant Major D. J. Auer of the Army Section

Sergeant D. M. R. Byron of the R.A.F. Section

A two minutes Silence was observed, followed by the playing of Sir Walford Davies’ ‘Solemn Melody’ on the organ by D. O. Byrt, a Prefect and current Member of the School.

The Hymns ‘The King of Love my Shepherd is’, ‘I vow to thee, my Country’ and ‘O God, our help in ages past’ were sung.

The School Archive contains a copy of parts of the sermon preached at the Unveiling Ceremony. This is reproduced here:

‘Each of us in the years between the war and now will have faced his sorrow in his own way. None will have overcome entirely its pain. Indeed, none will have wished to do so, for without the pain there could be no memory. And God has willed it in the design of these our bodies, that we should cherish our memories. They are the precious heirlooms of lives that were joyously shared, the unbreakable cords which bind us to those we have loved and no longer see, our profession of faith in their perpetual presence.

As long as life shall last will these our memories be with us, and in them, if we have learned the love that goes beyond the world, we shall find imperishable comfort.

And here in their Old School we have made a shrine out of the substance of these our memories, so that amidst the busyness and perplexity of our daily life we may have within our sight the still, serene presence of the Dead, reminding us that whether here or beyond, we are all one immortal company engaged upon a divine mission.

We have made a shrine also because we wish those who follow us to know how dearly we who knew them valued their sacrifice. This shrine of ours is a simple structure but all the more sincere for its simplicity- a book and a window, set and to be kept in the place where they once loved to be, where the happiness we now enjoy was so considerably of their giving and where our present laughter within these walls takes up the echo of theirs.

It is a book which, if you examine it, you will find has true beauty in its design and workmanship and is of a material durable enough to outlast many centuries to come.

The window has been designed by one who was also a boy here, who has been given a vision of his colleagues through eyes and artistry that are clear and young. We are grateful that in these symbolic figures- St Nicholas for the Navy, St George for the Army and St Michael for the Air Force- the artist has reminded us of the idealism that inspired out beloveds- their spiritual fervour; their firm conviction of the justice of the cause they served; the sparkling splendour of their employment; the quiet unexpressed vigour of their courage; their continuous occupation with danger and death.

Beneath their feet are the evils and the perils which they vanquished for our sake. And under all there lies the sea, enfolding as it does this little land as though it were the fond embrace of God and with the changeless rhythm of its tides reminding us that it is Time alone that separate us from those we love but cannot see. Time- that pathetic invention of the intellect which the Soul by virtue of its immortality can so finally dispense with.

The lives of all of us met here tonight have been brought back to us at the jeopardy of men’s lives.

Indeed there is nothing which we shall do for the rest of our days which is not vouchsafed to us by their sacrifice. They struggled to give us peace; to ensure freedom and happiness; to reinstate justice as the sovereign law; to bring back decency, tolerance and kindliness into

our habitual ways of life; to remind a world riddled with hate and spite of “England’ old good manners, its old good humour and its old good nature.”

Therefore no memorial to them can have any meaning, no grief for them any sincerity, no thought of reunion and reality, unless each of us separately and all of us collectively as a society are determined that the ideals for which they fought shall be by us firmly and finally established.’

Amen.