Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Obituary: Laurence West
Laurence West's obituary from The Telegraph, June 2004.
Laurence West, who has died aged 91, was for many years chairman and artistic director of the Windsor Festival, having played a crucial role in its creation in 1969.
Laurence West, who has died aged 91, was for many years chairman and artistic director of the Windsor Festival, having played a crucial role in its creation in 1969.
Year after year, in the face of many predictions of disaster, he raised the
necessary money for the festival and created an impressive programme. In the
early days, international performers of high calibre - including William Walton,
André Previn, Ravi Shankar, Segovia and many Menuhins - came to Windsor to
perform in the Waterloo Chamber and St George's Hall (in the state apartments),
St George's Chapel and the Lower Ward; there were also concerts at Eton,
Maidenhead and Slough.
It was possible to spot in the audiences figures such as Queen Frederica of
Greece, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, Lord Mountbatten, Harold Macmillan
and Peter Sellers.
West's first role was as executive chairman, working alongside Robin Woods,
the Dean of Windsor, whose dream child the Festival was; the artistic direction
was in the inspired hands of Yehudi Menuhin and Ian Hunter. One of West's most
important tasks was to organise the finances, and he proved adept at charming
sponsorship from wealthy friends.
During the first Festival, Laurence West and his second wife held a party for
140 guests at Dial House, their home at Englefield Green, at the end of which
Princess Irene of Greece, their guest for the duration, played one of two grand
pianos in the hall.
In 1970, to raise money, the Wests embarked on a series of "chain lunches",
mostly in Surrey. Each of eight organisers paid £1, then gave a lunch for seven,
and so on. But money was always a problem; after the 1970 Festival, Windsor
Council dropped its funding, and West did not disguise his disappointment. "We
will be having to pick about £30,000-worth of artistes and musicians, and we
will be wanting to know the money is coming from somewhere," he told the press.
In the event, he managed it.
In 1974 West assumed the roles of both chairman and artistic director, running the festival from his home. He regularly invited Janet Baker and the Amadeus String Quartet; he also managed to persuade Artur Rubinstein to perform.
West and his loyal team were ably supported by his second wife, Désiré, until she died in 1978, aged 55. When there were ruffled feathers amongst the workers - and West was an inveterate ruffler of feathers - she was on hand to soothe them. After her death, he missed her diplomatic touch; but he continued to run Windsor Festivals until 1994, when, at the age of 81, he reluctantly surrendered the reins.
Laurence Conway West, the son of a garage owner, was born at Woking on February 7 1913. After Woking County School for Boys he trained to be a professional organist and studied the piano with Harold Craxton (accompanist to Clara Butt and Nellie Melba) and Adelina de Lara (one of the last pupils of Clara Schumann). He went on to be organist at Sutton Green, Ripley, and St Mary of Bethany, Woking.
During the Second World War, West was employed in marine mechanics, and became assistant organist to Dr William Harris at St George's Chapel, Windsor, who then steered him to the Royal Chapel in the Great Park; he played the organ there from 1946, establishing a small choir which performed in productions of The Messiah and Bach's Christmas Oratorio, which West conducted.
In 1941 he married the first of two beautiful wives, Joan Trevor-Wilson, with whom he had a son and daughter. They were divorced in 1951. West was appointed MVO in 1956, when he retired from his post at the Royal Chapel.
For a time he farmed on Exmoor, and lived partly in London. In those years he was an accompanist at the Wigmore Hall.
By his second marriage, to Désiré Green, daughter of Commander Basil Green, the chairman of Royal Doulton, he had two further sons and a daughter.
He did not remarry in later life, though there were times when he appeared to be auditioning.
In 1974 West assumed the roles of both chairman and artistic director, running the festival from his home. He regularly invited Janet Baker and the Amadeus String Quartet; he also managed to persuade Artur Rubinstein to perform.
West and his loyal team were ably supported by his second wife, Désiré, until she died in 1978, aged 55. When there were ruffled feathers amongst the workers - and West was an inveterate ruffler of feathers - she was on hand to soothe them. After her death, he missed her diplomatic touch; but he continued to run Windsor Festivals until 1994, when, at the age of 81, he reluctantly surrendered the reins.
Laurence Conway West, the son of a garage owner, was born at Woking on February 7 1913. After Woking County School for Boys he trained to be a professional organist and studied the piano with Harold Craxton (accompanist to Clara Butt and Nellie Melba) and Adelina de Lara (one of the last pupils of Clara Schumann). He went on to be organist at Sutton Green, Ripley, and St Mary of Bethany, Woking.
During the Second World War, West was employed in marine mechanics, and became assistant organist to Dr William Harris at St George's Chapel, Windsor, who then steered him to the Royal Chapel in the Great Park; he played the organ there from 1946, establishing a small choir which performed in productions of The Messiah and Bach's Christmas Oratorio, which West conducted.
In 1941 he married the first of two beautiful wives, Joan Trevor-Wilson, with whom he had a son and daughter. They were divorced in 1951. West was appointed MVO in 1956, when he retired from his post at the Royal Chapel.
For a time he farmed on Exmoor, and lived partly in London. In those years he was an accompanist at the Wigmore Hall.
By his second marriage, to Désiré Green, daughter of Commander Basil Green, the chairman of Royal Doulton, he had two further sons and a daughter.
He did not remarry in later life, though there were times when he appeared to be auditioning.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sgt. Ray Sellers AFC - Battle of Britain pilot
Ray Sellers was the only Old Wokingian to serve as a Battle of Britain pilot in the late summer of 1940.
He joined 111 Squadron on 17 August 1940. 111 Squadron was the first squadron to receive Hurricanes and when he joined them they were based at Croydon Satellite Station. Two days after joining the squadron it was transferred to RAF Debden near Saffron Walden in Essex.
He was shot down on 26 August 1940 following combat with two German Bf 110's over Essex during a day of heavy enemy activity. After recovering in hospital Ray was transferred on 18 September to 46 Squadron based at Stapleford Tawney in the Epping Forest. He was later promoted to Flight Lieutenant and awarded the Air Force Cross.
In total Ray logged 122 hours flying time during the Battle of Britain. In January 1941 he transferred to training duties until the end of the war.
Ray died on 16 May 2010.
 |
| Ray shortly after joining the RAF |
He joined 111 Squadron on 17 August 1940. 111 Squadron was the first squadron to receive Hurricanes and when he joined them they were based at Croydon Satellite Station. Two days after joining the squadron it was transferred to RAF Debden near Saffron Walden in Essex.
He was shot down on 26 August 1940 following combat with two German Bf 110's over Essex during a day of heavy enemy activity. After recovering in hospital Ray was transferred on 18 September to 46 Squadron based at Stapleford Tawney in the Epping Forest. He was later promoted to Flight Lieutenant and awarded the Air Force Cross.
In total Ray logged 122 hours flying time during the Battle of Britain. In January 1941 he transferred to training duties until the end of the war.
Ray died on 16 May 2010.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
The Wokingian - January 1963
A scanned copy of the school magazine The Wokingian can be found HERE
618 Boys on the register and school treks to Austria and Kilimajaro.
618 Boys on the register and school treks to Austria and Kilimajaro.
The Wokingian - July 1960
A scanned copy of the school magazine, The Wokingian can be found HERE
581 Boys on the register. Among one of the more interesting mentions is R. H. G. Mellersh who left the school in 1958 being awarded his tennis blue at Oxford. He lost in 3 sets to Larry Nagler of the USA in the first round of the 1960 US Open at Forest Hills, New York probably his only Grand Slam appearance.
581 Boys on the register. Among one of the more interesting mentions is R. H. G. Mellersh who left the school in 1958 being awarded his tennis blue at Oxford. He lost in 3 sets to Larry Nagler of the USA in the first round of the 1960 US Open at Forest Hills, New York probably his only Grand Slam appearance.
The Wokingian - January 1955
A scanned copy of the school magazine The Wokingian can be found HERE
506 Boys on the register, Mr K. Fudge joins the school and there are trips to Wales and Switzerland.
506 Boys on the register, Mr K. Fudge joins the school and there are trips to Wales and Switzerland.
The Wokingian - Summer 1954
A scanned copy of the school magazine, The Wokingian can be found HERE
503 Boys on the register, along with the usual sports results there are details of school trips to Italy and France and the return of Roderic Coote an Old Boy who was at the time Bishop of Gambia.
503 Boys on the register, along with the usual sports results there are details of school trips to Italy and France and the return of Roderic Coote an Old Boy who was at the time Bishop of Gambia.
The Wokingian - Summer 1953
A scanned copy of the school magazine for Summer 1953 can be found HERE
512 Boys on the register and Miss Botten retires after 36 years as a teacher spanning both world wars.
512 Boys on the register and Miss Botten retires after 36 years as a teacher spanning both world wars.
1937 Prefects
1937 Prefects. Photo taken in upper playground.
Gilbert Rowe, Cyril Horwood and Jack Benham were killed in WW2.
Obituary: Robert Killick-Kendrick
Robert Killick-Kendrick's obituary from the Guardian December 2011.
Our friend and colleague Robert Killick-Kendrick, who has died aged 82, was a research scientist with a particular interest in the parasitic protozoa that cause diseases in humans and other mammals, including malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and leishmaniasis.
Bob was born in Hampton, Middlesex, and educated at Woking grammar school. He left at 16, worked for a year in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Weybridge, then spent two years in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He joined the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1949 as a laboratory assistant. We first met Bob there in 1952 as a couple of naive PhD students, and benefited greatly from his skill and experience.
Bob worked for eight years from 1955 in Nigeria, once trekking 415 miles (664km) over 28 days, accompanied by a colleague and 28 cattle, to determine where the cattle became infected with trypanosomes. He returned to the London School in 1963 to continue research on malaria parasites with PCC Garnham and others. After Garnham's retirement in 1968 Bob followed him to Imperial College London, where their work on malaria continued.
Bob extended his interest into leishmaniasis in Brazil, Middle Eastern countries and France, collaborating with JA Rioux and his team of researchers at the University of Montpellier. One team member, Mireille Bailly, an expert on sand flies, became his wife and they set up home in Sumène in Languedoc-Roussillon, southern France.
In addition to the research that led to more than 270 scientific papers, Bob acquired MPhil, PhD and DSc degrees from London University, served on the council and as honorary secretary of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and was a member of World Health Organisation committees and advisory panels. He was awarded the Sir Rickard Christophers medal by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Emile Brumpt international prize by the Société de Pathologie Exotique.
Bob was a man of many interests, which included guitar playing, choral singing, hiking and photographing the numerous butterflies that visited his garden. He also made a study of domestic animals' bells, ranging from elephants in India to hunting dogs in southern France, which resulted in a scholarly, but sadly uncompleted book, illustrated mainly with his own photographs. Bob was a gifted raconteur with a large repertoire of jokes which he recounted with great skill. He was a loyal, humane and generous man as well as a gifted scientist.
Mireille survives him, along with three children from a previous marriage, and his stepdaughter.
Our friend and colleague Robert Killick-Kendrick, who has died aged 82, was a research scientist with a particular interest in the parasitic protozoa that cause diseases in humans and other mammals, including malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and leishmaniasis.
Bob was born in Hampton, Middlesex, and educated at Woking grammar school. He left at 16, worked for a year in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Weybridge, then spent two years in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He joined the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1949 as a laboratory assistant. We first met Bob there in 1952 as a couple of naive PhD students, and benefited greatly from his skill and experience.
Bob worked for eight years from 1955 in Nigeria, once trekking 415 miles (664km) over 28 days, accompanied by a colleague and 28 cattle, to determine where the cattle became infected with trypanosomes. He returned to the London School in 1963 to continue research on malaria parasites with PCC Garnham and others. After Garnham's retirement in 1968 Bob followed him to Imperial College London, where their work on malaria continued.
Bob extended his interest into leishmaniasis in Brazil, Middle Eastern countries and France, collaborating with JA Rioux and his team of researchers at the University of Montpellier. One team member, Mireille Bailly, an expert on sand flies, became his wife and they set up home in Sumène in Languedoc-Roussillon, southern France.
In addition to the research that led to more than 270 scientific papers, Bob acquired MPhil, PhD and DSc degrees from London University, served on the council and as honorary secretary of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and was a member of World Health Organisation committees and advisory panels. He was awarded the Sir Rickard Christophers medal by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Emile Brumpt international prize by the Société de Pathologie Exotique.
Bob was a man of many interests, which included guitar playing, choral singing, hiking and photographing the numerous butterflies that visited his garden. He also made a study of domestic animals' bells, ranging from elephants in India to hunting dogs in southern France, which resulted in a scholarly, but sadly uncompleted book, illustrated mainly with his own photographs. Bob was a gifted raconteur with a large repertoire of jokes which he recounted with great skill. He was a loyal, humane and generous man as well as a gifted scientist.
Mireille survives him, along with three children from a previous marriage, and his stepdaughter.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Masters 1973/74
J. L. Goode
D. J. Butterworth
I. P. Alexander
J. Basil
S. B. Bolton
G. Buttriss
D. J. Chinn
Z. Chojekci
R. A. Cole
A. G. Dawson
Mrs M. Fraser
K. L. J. Fudge
R. A. Gordon
W. Gowans
K. Hatter
B. Heywood
D. M. Holyfield
P. Hotham
R. Huggins
D. G. JackmanP. L. Jones
M. A. Lees
A. B. Maberly
A. McGugan
C. R. Mansell
J. R. Mason
C. G. Midworth
R. Moorcraft
M. J. Moore
R. H. Murden
N. G. Norgate
R. Parker
R. Parsonage
A. A. Pearson
I. M. Perrin
F. M. Poulter
J. W. Richards
Mrs A. Rogers
Mrs K. Seddon
P. Senior
C. D. Skuse
Dr L. Smith
G. J. Talbot
Mrs G. K. A. Tourle
Mrs E. Wade
T. Walbeoff
M. J. Webb
J. Williamson
Mrs D. E. R. Wolff
J. Woodward
L. Swann
Ridha Ellouze
1936 Senior Cricket Team
1936 Senior Cricket Team. Photo taken in the upper playground.
Kenneth Wilmot and Cyril Horwood were both killed in WW2.
Kenneth Wilmot and Cyril Horwood were both killed in WW2.
1934 Senior Football Team
1934 Senior Football Team. Photo taken in upper playground.
Ronald Wood and Reginald Hopper were both killed in WW2. H. S. Roots served in and survived both wars.
Ronald Wood and Reginald Hopper were both killed in WW2. H. S. Roots served in and survived both wars.
Friday, October 26, 2012
1933 Prefects
1933 Prefects, photo taken in upper playground.
Reginald Hopper was killed in WW2. Roderic Coote became Bishop of Gambia.
Reginald Hopper was killed in WW2. Roderic Coote became Bishop of Gambia.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Obituary: John Magrath
John Magrath's obituary from the Independent, November 2005.
John Patrick Magrath, teacher, lecturer, soldier and businessman: born Alexandria, Egypt 21 July 1920; married 1955 Margaret Cramer (two sons, three daughters); died Petworth, West Sussex 9 November 2005.
As a young intelligence officer, John Magrath won a mention in Despatches for his pivotal role in ensuring that the Allies' liberation of the historic city of Urbino in August 1944 was achieved without major casualties or substantial destruction of its historic buildings.
Capt Magrath had been asked by his commanding officer, Maj-Gen A.W.W. Holworthy, then in command of the Fourth Indian Division, to discover with all speed whether Urbino was still in enemy hands. Having driven swiftly to the base of the city's walls, he hid his motorcycle in the gorse and discreetly made his way into Urbino.
Being half Italian and a fluent speaker of the language, he was able to secure speedy access to the mayor, Avvocato Giorgio Pagi, who at the time was having lunch at home with his family. While the mayor's daughter, Giuliana, served their visitor a plate of spaghetti, the mayor drew him a map of where the German new positions were going to be. Furnished with this scoop, General Holworthy was able to liberate Urbino without encountering significant enemy resistance and to maintain the speed of his advance towards the Gothic Line.
Every year, on 28 August, posters now appear all over Urbino to remind the populace of their deliverance, in 1944, from the yoke of Fascism. Returning to the city after more than half a century, John Magrath, by then a retired schoolmaster and lecturer, was not only received with honour for his part in that liberation - being referred to in the local press as either "Il Capitano" or "Il Professore" or, for good measure, "Il Capitano Professore" - but also managed to find, and partake of a commemorative dish of spaghetti with, Giuliana.
John Magrath was born in Alexandria of an Irish father and an Italian mother. He was only four years old when his father, Gerald Magrath, died and he spent a somewhat unsettled childhood with his widowed mother and two brothers before finding, in the rugged monastic ethos of Ampleforth College, the sense of continuity and stability he needed to flourish academically. Whilst there he also benefited from the mentorship of one of the school's most distinguished lay masters, Walter Shewring, translator of Homer and friend and literary executor of Eric Gill, who instilled in him a lifelong love of art and literature.
A promising undergraduate career at Cambridge was interrupted by the Second World War. His linguistic skills made him a natural choice for the Intelligence Corps, with whom, as well as in Italy, he saw service in North Africa, Sicily and Greece. After the war he joined Shell International, spending seven years in Brazil, and having become fluent in Portuguese (and enough of an expert in Brazilian literature to write long articles on the subject for the TLS) was an obvious choice for a later posting to Angola.
Ultimately, corporate life failed to satisfy his intellectual leanings and in 1970 he retired from Shell in order to complete, at University College, London, the degree in Italian and French which the war had interrupted, and to retrain as a teacher. Given that he had a wife and five children to support, his decision must have seemed eccentric, if not foolhardy.
In retrospect, he was actually a pioneer of the mid-life career change which is now a common choice or necessity. He went on to spend 10 years teaching foreign languages at Woking Grammar School and then at the sixth form college by which it was replaced. In later life he developed a particular interest in Arthurian legends, giving lectures on their influence on art, opera and literature.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
1933 Senior Cricket Team
1933 First XI cricket team. Photo taken in front of the pavilion at the Loop Road playing fields.
Reginald Hopper was killed in WW2. H. S. Roots, sports master is on the left.
Reginald Hopper was killed in WW2. H. S. Roots, sports master is on the left.
Obituary: Rt. Rev. Roderic Coote
Obituary from the Telegraph. 17 July 2000.
THE RIGHT REVEREND RODERIC COOTE, who has died aged 85, was one of the longest serving bishops in the Anglican Communion; had he lived until next January, he would have completed 50 years in the episcopate.
THE RIGHT REVEREND RODERIC COOTE, who has died aged 85, was one of the longest serving bishops in the Anglican Communion; had he lived until next January, he would have completed 50 years in the episcopate.
During this time, Coote occupied three very different bishoprics, in all of
which he was an admired and well loved pastor. Much time was devoted to the
caring of individuals and during his 21 years as Bishop of Colchester he was a
well-known figure in rural Essex. He was also one of the Church of England's
tallest bishops and an impressive presence in cope and mitre.
Roderic Norman Coote, who came of Irish stock, was born on April 13 1915 at
Woking, where the Bedser cricketing twins were his neighbours. After attending
the county school he followed in the family tradition by going to Trinity
College, Dublin, where he took a Second in Mental and Moral Sciences and a First
in the Divinity Testimonium. He was later awarded a Doctorate in Divinity, in
1954.
Ordained in 1938, he stayed in Dublin for three more years to serve as a
curate of St Bartholomew's and to continue to represent Ireland at athletics. He
was the Irish champion hurdler over 120 yards.
His gifts as a musician - he was an excellent pianist and also a composer -
were recognised by his appointment as an honorary Clerical Vicar of Christ
Church Cathedral, Dublin.
All this he left in 1941, however, to become a missionary priest in the West
African diocese of Gambia and the Rio Pongas. A hazardous wartime sea voyage led
to 10 years of devoted service in a territory where Anglicans were few and far
between and the climate is at its most inhospitable.
Then in 1951, aged 36, he was elected to the bishopric, based in Banjul, with responsibility not only for Gambia but for Guinea, Senegal and the Cape Verde Islands - spread over 200,000 square miles with a population of seven million.
Coote travelled long distances by Land Rover, encouraging the clergy and their congregations, and helping to prepare the people for independence from colonial rule. He also established good relations with the leaders of the other religious faiths, and dealt with some difficult political problems in those parts of the diocese where the Church was not always welcome. Besides this, he was Provincial Secretary to the Archbishop of West Africa.
On his return to England in 1957, Coote was invited by the Bishop of London to become Bishop of Fulham, which at that time involved responsibility for the Anglican churches and chaplaincies in North and Central Europe.
After his African experience this seemed a more manageable proposition, and during the next nine years he exercised a much-valued ministry in Europe's capitals and rapidly developing tourism areas. He was ideally suited to this peripatetic work and was warmly welcomed wherever he went - not least by the leaders and members of other churches.
After this special ministry, Coote became suffragan Bishop of Colchester, in Chelmsford diocese. Again, it was an ideal appointment, since he had not the slightest interest in the administrative work that occupies much of the time of a diocesan bishop and was left free for the pastoral work at which he excelled. From 1969 to 1972, he served also as Archdeacon of Colchester, resigning from the post at the earliest opportunity.
He was, however, ready to undertake some necessary administration when the large diocese was divided into areas and he was given a degree of autonomy at Colchester. On retirement in 1987, Coote became an honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of London.
Besides his love of music, Roderic Coote had an unusually wide knowledge of the countryside and a deep sensitivity to the natural order. Those who accompanied him on walks were given delightful revelations into the beauty of trees, flowers and birds.
He married, in 1964, Lynette Shrubbs, a hospital equipment consultant and the daughter of a clergyman. At the time of his death, they were together in Zimbabwe, where his wife was advising on the planning of a new hospital.
She survives him, together with their son and two daughters.
Then in 1951, aged 36, he was elected to the bishopric, based in Banjul, with responsibility not only for Gambia but for Guinea, Senegal and the Cape Verde Islands - spread over 200,000 square miles with a population of seven million.
Coote travelled long distances by Land Rover, encouraging the clergy and their congregations, and helping to prepare the people for independence from colonial rule. He also established good relations with the leaders of the other religious faiths, and dealt with some difficult political problems in those parts of the diocese where the Church was not always welcome. Besides this, he was Provincial Secretary to the Archbishop of West Africa.
On his return to England in 1957, Coote was invited by the Bishop of London to become Bishop of Fulham, which at that time involved responsibility for the Anglican churches and chaplaincies in North and Central Europe.
After his African experience this seemed a more manageable proposition, and during the next nine years he exercised a much-valued ministry in Europe's capitals and rapidly developing tourism areas. He was ideally suited to this peripatetic work and was warmly welcomed wherever he went - not least by the leaders and members of other churches.
After this special ministry, Coote became suffragan Bishop of Colchester, in Chelmsford diocese. Again, it was an ideal appointment, since he had not the slightest interest in the administrative work that occupies much of the time of a diocesan bishop and was left free for the pastoral work at which he excelled. From 1969 to 1972, he served also as Archdeacon of Colchester, resigning from the post at the earliest opportunity.
He was, however, ready to undertake some necessary administration when the large diocese was divided into areas and he was given a degree of autonomy at Colchester. On retirement in 1987, Coote became an honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of London.
Besides his love of music, Roderic Coote had an unusually wide knowledge of the countryside and a deep sensitivity to the natural order. Those who accompanied him on walks were given delightful revelations into the beauty of trees, flowers and birds.
He married, in 1964, Lynette Shrubbs, a hospital equipment consultant and the daughter of a clergyman. At the time of his death, they were together in Zimbabwe, where his wife was advising on the planning of a new hospital.
She survives him, together with their son and two daughters.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
1935 Senior Cricket Team
1935 Senior Cricket Team. Photo taken at Loop Road playing fields.
Kenneth Skelt, John Beardmore and Ronald Donohoe were all killed in WW2.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Roll of Honour: Montgomery Baker
+Montgomery+Harold+Albert+Baker.jpg)
Lieutenant M. H. A. Baker
1772 Sqn., HMS Ringtail
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Killed on active service, 29 July 1944, England. Aged 24.
______________________________________________________
Montgomery Baker was born about 1920, the son of Albert and May Baker of Ottershaw. Albert was a school teacher from Hittisleigh in Devon and May was from Mitcham in Surrey.
Montgomery served with 1772 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm which was formed at HMS Ringtail (part of Royal Naval Air Station Burscough, Lancashire) in May 1944. The squadron was equipped with Fairey Firefly two seater fighters. Much of the time was spent practicing carrier landings on HMS Empress.
Fairey Firefly of 1772 Sqn.
On 29 July 1944 Montgomery was the observer aboard Firefly Z1958 which was piloted by Lieutenant Commander A. H. D. Gough (commanding officer of 1772 Squadron). About 17 miles west of Southport over the Irish Sea the aircraft was involved in a mid air collision with Firefly Z1956 also of 1772 Squadron. Z1956 was piloted by Lieutenant M. J. C. Wright with Lieutenant J. G. C. Sloan as observer. All four men bailed out but Baker and Sloan were killed. Montgomery’s body was never recovered.
Montgomery Baker is remembered on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial, Hampshire (bay 5, panel 4) and on the Woking County Grammar School roll of honour located in Christ Church, Woking.
Lee-on-Solent Memorial
(Copyright CWGC)
______________________________________________________
Last updated 18 August 2009
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
1936 Senior Football Team
1936 Senior Football Team. Photo taken in upper playground.
Horace (Philip) Black and Teddy Johnson were both killed in flying accidents while testing planes in WW2.
Horace (Philip) Black and Teddy Johnson were both killed in flying accidents while testing planes in WW2.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Roll of Honour: Sidney Armstrong
Captain S. G. Armstrong
2nd Bn. Queen’s Royal Regt. (West Surrey)
189082
Killed in action, 7 December 1941, Libya. Aged 35.
______________________________________________________
Sidney Armstrong was born about 1906 in Egham, the son of George and Mary Armstrong. George was a police Constable who later rose to the rank of Inspector. Sidney had two sisters (Edith and Frances) and a younger brother (Richard). About 1910 the family moved from Egham to Dawney Hill in Pirbright.
Sidney appears to have had some health problems as a child. In April 1911 when the national census was taken he was a patient at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford.
He attended Woking County School from 1919 to 1923 and as a youngster one of his hobbies was bell-ringing and he was well known in many local churches.
Sidney first enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), possibly serving in the ranks and then spent time at the Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as Lieutenant in the Queen’s Royal Regiment on 29 December 1940.
In May 1941 the Vichy French government signed an agreement (the ‘Paris Protocols’) allowing the Germans use of their airfields and railway system in Syria, which together with Lebanon was under a French mandate. This would provide support to the pro-German Iraqi forces fighting the British near Mosul. It could also over time provide a springboard for an attack on the British in Egypt who were pre-occupied fighting a major campaign against Axis forces in the deserts of North Africa. The allies attacked Syria in June 1941 (Operation Exporter).
At the time Sidney was based in Northern Palestine with the 2nd Battalion Queen’s Royal Regt. which formed part of the British 6th Infantry Division. The Division was held in reserve for the initial invasion but as the fighting grew more bitter they advanced. Sidney was taken prisoner at some point but later released.
Following his brush with danger Sidney took the opportunity to get married to a girl called Helen, from Durban, South Africa. This was probably during leave in Cairo where Helen was working (possibly as a nurse).
Meanwhile in North Africa the strategically important harbour city of Tobruk in Eastern Libya had been taken from the Italians with little resistance in January 1941 during Operation Compass which was intended to drive the Italian forces out of North Africa. However, Churchill’s decision to then move the most experienced troops to Greece following the fall of Tobruk left it exposed to Rommel’s Afrika Korps.
By 10 April 1941 Rommel had surrounded ‘the poor Desert Rats of Tobruk’ and so began the siege of the city. At first it was held by the 9th Australian Division but in August it was decided they should be relieved, partly to allow all Middle East Australian troops to fight under one command and partly due to the sheer numbers of casualties they had suffered (some 3,000 wounded and almost 1,000 taken prisoner). Newly married Sidney and the 2nd Battalion Queen’s were now part of the newly formed British 70th Infantry Division. They were brought into Tobruk by sea to complete the relief of the Australians during September and October.
The plan to end the siege of Tobruk was code named Operation Crusader. The battle plan was for the British 8th Army to engage Rommel’s Panzers whilst the British 70th Infantry Division broke out of Tobruk to cut the German communication lines. On 21 November the 70th Division advanced out of Tobruk. The 240 day siege had ended.
The 2nd Battalion Queen’s were ordered to exit the perimeter and swing right to take the German strongpoint at Tugun. At first they were driven back and only with the aid of reinforcements from the Beds and Herts and 7th Royal Tank Regiment were they able to take half of the post. After two days of fighting the remaining Germans surrendered.
A planned link up of the 7th Armoured Division advancing from the east with the Tobruk garrison failed to materialise when Rommel’s 21st Panzer won the day at Sidi Rezegh and captured the allied airfield.
At Tugun the night time temperatures were starting to drop and heavy rainstorms settled the dust giving good daytime visibility for both sides.
The 2nd Queens were to advance eastward in a sweep to the main Badia Road supply route but the commanding slopes of Bir Behamed were occupied by the enemy and providing a vantage point over the Queens route across the plains. Sporadic fighting took place over the following week in an attempt to dislodge them.
On the night of 6/7 December the 2nd Queens were ordered to support an attack on the hillside of Bir El Azazi. Their orders were to attack the heavily defended enemy strongpoint known as ‘Queen’, it was intended as a harassing raid rather than an attempt to take the position. Nine men of the raiding party were killed in the attack including Captain Armstrong.
When Sidney’s parents heard of his death George had retired from the police force and he and Mary were living at Cobden, 357 Woodham Lane.
Sidney Armstrong is buried in Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya (grave 8.N.11). He is also remembered on the Woking County Grammar School roll of honour located in Christ Church, Woking.
______________________________________________________
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Woking News and Mail
London Gazette
1901 UK Census
1911 UK Census
Australian report on Ed-Duda
1935 Senior Football Team
1935 Senior Football Team. Photo taken in upper playground.
Ronald Donohoe was killed in WW2 serving with the West African Medical Corps in Burma.
Ronald Donohoe was killed in WW2 serving with the West African Medical Corps in Burma.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Roll of Honour
Incomplete list of Old Wokingians killed, decorated or captured during WW2. I'm not sure why Cyril Horwood has been scratched from the list because he was killed on a training flight at RAF Leuchers in 1941.
Paddy Coote's war record
Details of Paddy Coote's war record taken from http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_coote.htm
Patric Coote was born in 1910 and was the son of Commander B. T. Coote OBE,
RN.
He was married to Muriel Coote and lived in Chobham, Surrey. In February 1941 he served in 211 Squadron during the Greek campaign. On 19 February Coote arrived at Parammythia to set up an Advanced Operations Wing at the base. On 28 February HQ 'W' Wing ordered that all available aircraft should patrol between Tepelene and the coast between 15:30 and 16:30, since Intelligence sources indicated the operation of large numbers of Italian aircraft in that area at that time. Hence during the morning all available Gladiators of 80 and 112 Squadrons were flown up to Paramythia in preparation for this action. Patrols were flown during the morning by flights of Hurricanes but nothing was seen.
At about 15:00 Squadron Leader H. L. I. Brown and Squadron Leader Edward 'Tap' Jones led of eleven Gladiators of 112 Squadron and seven of 80 Squadron to patrol over the designated area; they were accompanied by the 'W' Wing leader, Wing Commander Coote, flying an 80 Squadron Gladiator. Fifteen minutes later Flight Lieutenant 'Pat' Pattle in Hurricane V7589 led Flying Officer Nigel Cullen (V7138), Flying Officer Wanklyn Flower (V6749) and Flying Officer Richard Acworth (V7288) to the same area, while Flight Lieutenant Young led four 33 Squadron Hurricanes to patrol near the coast. Here some S.79s were seen and chased over Corfu, two being claimed damaged, one of them by Pilot Officer D. S. F. Winsland (Winsland was later during the war shot down by Bernardino Serafini). These were probably 105o Gruppo B.T. aircraft, which reported being attacked by Spitfires, one Savoia landing at Tirana with one member of the crew dead.
Meanwhile Pattle’s section spotted BR.20s of 37o Stormo B.T. flying south from Valona; they identified the ten-strong formation as comprising 15 aircraft, while the bomber crews reported being attacked by 18 ‘Spitfires'! Pattle selected one on the starboard flank of the formation, and after three short bursts it broke into flames and went down; a second bomber likewise burst into flames following a further attack by Pattle, and his windscreen was covered in oil from this doomed aircraft. Reducing speed, Pattle attempted to clean the screen with his scarf, but he was then attacked by five G.50bis which dived on him. After a brief skirmish he managed to get away and returned to Paramythia. Both Flower and Acworth also claimed BR.20s. although the latter thought his victim may have been a Z.1007bis. Flying Officer Cullen reported considerable success in the run of claims which was to bring him the award of an immediate DFC. He later recalled:
By now the Gladiators had joined the fighting, as had CR.42s of 160o Gruppo and G.50bis of 24o Gruppo. A single Hurricane of 33 Squadron arrived late on the scene. Flying Officer Newton having scrambled from Paramythia when news of the heavy fighting came through. On arrival over the battle area he promptly attacked a CR.42, only to find that it was an 80 Squadron Gladiator! A 112 Squadron Gladiator then got on his tail, obviously taking the Hurricane for a G.50bis, and inflicted damage on his aircraft, chasing him back towards Paramythia. A few of the Gladiators made contact with the bombers, Pilot Officer William Vale claiming an S.79 shot down, whilst Flying Officer Edwin Banks and Pilot Officer R. H. McDonald of 112 Squadron each claimed damage to a BR.20. The Gladiators’ main claims were for nine CR.42s and two probables, plus six G.50bis and three probables after that the rest of the Gladiators made contract with the Italian fighters. 80 Squadron made following claims – Squadron Leader Jones (2 CR.42s), Wing Commander Coote (1 CR.42), Warrant Officer Richens (1 CR.42), Pilot Officer Vale (1 S.79 and 1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Kettlewell (1 probable CR.42 and 1 probable G.50bis), Pilot Officer Trollip (1 probable CR.42) and Flying Officer Dowding (1 probable G.50bis). 112 Squadron also made a number of claims – Squadron Leader Brown (1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Fraser (1 CR.42 and 1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Fry (1 CR.42 and 1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Abrahams (1 G.50bis), Flying Officer Cochrane (1 CR.42), Flying Officer Banks (1 and 1 damaged CR.42 and 1 damaged BR.20), Pilot Officer Jack Groves (1 CR.42), Sergeant Donaldson (1 and 1 probable G.50bis), Flying Officer Smith (1 damaged CR.42) and Pilot Officer McDonald (1 damaged BR.20).
Squadron Leader Brown recorded that the G.50bis he attacked turned sharply to starboard on its back and fell away in an inverted spin; he thought he had hit the pilot. Flight Lieutenant Fraser claimed that his victim flew into a mountainside, while the pilot of the CR.42 he claimed baled out, but his parachute failed to open; Sergeant Donaldson’s victim was seen to crash on the seashore. Flight Lieutenant Abrahams, after his victory, was attacked by another G.50bis - believed to have been flown by Tenente Mario Bellagambi - and was shot down near Sarande. He recalled:
On the Italian side, the CR.42s of 160o Gruppo had been escorting four S.79s of 104o Gruppo in the Kuc area, between Tepelene and Himare, when British fighters identified as Spitfires, Hurricanes and Gladiators, were encountered. Two Gladiators were claimed shot down and one as a probable, a ‘Spitfire’ also being claimed. Sottotenente Raoul Francinetti of 394a Squadriglia landed back at base wounded in one leg, and Sottotenente Italo Traini of 394a Squadriglia was shot down and killed. Gunners in the S.79s also claimed two Gladiators shot down, as did the G.50bis pilots of the 24o Gruppo, the latter also claiming two more as probables. Tenente Bellagambi, following his combat with Flight Lieutenant Abrahams, was then shot down and wounded in one arm: he force-landed near Tirana airfield. Capitano Ettore Foschini's aircraft was also hit and he was wounded, also coming down at Tirana.
This day was recorded as RAF’s most successful during the Greek campaign. During the large engagements RAF made claims for 5 and 2 damaged BR.20s, 3 and 2 damaged S.79s, 13 destroyed, 3 probable and 1 damaged CR.42s and 6 and 3 probable G.50bis. In fact 4 BR.20s of 37o Stormo B.T. were lost with several damaged, 1 S.79 of 104o Gruppo was damaged, 1 CR.42 of 160o Gruppo and 2 G.50bis of 24o Gruppo were lost. Regia Aeronautica claimed 6 and 2 probable Gladiators and 1 ‘Spitfire’ while in fact only 1 Gladiator of 112 Squadron was lost.
On 6 April Germany declared war on Yugoslavia and Greece and immediately attacked. On 13 April 211 Squadron undertook two raids during the morning on vehicles and troop concentrations in the Florina region under Hurricane escort (no opposition was encountered).
At 15:00 the unit was briefed to send six more bombers to the area (at this time only seven Blenheims could be mustered but one of them was sent on a photo-reconnaissance sortie). No Hurricanes were available for escort during this sortie. Wing Commander Coote, O/C Western Wing, decided to go along with the raid as an observer to assess the progress of the German advance, while his deputy, Squadron Leader L. E. Cryer DFC, would accompany another crew. The formation would be led by Squadron Leader Irvine, the commanding officer.
As the bombers approached Lake Prespa, some 40 miles short of the target zone, three Bf109Es from 6./JG 27 were seen closing rapidly on the rear ‘vic’ of three Blenheims, the gunners at once opening fire. Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Gerlach, leading the German formation attacked L8449 (Flight Lieutenant A. C. Godfrey), which caught fire almost at once. Only Godfrey managed to bale out, and he later recalled:
The leading ‘vic’ now came under attack, and first to fall was L1434 in which Squadron Leader Cryer was flying as passenger to Flight Lieutenant Lindsay Buchanan DFC. Hit by Hauptmann Gerlach, Buchanan was critically injured, but managed a controlled ditching in the south-eastern corner of Lake Prespa. Cryer and Buchanan both died of their injuries in an Albanian hospital next day while the wireless operator/air gunner Sergeant G. Pattison was killed in the crash (a memorial tablet to Buchanan was recently erected by his sister near the crash site at Kula on the Albanian border while remains of L1434 now is in the Greek Air Force Museum). Meanwhile Unteroffizier Gromotka had his second victory when Flying Officer R. V. Herbert’s L4819, in which Wing Commander Coote was flying, crashed near the village of Trigonon. Herbert tried to bale out but was to low and was killed as was Coote and Flight Sergeant W. Young. Squadron Leader Irvine was now alone, but L8478 did not last long. Feldwebel Krenz speedily overhauled the Blenheim and sent it down to crash near Vigla, again with the loss of all the crew (Irvine, Pilot Officer G. Davies and Pilot Officer Geary DFC). The six Blenheims had been shot down in four minutes between 16:05 and 16:09.
The two survivors, Godfrey and James, made contact and buried those of their dead comrades that they could find before making their way by foot, mule and Greek lorry to Larissa, 150 miles distant!
At the time of his death Coote was credited with 1 biplane victory. He is buried at the Phaleron War Cemetry, Greece Claims:
Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 1 destroyed.
(a) During this engagements RAF made claims for 5 and 2 damaged BR.20s, 3 and 2 damaged S.79s, 13 destroyed, 3 probable and 1 damaged CR.42s and 6 and 3 probable G.50bis. In fact 4 BR.20s of 37o Stormo B.T. were lost with several damaged, 1 S.79 of 104o Gruppo was damaged, 1 CR.42 of 160o Gruppo and 2 G.50bis of 24o Gruppo were lost. Regia Aeronautica claimed 6 and 2 probable Gladiators and 1 ‘Spitfire’ while in fact only 1 Gladiator of 112 Squadron was lost.
Sources:
Ace of Aces: M T StJ Pattle - E C R Baker, 1992 Crécy Books, Somerton, ISBN 0-947554-36-X
Air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete - Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-948817-07-0
Luftwaffe Claims Lists - Tony Wood
Shark Squadron - The history of 112 Squadron 1917-1975 - Robin Brown, 1994 Crécy Books, ISBN 0-947554-33-5
The Bristol Blenheim: A complete history – Graham Warner, 2002 Crécy Publishing Limited, Manchester, ISBN 0-947554-92-0
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Biplane fighter aces
The Commonwealth
Wing Commander Patric Bernard ’Paddy’ Coote, RAF No. 26155
He was married to Muriel Coote and lived in Chobham, Surrey. In February 1941 he served in 211 Squadron during the Greek campaign. On 19 February Coote arrived at Parammythia to set up an Advanced Operations Wing at the base. On 28 February HQ 'W' Wing ordered that all available aircraft should patrol between Tepelene and the coast between 15:30 and 16:30, since Intelligence sources indicated the operation of large numbers of Italian aircraft in that area at that time. Hence during the morning all available Gladiators of 80 and 112 Squadrons were flown up to Paramythia in preparation for this action. Patrols were flown during the morning by flights of Hurricanes but nothing was seen.
At about 15:00 Squadron Leader H. L. I. Brown and Squadron Leader Edward 'Tap' Jones led of eleven Gladiators of 112 Squadron and seven of 80 Squadron to patrol over the designated area; they were accompanied by the 'W' Wing leader, Wing Commander Coote, flying an 80 Squadron Gladiator. Fifteen minutes later Flight Lieutenant 'Pat' Pattle in Hurricane V7589 led Flying Officer Nigel Cullen (V7138), Flying Officer Wanklyn Flower (V6749) and Flying Officer Richard Acworth (V7288) to the same area, while Flight Lieutenant Young led four 33 Squadron Hurricanes to patrol near the coast. Here some S.79s were seen and chased over Corfu, two being claimed damaged, one of them by Pilot Officer D. S. F. Winsland (Winsland was later during the war shot down by Bernardino Serafini). These were probably 105o Gruppo B.T. aircraft, which reported being attacked by Spitfires, one Savoia landing at Tirana with one member of the crew dead.
Meanwhile Pattle’s section spotted BR.20s of 37o Stormo B.T. flying south from Valona; they identified the ten-strong formation as comprising 15 aircraft, while the bomber crews reported being attacked by 18 ‘Spitfires'! Pattle selected one on the starboard flank of the formation, and after three short bursts it broke into flames and went down; a second bomber likewise burst into flames following a further attack by Pattle, and his windscreen was covered in oil from this doomed aircraft. Reducing speed, Pattle attempted to clean the screen with his scarf, but he was then attacked by five G.50bis which dived on him. After a brief skirmish he managed to get away and returned to Paramythia. Both Flower and Acworth also claimed BR.20s. although the latter thought his victim may have been a Z.1007bis. Flying Officer Cullen reported considerable success in the run of claims which was to bring him the award of an immediate DFC. He later recalled:
“The battle extended right across Albania. First I found four Breda 20s (sic). I got one, which went down in flames Then we found three formations of S.79s. I took on one and aimed at the starboard engine. It caught fire, and crashed in flames. I climbed and dived on the next - and he too crashed in flames. Then we attacked ten CR.42s, climbing to get above them. I got behind one, and he caught fire and went down in flames. Up again immediately, dived, fired into the cockpit, and another took fire, rolled over and crashed. I had to come home then - no more ammo.”Three BR.20s were in fact shot down during this combat and a fourth force-landed near Otranto; others returned with wounded crewmembers aboard, plus one dead.
By now the Gladiators had joined the fighting, as had CR.42s of 160o Gruppo and G.50bis of 24o Gruppo. A single Hurricane of 33 Squadron arrived late on the scene. Flying Officer Newton having scrambled from Paramythia when news of the heavy fighting came through. On arrival over the battle area he promptly attacked a CR.42, only to find that it was an 80 Squadron Gladiator! A 112 Squadron Gladiator then got on his tail, obviously taking the Hurricane for a G.50bis, and inflicted damage on his aircraft, chasing him back towards Paramythia. A few of the Gladiators made contact with the bombers, Pilot Officer William Vale claiming an S.79 shot down, whilst Flying Officer Edwin Banks and Pilot Officer R. H. McDonald of 112 Squadron each claimed damage to a BR.20. The Gladiators’ main claims were for nine CR.42s and two probables, plus six G.50bis and three probables after that the rest of the Gladiators made contract with the Italian fighters. 80 Squadron made following claims – Squadron Leader Jones (2 CR.42s), Wing Commander Coote (1 CR.42), Warrant Officer Richens (1 CR.42), Pilot Officer Vale (1 S.79 and 1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Kettlewell (1 probable CR.42 and 1 probable G.50bis), Pilot Officer Trollip (1 probable CR.42) and Flying Officer Dowding (1 probable G.50bis). 112 Squadron also made a number of claims – Squadron Leader Brown (1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Fraser (1 CR.42 and 1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Fry (1 CR.42 and 1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Abrahams (1 G.50bis), Flying Officer Cochrane (1 CR.42), Flying Officer Banks (1 and 1 damaged CR.42 and 1 damaged BR.20), Pilot Officer Jack Groves (1 CR.42), Sergeant Donaldson (1 and 1 probable G.50bis), Flying Officer Smith (1 damaged CR.42) and Pilot Officer McDonald (1 damaged BR.20).
Squadron Leader Brown recorded that the G.50bis he attacked turned sharply to starboard on its back and fell away in an inverted spin; he thought he had hit the pilot. Flight Lieutenant Fraser claimed that his victim flew into a mountainside, while the pilot of the CR.42 he claimed baled out, but his parachute failed to open; Sergeant Donaldson’s victim was seen to crash on the seashore. Flight Lieutenant Abrahams, after his victory, was attacked by another G.50bis - believed to have been flown by Tenente Mario Bellagambi - and was shot down near Sarande. He recalled:
“The old Glad suddenly went all soft. Nothing would work. I sat there and then decided I had better get out. I couldn't, so I sat there with my hands on my lap, the aircraft spinning like mad. Then, eventually, I did manage to get out. It was so pleasant sitting there in the air than I damn nearly forgot to pull the ripcord. I reckon I did the record delayed drop for all Albania and Greece. I landed, and no sooner had I fallen sprawling on the ground than I was picked up by Greek soldiers who cheered and patted me on the back. I thought I was a hell of a hero until one soldier asked me. "Milano, Roma?" and I realized that they thought I was an Iti. They didn't realize it was possible for an Englishman to be shot down. So I said "Inglese", and then the party began. I was hoisted on their shoulders, and the "here the conquering hero comes" procession started. We wined and had fun. Jolly good chaps.”Following his initial combats, Pattle had returned to Paramythia, landed, and taken off again ten minutes later in another Hurricane (V7724). Returning to the battle area, he spotted three CR.42s in formation, heading back towards Valona:
“I got behind them and put a long burst into all three. One went down vertically at once, but in case it was a trick I followed him. He was in difficulties, that was most obvious, and when it looked as if he was going straight into the sea I decided to go and see what the other two were up to. As I climbed again I was most surprised to see tow parachutes float down past me.”On his return, Pattle claimed two destroyed, those from which he had seen the pilots come down by parachute, and one probable for that which he had followed down. Just before he got back to Paramythia for the second time at 17.40, Flying Officer Flower, who had returned an hour earlier, also took off for a second patrol over the area after his Hurricane had been refuelled and rearmed. There was nothing to be seen - the battle was over.
On the Italian side, the CR.42s of 160o Gruppo had been escorting four S.79s of 104o Gruppo in the Kuc area, between Tepelene and Himare, when British fighters identified as Spitfires, Hurricanes and Gladiators, were encountered. Two Gladiators were claimed shot down and one as a probable, a ‘Spitfire’ also being claimed. Sottotenente Raoul Francinetti of 394a Squadriglia landed back at base wounded in one leg, and Sottotenente Italo Traini of 394a Squadriglia was shot down and killed. Gunners in the S.79s also claimed two Gladiators shot down, as did the G.50bis pilots of the 24o Gruppo, the latter also claiming two more as probables. Tenente Bellagambi, following his combat with Flight Lieutenant Abrahams, was then shot down and wounded in one arm: he force-landed near Tirana airfield. Capitano Ettore Foschini's aircraft was also hit and he was wounded, also coming down at Tirana.
This day was recorded as RAF’s most successful during the Greek campaign. During the large engagements RAF made claims for 5 and 2 damaged BR.20s, 3 and 2 damaged S.79s, 13 destroyed, 3 probable and 1 damaged CR.42s and 6 and 3 probable G.50bis. In fact 4 BR.20s of 37o Stormo B.T. were lost with several damaged, 1 S.79 of 104o Gruppo was damaged, 1 CR.42 of 160o Gruppo and 2 G.50bis of 24o Gruppo were lost. Regia Aeronautica claimed 6 and 2 probable Gladiators and 1 ‘Spitfire’ while in fact only 1 Gladiator of 112 Squadron was lost.
On 6 April Germany declared war on Yugoslavia and Greece and immediately attacked. On 13 April 211 Squadron undertook two raids during the morning on vehicles and troop concentrations in the Florina region under Hurricane escort (no opposition was encountered).
At 15:00 the unit was briefed to send six more bombers to the area (at this time only seven Blenheims could be mustered but one of them was sent on a photo-reconnaissance sortie). No Hurricanes were available for escort during this sortie. Wing Commander Coote, O/C Western Wing, decided to go along with the raid as an observer to assess the progress of the German advance, while his deputy, Squadron Leader L. E. Cryer DFC, would accompany another crew. The formation would be led by Squadron Leader Irvine, the commanding officer.
As the bombers approached Lake Prespa, some 40 miles short of the target zone, three Bf109Es from 6./JG 27 were seen closing rapidly on the rear ‘vic’ of three Blenheims, the gunners at once opening fire. Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Gerlach, leading the German formation attacked L8449 (Flight Lieutenant A. C. Godfrey), which caught fire almost at once. Only Godfrey managed to bale out, and he later recalled:
“We were ordered to dive. Next thing the cockpit was a mass of flames. As they blazed up in my face I tore the hatch back and jumped. I noticed that there were three aircraft in the air – all in flames. My crew was dead.”His aircraft crashed near the village of Karia (observer Sergeant J. O’Neill and wireless operator/air gunner Sergeant J. Wainhouse killed), where it was joined almost immediately by a second Blenheim. This was L8664 (L8604?), shot down by Unteroffizier Fritz Gromotka; Flying Officer C. E. V. Thompson DFC and his crew (Pilot Officer P. Hogarth and Flight Sergeant W. Arscott) did not survive. Less than a minute later L1539 was falling in flames, hit by Feldwebel Herbert Krenz, and again only the pilot, Flight Sergeant A. G. James, was able to bale out, breaking his ankle on landing near the village of Mikrolimni; his aircraft crashed near the south-west shore of the lake (observer Sergeant A. Bryce and wireless operator/air gunner Sergeant A. Waring killed).
The leading ‘vic’ now came under attack, and first to fall was L1434 in which Squadron Leader Cryer was flying as passenger to Flight Lieutenant Lindsay Buchanan DFC. Hit by Hauptmann Gerlach, Buchanan was critically injured, but managed a controlled ditching in the south-eastern corner of Lake Prespa. Cryer and Buchanan both died of their injuries in an Albanian hospital next day while the wireless operator/air gunner Sergeant G. Pattison was killed in the crash (a memorial tablet to Buchanan was recently erected by his sister near the crash site at Kula on the Albanian border while remains of L1434 now is in the Greek Air Force Museum). Meanwhile Unteroffizier Gromotka had his second victory when Flying Officer R. V. Herbert’s L4819, in which Wing Commander Coote was flying, crashed near the village of Trigonon. Herbert tried to bale out but was to low and was killed as was Coote and Flight Sergeant W. Young. Squadron Leader Irvine was now alone, but L8478 did not last long. Feldwebel Krenz speedily overhauled the Blenheim and sent it down to crash near Vigla, again with the loss of all the crew (Irvine, Pilot Officer G. Davies and Pilot Officer Geary DFC). The six Blenheims had been shot down in four minutes between 16:05 and 16:09.
The two survivors, Godfrey and James, made contact and buried those of their dead comrades that they could find before making their way by foot, mule and Greek lorry to Larissa, 150 miles distant!
At the time of his death Coote was credited with 1 biplane victory. He is buried at the Phaleron War Cemetry, Greece Claims:
| Kill no. | Date | Number | Type | Result | Plane type | Serial no. | Locality | Unit |
| 1941 | ||||||||
| 1 | 28/02/41 | 1 | CR.42 (a) | Destroyed | Gladiator | Tepelene-coast | 112 Squadron |
Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 1 destroyed.
(a) During this engagements RAF made claims for 5 and 2 damaged BR.20s, 3 and 2 damaged S.79s, 13 destroyed, 3 probable and 1 damaged CR.42s and 6 and 3 probable G.50bis. In fact 4 BR.20s of 37o Stormo B.T. were lost with several damaged, 1 S.79 of 104o Gruppo was damaged, 1 CR.42 of 160o Gruppo and 2 G.50bis of 24o Gruppo were lost. Regia Aeronautica claimed 6 and 2 probable Gladiators and 1 ‘Spitfire’ while in fact only 1 Gladiator of 112 Squadron was lost.
Sources:
Ace of Aces: M T StJ Pattle - E C R Baker, 1992 Crécy Books, Somerton, ISBN 0-947554-36-X
Air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete - Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-948817-07-0
Luftwaffe Claims Lists - Tony Wood
Shark Squadron - The history of 112 Squadron 1917-1975 - Robin Brown, 1994 Crécy Books, ISBN 0-947554-33-5
The Bristol Blenheim: A complete history – Graham Warner, 2002 Crécy Publishing Limited, Manchester, ISBN 0-947554-92-0
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
1930 Junior Football Team
1930 Junior football team. Photo taken in upper playground.
Paddy Coote and Reginald Hopper were killed in WW2. Paddy Coote was capped for Ireland at rugby.
Paddy Coote and Reginald Hopper were killed in WW2. Paddy Coote was capped for Ireland at rugby.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Roll of honour
The role of honour plaque that used to be on the first floor balcony wall in the hall is now hanging in Christ Church in Woking.
Roll of honour
The role of honour plaque that used to be on the first floor balcony wall in the hall is now hanging in Christ Church in Woking.
Monday, October 8, 2012
First World War
As the school was only officially opened in September 1914 there were few boys old enough to serve in WW1, however a few masters either with the school, or to join later did see service.
BOYS
HOLBOURN, Cyril Ralph
Private 14086, ‘A’ Company, Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. Born 1900 in St. Helier, Jersey. Son of Major William and Frances Holbourn of ‘Redstacks’, Goldsworth Road, Woking. He enlisted in Woking and died of pneumonia at the OTC Training Camp at Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire on 1 November 1918 just 10 days before the armistice was signed. He was 18 years old and is buried in Brookwood cemetery.
LEWIS, Lionel Morley
Attended the County School 1914-1915. First enlisted with 20th Battalion London Regiment before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps but probably did not see active service. Died on active service in WW2. The only Old Boy to enlist in both wars. He was the son of Henry Lewis (a bank manager) and Jessie Lewis of Luton and was born about 1900.
MASLIN, George H.
Enlisted but did not see active service. Later held the post of Honorary Auditor for the Old Boys Association. He was born about 1898 in Woking, the son of James Maslin, a railway labourer.
PALMER, ?
Signaller. Royal West Kent Regiment. Badly gassed in France, October 1918. The only Old Boy to see active service in WW1.
MASTERS
ALLCOTT, Arnold
BSc, trained at University of Manchester Training College. Held Board of Education Certificate. Before the war he taught science at Hunter’s Bar Council School and Broomhill Council School in Sheffield, Chippenhan County Secondary School and Yeovil County Secondary School.
He saw military service from 1914-1919 and spent time as Chemical Advisor to First Army in France.
He was chemistry master at Woking County School (1919-1926) and later taught at Lord Wadsworth Agricultural College in Basingstoke and Borough Polytechnic.
CAMPBELL, Arthur Duncan ‘Tich’
Before the war taught at Netherthorpe Grammar School in Derby.
Served on the Western Front with the Sherwood Foresters. Taken prisoner by the Germans in February 1917, acted as an interpreter in the prison camp. Released after the armistice. Later taught Geography and was Deputy Headmaster for many years. Would often tell stories to the boys, always starting with the line ‘When I was a prisoner of war on the Hanover State Railway in Germany...’.
During the war the boys of the school sent a weekly food parcel valued at 'six shillings and sixpence".
DARLOW, David John
Trained at University of London. Appointed master at Woking in September 1915. Later during the war served as a drill instructor with the Royal Garrison Artillery for two and a half years. Later appointed Second Master. Emigrated to South Africa in 1921.
Worked with Arnold Allcott at Chippenham.
HOLGATE, Percy Henry
Taught in France before the war.
Served as a machine gun officer (Second Lieutenant) in France and Italy. French master, left Woking in 1918 to teach at Farnworth Grammar School in Lancashire.
OBITUARY
OBITUARY
MOORE, Thomas Ivor
Born about 1859. Killed aboard a train in London on 13 June 1917 by a German bomb in the first daylight raid on England. Fourteen Gotha bombers carried out the raid at around noon. 162 people were killed and a further 432 injured mostly in the areas around Moorgate, Liverpool Street and the Barbican. Moore was a JP and chairman of the governors from the schools opening. He was remembered on a memorial plaque in the school hall.
JONES, Arthur Henry
Master 1919-1939. Active with the school rifle club and Old Boys association. Joined Royal Naval Air Service as a mechanic in 1917. At the school speech day in 1918 it was announced he was serving in Lincolnshire with the RAF. He survived the war.
ROOTS, H. S.
Served in both World Wars. Studied at Exeter College, Oxford. Appointed History and English master in 1921. Later sports master.
SHARPE, H.
Army.