Soham Grammarians : in Wartime
Extracts from WWII issues of the Soham Grammarian
see also the 39-45 Roll of Honour via the History link

Autumn 1939
Once again it has fallen to us to write the editorial, and this time it is in the most extraordinary circumstances that we set about accomplishing this task, for this is our first wartime effort.

When we came back to School at the beginning of the term, we were faced with the task of completing our own air raid shelters. More than a fortnight before the actual beginning of this term the whole of the staff had returned, and they, together with as many members of the Upper School as they could conscript, set about the herculean task of mapping out the trenches. When the rest of the School assembled it was found that there were some eight thousand sand bags to be built up in walls around the trenches. The digging, filling, and building had to be done by members of the School alone, and the County Architect has seen and praised our efforts highly.

Another innovation in the School routine was the introduction at the beginning of the term of hot lunches on the School premises. We must thank the organisers of this fine scheme, and the Education Committee, for their work in launching the scheme. We are sure that both the work and health of the School will vastly profit by them.

Spring 1940
no war news

Summer 1940
It was with profound sorrow that we heard of our first casualties:
J Field (1927-32) RAF who was reported missing at half-term (a Spitfire pilot)
and
HB How (1926-29) who died of wounds in Eastbourne Hospital (after the Dunkirk evacuation).
We are very glad, however, to hear of the safe return of S Pughsley, SE White (BEF France), F Driver (RAF Norway) and others.

Autumn 1940
In Memoriam: EJ Andrews, Sgt Pilot

Spring 1941
We are glad to hear that A Armsby who was on HMS Southampton is safe.
We were very sorry to hear of the serious accident to Duncan Wright in Scotland, and hope he is better.
N Spreckley (A/C) and LA Bradshaw (LA/C) paid us a visit this term. We were delighted to see them, and later on, H Papworth, now in the RAPC.
We are very glad that Eric Palmer, who was torpedoed, is safe and sound.
In Memoriam: K Clarke (of Isleham)

Summer 1941
We are glad to hear that the following are well again:
Bombardier Duncan Wright after a very serious accident in Scotland
Kenneth Drake after a strenuous time in a recent raid
Dr WH James after developing pneumonia during services in a Yorkshire blitz
In Memoriam: Victor Key RAF

Autumn 1941
Reported missing (believed killed): W Payton, Pilot Officer; AL Bradshaw, Sgt Pilot
Prisoner of War: CE Rolfe, A (Tony) Hill

SCOUT NEWS
This term we regret to announce the departure of Mr. Riley, who has left us temporarily to join the Army. Mr. Riley has been Scout Master for nearly ten years, and, under his guidance, the troup [sic] has flourished as never before. We sincerely wish him luck in his new occupation, and hope that he will soon return.

Since his departure, Mr. Riley has sent us a letter which we are printing below;

" Dear Chaps,
You will be pleased, I have no doubt, to hear that your erstwhile tyrant is being properly put through the mill; his old bones and sinews being tortured with P.T. ; while he spends his days on the barrack square forgetting which foot is his left, and trying to cope with an elusive rifle which will creep all round his neck and which weighs at least two tons. His evenings are spent "spitting and polishing." The war will be over when Hitler knows how well I can do the slow march and when he sees the beauteous polish on my spare boots. However, I shall have done with infantry training in another fortnight, and shall begin training as a wireless operator with a view to a job inside a tank, or with an Artillery Regiment or some thing of the sort. In the Signals we never know what kind of a unit one will be posted to.

So much for myself. I hope you are all carrying on under Tommy's supervision, and keep the flag flying till I come home again.
Carry on with the Morse; you will all be Signallers yourselves some day. Best wishes to you all from your S.M. who would have liked to stay with you, but like many others has, begging your pardon, a more important job in hand.
Yours sincerely,
T. L. RILEY."

Spring 1942
We are extremely proud of our new possession. Our Hawker Hector aircraft is an extremely interesting and valuable acquisition, although, so far, the ATC has strictly maintained its sole right to the 'plane.

Summer 1942
Reported killed in action, previously reported missing: AL Bradshaw, Sgt Pilot
Reported Missing: Capt CF Tabeart BA Cantab (Malaya), R Carter (Cambs Regt., Malaya), Major LW Seekings (Cambs Regt., Malaya), Pte LT Partridge (Malaya)
Died of wounds: Keith A Johnson (Air Gunner)
Prisoner of War: RG Cogbill (Signals, Hong Kong)

Autumn 1942
Sub Lieut BC Covill RNVR was awarded the BEM for "great and calculated courage" while in charge of the AA defences of a 6,000 ton collier. He swam back twice to the sinking ship to rescue comrades. He was also awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal for lifesaving and has now received his commission. [also in Summer 1942 issue]
Petty Officer Geoffery Watts was in the famous Malta Convoy.
EA Palmer's first ship was torpedoed by the Germans and his second was bombed and sunk by the Japanese! He is now a Sub Lieut, RNVR
We were pleased to see Mr Riley at school this term. He seemed very cheerful and fit.

Spring 1943
Reported Missing: JW Layton RAF, Donald Palmer (Tank Corps)
Prisoner of War: F Bye (Egypt), LJ Audus (Java)

Summer 1943
Fate has been cruel to us this term: we have lost two friends of the school within a week or so of each other; the first was Alderman S Moore JP, Chairman of the School Governors, of whom an appreciation appears elsewhere. The second was Sgt Pilot JB Norman; 'Johnny' Norman will be long remembered for his prowess in the world of sport when he was here at school, and his record for the Mile at the March Inter-School Sports still stands. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to his parents; we mourn the loss of a man.
We are glad that C Hepher (RAF) who was torpedoed, is safe.
We were delighted to see the following at school this term: J Pledger, P/O JWJ Leggett, Midshipman TW White, A Cornell, Sgt 'Bonger' Day, Sgt Pilot A Isaacson, CR Allen, F/O CR Brown, LC Pinion, PF Foreman, JWR Taylor, A Eden, E Eden, I Asplin, GS White, and Mr TL Riley.
Reported Missing: Sgt Pilot WD Hawkes, Sgt EH Reader
Killed in Action: Sgt JB Norman (India)

Autumn 1943
We were grieved to hear this term of the tragic death by a shooting accident of Dick Turner, who was on leave from the RAF before completing his flying training overseas.
Bandsman J Stimson had to have a leg amputated as a result of an Indian Army football accident, now working in Ely.
Trooper PH Brown (1939/40) rapidly recovering in a North Country hospital from an accident in grenade exercises.
Sgt J Hughes (1933-38) is making good progress after a crash landing on the East Coast after the second big raid on Berlin.
QMS BH Roythorne was commended by the King for bravery.
In Memoriam: Corporal SW Cornwell (RASC)1929-34. Died of injuries BNAF
Sgt EH Reader (RAF) 1933-38. Now officially reported killed in action.

Spring 1944
DG Taylor (Admiralty) who has been very ill on the Gold Coast, has been transferred to South Africa.
The Hills are safe. Tony Hill (1929-35) is in a Stalag and Jack (1928-33) is in England.
Reported Missing: Sub-Lieut Eric A Palmer, RNVR 1931-34

Summer 1944
We hear that EJ Bond, Royal Marines, was among the first to land a tank on the Normandy coast in the second front invasion in June of this year.
Reported Missing: Sgt K Gandy RAF, Sgt Pilot K Turner RAF.
Prisoner of War: Staff Sgt Duncan Wright, Glider Pilot Regt [in fact Staff-Sjt Wright was kia 6 June 1944].

Autumn 1944
F/O PA Fyson (1928-30) has been awarded the DFC for "courage, skill and devotion to duty".

Spring 1945
Towards the end of term we were delighted to see Mr Riley, who was on a week's leave from the Rhine front.
Captain D Flunder awarded the MC.
Staff Sgt SE White REME awarded the BEM in the New Year's Honours List.
F/O PA Fyson (1928-30) has been awarded the DFC for "courage, skill and devotion to duty".
Reported Missing: EG Fretwell RAF [but see Spring 1946]
Prisoner of War: Sgt Glider Pilot RW Liles

Summer 1945
We were pleased to see F. Bye on leave. He was captured at Tobruk (1942), was in Italian and then German prison camps, and was liberated by the Russians in April, 1945.
We were pleased, too, to see P/O C. E. Rolfe (R.A.F.) and Sgt. Glider Pilot R. W. Liles, both of whom had been on a "death-march from a German prison Camp.
Lce Bombardier WJ Steggles RA, kia
K Fuller RAF reported missing, presumed killed (in Italy)

Autumn 1945
Reported Missing: Sub Lieut F Hockley RNVR 1934-40
Died on Active Service: Pte AJ Jugg 1936-41
Following POWs back in England
CF Tabeart (Singapore)
LJ Audus (Java)
JR Cogbill (Hong Kong)

Spring 1946
Sgt EG Fretwell RAFVR (now officially reported killed in August 1944, on a food-dropping mission to Warsaw)
Flt Lt EH Fuller, Mention in Despatches for meritorious services
Sqn Ldr AK Holt, DFC for bravery during bombing raids on Germany

page last updated 12 Nov 2007 www.sohamgrammar.org.uk