8 Fallen Latymerians

In reference to Edward Latymer’s gesture to the eight poor boys of Hammersmith in his foundation of the school, here follow the records of eight students among the fallen.

These are extracts taken from the full document compiled by the school archivist, Malcolm Smith, and his team.

We will remember them

R.F.C. YORKE

Reginald Francis Charles Yorke attended Latymer from 1896-1901. Unfortunately as the applications and admissions registers did not start until after 1896 there is no record for him

The School Magazine of October 1914 records Sergeant Reginald Yorke being in 1/14th (County of London) battalion (London Scottish) nicknamed the ‘Cockney Jocks’. They were one of the first battalions to be sent to France in September 1914. Sergeant Yorke was killed in action on 22^nd December 1914 near Ypres and is buried atRoclincourt, near Arras. The School Magazine records him as being the first Latymer fatality and continues:

‘It was with great sorrow that we heard early in the new year of the death of R.F.C. Yorke, killed in action on December 22^nd near Ypres. Yorke entered the school in September 1896, leaving in 1901. He was first in the half mile race (class ii) in 1899, and won Sir William Bull’s cup for a mile race the following year. After leaving the School he became a member of the London Athletics Club, Blackheath Harriers and Surrey athletics club. Many of his best performances were done in club races, and as a member of the London Scottish, For several years he was unbeaten in long distance races open to members of the territorial forces. For some years he monopolised the London athletics club. two miles steeplechase challenge cup and the united banks half mile and mile events. Although he never won a championship, he attained the distinction of being one of England’s representatives in the Olympic Games held at Stockholm in 1912. His death was a worthy one, as becomes a brave man, for on the death of Lieut. Ker-Gulland, who was in charge of his machine gun section, Yorke was appointed to take his place. Yorke was selecting a position for the gun when a German bullet caught him full in the forehead and so caused the death of a thorough Sportsman and Gentleman’.

A. BASWITZ, M.C.

Albert Baswitz was born on 28^th August1892, the son of H. Baswitz, an Insurance Broker of 40, Tamworth St, Fulham. He entered Latymer on April 24^th 1906 in class IIIB, and left on 21^st July 1910, being then in class VIIA. His total exemption from school fees, which were paid through a Bursary awarded by the London County Council, is good evidence of his academic ability and promise. He sat the Cambridge Local Examinations at ‘Junior’ level and was awarded Honours Class I in July 1908, and at the ‘Senior’ Leve lHonours Class II in July 1909. He achieved London University Matriculation by those examinations. He was appointed a Student teacher as of the 1^st August 1910, then attended London Day training college. He was awarded the Intermediate Bachelor of Science Degree by King’s College London in 1912. His award of the Military Cross is also recorded on his Admission Register entry

It is recorded in the October1 914 edition of the School Magazine that he enlisted in the 22^ndBattalion of the County of London Regiment. This is followed by notice of his Temporary Commission in the December 1914 edition of the School Magazine, and the report of the award of the Military Cross in the February 1916 one.

In the October 1916 edition of the School Magazine, Captain Baswitz is reported killed in action and there is the following obituary there, in the form of quotes from letters to his parents.

The Senior Officer of the Regiment wrote, ‘Your son was a very gallant gentleman. He led his men- he was right in front of them - how could a man die better. He had no such thing as fear, and his men, especially the bombers, adored him.’ His Major wrote ‘Here he was admired by all for his bravery, and his unfailing good temper and cheerfulness. The day before the attack he was in splendid spirits and I think looked forward with eager anticipation to going into action.’

The Lt Col commanding wrote, ’Your son was, I think, the bravest man I ever saw, and all ranks in the Battalion held him in the highest esteem. No one could have done his duty better.’ The Lt Col in the Field wrote,’ He was one of the bravest men I have met and one of the best of friends, beloved by the officers and by all his men too.’

The Chaplain wrote ‘ I buried him on Saturday last in a little graveyard, Flat Iron Copse Cemetery. Since then a cross has been set up with his name etc on it. He died a hero’s death leading his Company in an attack and few officers had a greater power of inspiring their men. They loved him and would have followed him confidently wherever he led.’

But In the May 1919 School Magazine there is an extremely important note on his gallantry and daring, taken from a speech made by the then Headmaster, The Rev C.J.Smith, to ensure the creation of a memorial inside the School to the Fallen Old Boys.

‘Call to mind Captain Albert Baswitz, M.C, how splendidly fearless he was in innumerable episodes; he was known and beloved through the whole Brigade; how many times he had performed feats of daring no others would attempt: how, knowing German and able to speak it fluently, because his family had originally come to England from Germany, he had often, having obtained German uniform and equipment, light heartedly donned them and set out from the trenches, stopped German patrols at the imminent risk of his being shot as a spy, gained from them most valuable information in the guise of a German officer, sometimes even luring their patrols into our own lines, where they were taken prisoners; how many times, similarly disguised, he had coolly dropped into the German trenches, walked through them and made sketches of all the important features for the advantage of our troops. How for his splendid services he had been awarded the military cross., how he was idolized by all who knew him, had always a cheery greeting for one and all- any of whom would gladly have risked his life to save the boy a pang, how he would never set a man to do a job he would not do himself; generous of heart, cheery of spirit, utterly fearless.” ‘ The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that Captain A.Baswitz, of Tamworth St, Fulham, was killed in September 1916 in the Battle of the Somme and buried at Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, in the Somme Departement.

G.E. HALE

George Edwin Hale whose date of birth is November 19^th, 1897, the son of G Hale, a Caretaker, of 117, Ladbroke Grove, North Kensington and then 48 ,Weltje Road, Hammersmith, entered Latymer from St Mary Abbot’s National Elementary School on 14^th September, 1909, in class IIA, and left from class VIIB on 23^rd July 1915, His full fee exemption, with the London County Council paying his fees, marks his academic promise and humble background. He sat the Cambridge Local Examinations at ‘Junior’ Level in July 1913 and was awarded Honours Class I, with Distinctions in English, History, Geography, Maths and Chemistry. He took and passed the London University Matriculation exam Division II in June 1914. His admissions certificate records that he went on to join H.M. Forces (Royal Engineers, Chemists’ Corps).

2^nd Lieutenant Hale, as he was then, was reported killed in action March 23^rd 1918, in the April 1918 edition of the School Magazine. The January 1919 edition contains the following obituary: His commanding officer wrote to his parents: ‘We miss him very much and so do all his men, for from the day he joined this Company he has been very popular with us all. Always happy and cheerful, he never ceased doing his utmost to make the men comfortable. As you probably know he took charge of the canteen before Christmas and made it a great success, enabling the men to have a good Xmas dinner and extras when in the trenches. He and I were together at Company H.Q.in the time before this offensive commenced, and he was a great help to me. He was always busy and ready to do anything to help. In action he did not lose his cheery spirit and the men under him when he was killed say he was “fine”. At the time of his death he was in charge of two guns and doing very good work resisting an attack being made by the enemy. He kept his two guns going until he was killed by a German shell. It is not possible to tell you in a letter how bravely and well he fought to the end. All the officers and men of this company wish me to convey to you our deepest sympathy in your great loss. I am enclosing the last two reports which your son sent to me; they were written within hours of his death, and are typical of him:

G.E.HALE Copy of Reports mentioned in the Commanding Officer.’s letter:-

Our own troops are all to withdraw to BROWN line which is to be made main line of resistance. My two guns are in position and all is O.K.

The situation on the RIGHT is still obscure, but Bosche is expected to attack here. We are all ready and he will get it in the neck.

Both guns firing well on enemy advancing.

Have just received some extra belt boxes from Oates.

All is O.K.

The Army and Commonwealth War Graves Commission records suggest that .2^nd Lt George Edwin Hale, serving with 39^th Infantry. Battalion (but from the Machine Gun Corps); was listed missing on 2^nd day of the German 2^nd Somme (Ludendorff) Offensive, 22^nd March1918. His name stands on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

C.A. HEAVER

Albert Charles Heaver was born on December 22^nd 1896, the son of W.J.Heaver, a master zinc worker, and his elder brother G.H Heaver was a proud Latymerian who also served honourably. He and his family lived at 35, Clifton Street, Notting Hill. He entered Latymer from Saunder Road School and as a boy his intelligence and academic aptitude were evident as the London County Council paid for his school fees. However, no other details about his journey through Latymer are available as no admission certificate

remains for him; he is only mentioned in the applications list.

He left the school in 1913 and served in the same regiment, the 13^th County of London regiment, as his older brother. Albert was killed in action on May 9^th 1915 at 19 years of age.

G. H. HEAVER

George Henry Heaver was born on 6^th August 1893, the son of W. J Heaver, a Master Zinc Worker, of 35, Clifton Street, Notting Hill. The primary school that he attended before Latymer is not listed in the records though he did enter the school in 1905 and was placed in class Remove B. He was clearly thought of as a boy of considerable intelligence and academic capability as he was totally exempt from school fees. They were paid by the London County Council. He left Latymer on the 28^th September 1908 having sat the Cambridge Local Examinations at Junior Level and being classed as Honours: Class II; he ‘satisfied the Examiners’ (that is to say he passed) at Senior Level in July 1909 so was obviously a considerably bright young man. He then went on to become a builder’s clerk.

He was part of the 13^th County of London regiment, along with his younger brother Albert, and was killed in action on May 9^th 1915 at 22 years of age. His name is listed on the Ploegstreet Memorial; he was almost certainly killed in the failed Aubers Ridge attack that day.

The following Obituary was dedicated to him and his brother in the June 1915 edition of the School Magazine.

G.H. Heaver entered the School in 1905 and left in 1909. His brother A.C. Heaver entered in 1908 and left in 1913. The two brothers belonged to the same regiment and were killed on the same day in the same action. A.C. Heaver was great as a boxer and obtained the School Championship in 1913. His mother also included a few, moving words about her sons 'I don’t know what I shall do without my boys for they were two of the kindest and most thoughtful boys that any mother could have.’

F. LEAN

One of the very first students at the Upper School, Frank Lean was at Latymer from 1895-1896. Sadly, there are no records of his school career or family. In the October 1914 edition of the School magazine he was listed as serving in the 2^nd battalion of the city of London regiment. In the October 1916 edition it was reported that he was killed.

The Latymerian for December 1916 contains this obituary, “In the last issue the death in action of Frank Lean was announced. It was with very great sorrow that we learned of his death. He was one of the founders of the Upper Latymer Old Boys’ Association in 1897, and from that date until his enlistment in the Army, he was one of the most influential members of the Association. He was a skilled gymnast and oarsman, and his exploits in ‘up river’ regattas, first as a member of the Rowing Section of the U.L.O.B.A. and after, as a member of the Auriol Rowing Club will not soon be forgotten. For some years he acted as Chairman of the Committee and in his official capacity he showed marked tact, energy and expedition. He lived a straight and useful life, and of his death we hear that though wounded he refused to retire or give way, and it was while supplying his men with much needed ammunition that a sniper unfortunately cut short his life. We feel his loss keenly, but know that if Providence so willed it, he would have chosen no other death than the one overtaking him in the execution of his duty.”

The records of the Army and the Commonwealth War graves Commission tell us that Sergeant Lean of the 2^nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, and of 6 Rutland Road Hammersmith, was listed missing on September 15^th 1916 . That was the first day of the Flers-Courcelette phase of the first battle of the Somme, and the day that Tanks were first used. He is remembered on the Thiepval memorial to the missing of those battles.

S.A.EBBETTS

Sidney Arthur Ebbetts was born on 31^st December, 1890 to Charles Frederick (Journeyman Upholsterer) and Harriett Ebbetts of 74, Devonport Rd, Shepherd’s Bush, and later of 30, Wormholt Rd, Shepherd's Bush. He joined Latymer from William Street London County Council School on September 12^th 1905,in class ‘Remove A’, and left from class VII B on July 28^th 1909. He had a free place, with a Scholarship from the London County Council, which suggests his academic promise and ability as well as his humble background. He was awarded Honours Class II when he sat the Cambridge Local Examination at Junior Level in 1906, with a Distinction in History, and Honours Class II in the Senior Level in July 1908. He was appointed a Pupil Teacher from August 1^st 1907, and then went on to study at Islington Day College, after which he worked for the L.C.C. Education Dept., before enlisting, probably in 1914, in the big rush to get into the war.

He joined the 1/5th London Regiment (The Rifle Brigade); this was reported in the October 1914 School Magazine and by the time of the Battle of the Somme, he had been promoted to Corporal; his Regimental Number was 784. The School Magazine of July 1915 reports that he had been wounded, and his death in action is reported in the July 1916 edition.

He was killed in the diversionary attack at Gommecourt on the first day of the battle of the Somme on 1^st July 1916. Sadly his body was never recovered and he is now commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, on Pier and Face 9 D.

He was one of the several old Latymerians killed at Gommecourt.

A .R. WADDAMS ALBERT MEDAL

Arthur Richard Waddams was born on the 12^th November 1891. He was the son of Mrs Waddams, a Stationer of 156A Goldhawk Road. He entered Latymer from City of London School. Unfortunately no other records of his school career have survived, only his application which is dated 27^th August 1906.

In the October 1914 edition of the School Magazine Lt. Waddams was reported to have enlisted in the Bombay Rifles Regiment. Following this he was reported to have enlisted in the Indian Army Reserve with a Temporary Commission in the February 1915 edition. This was corrected 8 months later to 2^nd Lieutenant in the 44^thMerwana Infantry Regiment. In the December 1917 edition of the School Magazine Lieutenant Waddams was reported accidentally killed by a bomb in Mesopotamia in November 1917.

In the January 1919 edition the following obituary is given:

'His Chaplain wrote: My duty as Chaplain takes me 100 miles along the river front. It so happened that I was not far away from your son when he met with the accident on Wednesday morning the 21^st November; it must have taken place at about 8.a.m. At 12 noon I arrived in camp from an out station and was at once told of the serious accident which had occurred. On the occasions I visited your son in the Hospital he was semi-unconscious. Every care and attention was given him by the splendid Doctors of the Hospital. Next day (Thursday) we were relieved to learn that your boy had pulled through the night. At 1.45 of the afternoon I had to leave camp for my headquarters, 50 miles south. Before departing I knelt by your son and gave him the Church’s Blessing, my right hand resting on his bandaged head. At 5 p.m. when I was some 30 miles away on my way back, I received a telegraphic message from Colonel Alexander asking me to return to bury dear Waddams. Your son, I think, must have passed away at about 3 p.m.

Next day at 4 p.m. the funeral took place, almost the whole Regiment turning out in love and respect for him. We laid him to rest in a tiny cemetery, overshadowed by some palm trees and a great white cross, bearing the letters “I.H.S.”. The little cemetery is just to the left of the main railway line between Basrah and Baghdad. It is well cared for and when I visit the camp each month, I try to get there.

The Colonel wrote: In addition to the cable I sent you I wish to write a few lines to let you know how deeply the officers of my Regiment and myself sympathise with you in your great bereavement. If we can judge by what your son was to us as a comrade, the loss to you must be beyond words. He was quite the best of men one could possibly meet. Always cheery, always good tempered, ever ready to help and to do a kind action, nothing was ever too much trouble and everything he did he did well, whether it was work or play. As an officer he was particularly capable and in games he was the mainstay of the Regiment.

The accident occurred on the morning of 21^st November, while he was instructing a bombing class consisting of men from other Regiments. He was taking them each in turn, one man firing a rifle grenade while he looked on with the rest of the men behind a wall nearby. The cause of the accident was a defective cartridge which caused the fuse of the bomb to start working without propelling it from the rifle. It being a matter of only five seconds before the explosion would take place, your son, realising the danger, rushed in, seized the bomb from the trainee soldier evidently with the hope of being able to throw it out of danger before it burst, but unfortunately the time was too short and it exploded in his hands and he was terribly injured. It was a very gallant and noble act, his one thought being to save the other man from being hurt. The doctors did their best for him, but there was only a very slight hope from the start. He rallied somewhat during the night but next morning it was found that his injuries were deeper than appeared at first, and he gradually sank and passed away quietly about 3 p.m. on the 22^nd November. I am glad to tell you that he suffered very little pain and that only before his wounds were dressed. He was so brave over it all and so thoughtful of others. When he was conscious he said to me that he was sorry to leave me in the lurch, and he also asked if the man he was training was hurt at all- he was only slightly injured. We comforted him all we could. Another pathetic thing he said was; “I think my legs are all right; I will be able to kick a football again.” We buried him in the little cemetery here for British troops with full military honours, all the officers in the station and the men of the Regiment were present. We were fortunate in being able to get the Rev.T. Teague, one of the Chaplains to the Forces to take the service; he happened to be not far off.

A Fellow Officer wrote: I must first explain that he was without doubt the best officer in the Regiment. I am sure the Colonel would tell you so. He was extremely energetic and was always busying himself with something all day. He was the Adjutant of the Regiment and besides this, did machine guns, Lewis guns, bombing, rifle grenades, Mess Secretary, Gardens Secretary of the Qurna Club, which he got up, football, hockey and dozens of other things which he always saw wanted doing, and began on them at once. He had his machine gunners so well trained, that when they came into action, he did splendidly with them and got special promotion for gallantry and devotion to duty in the field.

A notice on the Award of the Albert Medal.

From the ‘London Gazette’:

Mrs Waddams- awarded to her son, the late Lt Arthur Waddams, Indian Army reserve of Officers. In Mesopotamia in November last, Lt. Waddams was instructing a class in rifle grenades. While a private of the Indian Army was under instruction the rifle missed fire and the detonator of the grenade started working without the grenade leaving the rifle. Lt. Waddams realising the danger rushed forward and, pushing back the soldier to safety seized the rifle with one hand and the grenade with the other and tried to throw it over the wall before it exploded. Unfortunately the grenade exploded in his hand and he received fatal injuries. The soldier whose life Lt. Waddams saved was only slightly injured.'