JONATHAN WILLIAMS – RN – 1989*

Lieutenant C031063C
HMS Brilliant, Royal Navy
Died 14th May 1989 aged 24
Grave not known. Name included on Armed Forces Memorial, National
Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

Jonathan entered the College in September 1976 and left in July 1981. He was in School House and was a foundationer. He was killed whilst serving on HMS Brilliant. * Included on the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in... read more >

PATRICK PRIESTLY – ARMY – 1979*

Corporal 24343751 AAC, British Army
Died 10th August 1979 aged 22
Buried at the Limmer Military Cemetery, Hannover, Germany
Name included on Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum,
Staffordshire

Patrick entered the College in September 1968 and left in December 1973. He was in Hazelveare House. Patrick was a very good runner who excelled at distances between 100-400 metres, winning all of these races in his age group. He also played at Centre for the almost unbeaten U16 Rugby VII team. Coach Tony Woolstone wrote in The Sower 1973 about the final of the Oxfordshire RFU Annual Sevens,... read more >

DAVID LOVE – RAF – 1967*

Pilot Officer 4232905
Royal Air Force
Died 4th November 1967 aged 22
Buried at Terendak Mil Cemetery, Malacca, Malaysia
Name included on Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum,
Staffordshire

David entered the College in September 1956 and left in July 1963. He was in Sutton House. David played at Fly Half for both the 1st XV and 1st VII and was described as “Defensively very sound with a good kick and a fine pair of hands. A ready eye for an opening.” He was also a member of the 1st XI Cricket team and in 1963 The Sower it was said “David Love made a notable contribution to the... read more >

GRAHAM BLAKE – RAF – 1965*

Sergeant U3522730
Royal Air Force
Grave not known. Name included on Armed Forces Memorial, National
Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

Graham Blake joined the College in September 1944 from his home in Bristol and left in July 1949, having passed the Oxford School Certificate. At the time of his death, he was stationed at RAF Colerne, Wiltshire. He was one of 41 people, including RAF and Army personnel and local instructors, on board a Handley Page Hastings undertaking a parachute training flight. According to eyewitnesses,... read more >

DENNIS PARSONS – RAF – 1953*

Flight Lieutenant 180574
Royal Air Force
Died 14th May 1953 aged 31
Buried at Western Road Cemetery, Penang, Malaysia
Name included on Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum,
Staffordshire

Originally from Gloucestershire, Dennis Parsons entered the College in September 1933 and was in Handcroft Games House. He was in the 1st football and cricket XI teams and was an outstanding sportsman. He passed the Oxford School Certificate in July 1938. He was appointed Prefect in September 1939. He left in October 1939 to join the Gloucester Constabulary as Clerk until of age to join as a... read more >

RONALD BROOKE – RN – 1951

Sub Lieutenant Royal Navy
Died 25th September 1951 aged 26
Buried in the Royal Naval cemetery at Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire.

Name included on Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire Ronald joined Old Gosden in 1932 from his home in Ledbury, transferring to LWC in 1935 and left in 1942 having passed the Oxford School Certificate. He was apprenticed to Dowsett Construction Co Ltd in Colwall, Herefordshire but at some stage joined the Navy. Ronald died whilst serving in the Fleet Air Arm at... read more >

ROBERT PARSONS – RAF – 1951*

Flight Lieutenant 137206
Royal Air Force
Died 20th April 1951 aged 29
Buried at Gwelo, Rhodesia (Now Zimbabwe).
Name included on Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum,
Staffordshire

Robert Parsons entered the College in September 1933 and was in Sheephouse Games House. He was appointed a Sub Prefect in 1938. He left in March 1939 and went to Messrs Shaw & Elder in Guildford on probation. He stayed on in the RAF after the war and was stationed at RAF Thornhill, Gwelo in what was then Rhodesia. He died in a flying accident and is buried in the cemetery there. *... read more >

KENNETH WILLIAMS – RAF – 1946

Sub-Lieutenant (A)
HMS Merganser, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Died on 29th April 1946 aged 20
Buried at sea. Name included on Lee-on-Solent Memorial, Hampshire

Williams entered the College in September 1936. He was in Hyde Games House and Scout Troop and gained his Oxford School Certificate in July 1940, and the Higher School Certificate in July 1942. He was appointed a prefect in 1941. On leaving the School in April 1943, Williams enlisted in the Royal Air Force and was accepted for a University Short Course and entered Durham University. On leaving... read more >

LIONEL FOYLE – ARMY – 1946

Private 14424543
286 General Transport Coy., Royal Army Service Corps
Died 29th May 1946 aged 21
Buried at Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt

Lionel Foyle entered the College in May 1937 and left in November 1941 to take up an apprenticeship in engineering with R A Lister Ltd, Dursley. He died whilst serving in the Army during the post war riots in... read more >

CHARLES SAVAGE – RN – 1945

Midshipman (A)
HMS Daedalus, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Died on 22nd October 1945 aged 21
Buried at Stanstead (St James) Churchyard, Suffolk

Savage was at Gosden for three and a half years before coming to the College in  September 1934. He was a member of Sheephouse Games House, House Captain, and Scout Troop. He was appointed a Prefect in 1940 and Head Prefect in September 1941. He obtained his Oxford School Certificate in July 1939. Savage left school to take up a Government Engineering Cadetship, and on successfully completing... read more >

THOMAS HOWELL – RAF – 1945

Flying Officer 55640
Navigator 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Died 24th March 1945 aged 21
No known grave. Name included on Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,
Germany

Howell entered the College in September 1936. He was in Hyde Games House, 1st XI football and cricket teams. After gaining his Oxford School Certificate, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force at the age of 17 as an apprentice clerk, intending to make the RAF his career. On completion of training he felt that he should be taking an active part in fighting and transferred to air crew duties... read more >

IAN CLARSON – RAF – 1945

Flying Officer 169318
Navigator, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Died 19th July 1944 aged 19
Buried at Neufmoulin Communal Cemetery, Somme, France

Clarson entered Gosden in October 1932, and was transferred to the College in September 1934. He was in Handcroft Games House and Scout Troop; 1st XI football and cricket teams (captain). At athletics he shone as a sprinter, and in his last year at school he won both the 100 yards and 220 yards at the Athletic Sports, breaking the School record for the 200 yards. He was also captain of his house... read more >

GEORGE PETERS – ARMY – 1944

Lieutenant 271184
9th Bn., Parachute Regiment, AAC
Died 6th June 1944 aged 23
Buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France

Peters entered the School in January 1931, and left in October 1936. He was in Sheephouse Games House and Scout Troop; 1st XI football team. In leaving he was apprenticed to Messrs Bowden & Higlett, electricians at Guildford. On being called up under the Armed Forces Act, he joined the Grenadier Guards, in which he served for ten months and then volunteered for the Paratroops. He... read more >

CLARENCE SAMPSON – ARMY – 1944

Corporal 5186068
43rd(2/5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regt.) Regt, Reconnaissance Corps, RAC
Died on 24th June 1944 aged 24
No known grave. Name included on Bayeux Memorial, Calvados, France

Sampson entered the School in September 1929, and left in September 1936. He was in Handcroft Games House and Scout Troop; 1st XI football and cricket teams. On leaving he was apprenticed to Messrs R Lister & Co., engineers, at Dursley. He joined the Territorials in 1938, served in France and was in the evacuation at Dunkirk. He lost his life in the Normandy landings in June... read more >

RAYMOND EVANS – ARMY – 1944

Captain 164716
Hampshire Regiment attd. 2nd Bn., 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
Died Saturday 20th May 1944 aged 25
No known grave. Name included on the Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar

Evans entered the School in September 1931, and left in April 1936. He was in Sheephouse Games House and Scout Troop, and gained the Oxford School Certificate in July 1935. On leaving, he entered Newbury Post Office as a clerk. He subsequently joined the Hampshire Regiment, served in France and went through the evacuation. He received a commission in 1941, and at the time of his death was a... read more >

CHARLES COLE – RAF – 1944

Flight Sergeant 1316347
152 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died 5th January 1944 aged 21
No known grave. Name included on Singapore (Kranji) Memorial, Singapore

Cole entered the School in September 1933, and left in July 1939. He was in Sheephouse Games House and Scout Troop; 1st XI football and cricket teams and gained the Oxford School Certificate with matriculation exemption in July 1938. On leaving, he was articled to the County Surveyor, Gloucester. Cole was a good games player and a sound athlete, and in July 1938, led Sheephouse to victory in... read more >

VICTOR SHERWOOD – RAF – 1943

Sergeant 1320988
150 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died on 5th August 1943 aged 21
No known grave. Name included on the Malta Memorial, Malta

Sherwood entered the School in October 1933 and left in March 1936. He was in Handcroft Games House and Scout Troop; 1st XI football and cricket teams. On leaving, he entered Basingstoke Post Office as a clerk. He joined the Royal Air Force and was trained in Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme and returned to this country with the rank of Sergeant and an observer’s “wing”. He... read more >

NORMAN MELLOR – RAF – 1943

Sergeant 1431933
Pilot Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died 8th July 1943 aged 19
Name included on North Battleford Cemetery, Saskatchewan, Canada

Mellor entered Gosden in September 1930, transferred to Long Sutton in September 1933 and left in September 1939. He was in Hyde Games House and gained the Oxford School Certificate with matriculation exemption in July 1939. On leaving school he was employed with Messrs Thomas May & Co., incorporated accountants, of Leicester, as an articled pupil. Mellor volunteered for the Royal Air... read more >

ALAN MARTIN – ARMY – 1943

Gunner 11054574
7 Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery
Died 2nd March 1942 aged 21
Buried at sea. Name included on Singapore (Kranji) Memorial, Singapore

Martin entered the School in April 1932 and left in November 1937. He was in Hyde Games House and gained the Oxford School Certificate in 1937. On leaving he entered Basingstoke Post Office as clerk. On being called up under the Armed Forces Act, Martin joined the Army and was sent to the Far East. He was safely evacuated from Malaya at the time of the Japanese attack and reached Sumatra. On... read more >

ROBERT CANTLE – RN – 1942

Able Seaman D/JX 152309
HMS Jaguar, Royal Navy
Died 26th March 1942 aged 21
Buried at sea
Named on Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon

Cantle entered Gosden House in 1930, transferred to the College in January 1931, and left in March 1937. He was in Hyde Games House. Cantle joined the Royal Navy as a boy direct from school and on passing out from HMS Impregnable served for some time on an aircraft carrier. He was subsequently transferred to a destroyer and lost his life when his ship was torpedoed. (Extract from The Sower... read more >

MALCOLM HARRIS – RN – 1942

Able Seaman P/JX 172885
HMS Fiji, Royal Navy
Died 23rd May 1941 aged 22
Buried at Sea

Name included on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire Harris entered the School in September 1931, and left in November 1936. He was in Sheephouse Games House, a Prefect, in the 1st XI football team. He gained the Oxford School Certificate in 1935. On leaving he entered Abingdon Post Office as clerk. On being called up under the Armed Forces Act he joined the Royal Navy and lost his life in... read more >

Victor Baker – RAF – 1942

Sergeant 1310106
Air Gunner
408 (RCAF) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died on 23rd January 1942 aged 26
Buried at Gloucester Old Cemetery, Gloucestershire

Baker entered the School in March 1927 and left in April 1933. He was in Sheephouse Games House, a Prefect, in the 1st XI football team, and gained the Oxford School Certificate in 1932. On leaving he entered the employment of Messrs J Sainsbury & Co. Baker voluntarily enlisted in the Royal Air Force soon after the outbreak of war. He was seriously wounded in night operations over Germany... read more >

Thomas Oaten – RN – 1941

Air Mechanic 2nd Class FAA/SFX. 582
HMS Illustrious, Royal Navy
Died 10th January 1941 aged 25
Buried at sea.

Name included on Fleet Air Arm memorial at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire Oaten entered the School in January 1928, and left in June 1933, to enter the estate office of Sir Bernard Greenwell at Marden Park. He was subsequently transferred to the estate office in Suffolk and continued in this employment until voluntarily enlisting in the Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) soon after the outbreak of war. In a... read more >

DAVID AUGUSTUS – RAF – 1941

Sergeant 1177546
Pilot
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died on 7th July 1941 aged 18
Buried at Carlisle Cemetery, Westmoreland (now Cumbria)

Augustus entered the School in September 1933. He gained the Oxford School Certificate in July 1939 and was still at school for the first seven months of the war.  He contributed an article to the 1939 Sower entitled “London on the eve of war”. In March 1940, he entered the firm of Messrs Peters at Slough, but he was impatient to fit himself to serve his country in a more active way, and... read more >

DENNIS PALMER – RAF – 1940

Sergeant 580975
22 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Died on 29th October 1940 aged 19
Buried at Ryde Borough Cemetery, Isle of Wight, Hampshire

Palmer entered the School in September 1934. He gained the Oxford School Certificate with matriculation exemption in July 1938, and in the September of that year left for an apprenticeship with Messrs Saunders-Roe Ltd., aircraft manufacturers. After serving some months, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force, and at the time of his death held the rank of Sergeant, although only 19 years of age. The... read more >