Matriculated in 1912, enlisted and survived

This information is from the The Oxford University Roll of Service 1922 and the Magdalen College Record (1922).

The second date in brackets is the date of commencement of service.

* denotes membership of the University Contingent of Officers’ Training Corps prior to 1915

D denotes mentions in Dispatches

–

Bird, Ashley Hinckes (1893-1970) (Sept. 4, 1914). Capt. 1st Lincolnshire Regt.; D.A.A. and Q.M.G. Gallipoli, 1915 ; France, 1916, 1917.
Bursar, Agricultural College, Wye.

Bowhill, Alexander Herriot (1893-1984) B.A. (Mobilized Aug. 1914). Capt. and Adjt. 10th (Lovat’s Scouts Bn.) Q.O. Cameron Highlanders; Gallipoli, Egypt, Macedonia, France. D France 1919
Stockbroker.

Briscoe, Richard George (1893-1957)[1] (Aug. 24, 1916). Lt. Grenadier Guards; France and Belgium. M.C., Sept. 26, 1917.
MP for Cambridgeshire 1923-1945; Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire 1943-death.

Britten-Jones, Edmund (1888-1953)[2] (Sept. 30, 1914). Capt. R.A.M.C. (S.R.). India.
Rhodes Scholar; Knighted in 1953: ‘Edmund Britten Jones, Esq., M.B., F.R.C.P., a leading physician in the State of South Australia. For public services.’

Browne,* William Laurence Fraser (1893- 1942) M.A. (Dec. 16, 1914). Capt. 80th Batt., 5th Div.,R.F.A. Belgium, France, Italy.
Master at Winchester.

Carr,* John Lillingston (1892-1963) [3] B.A. (Serving Aug. 4, 1914). Capt. R. Berkshire Regt.
Soldier, Bursar of Repton School.

Crookshank, Harry Frederick Comfort, (1893-1961)[4] B.A. (Sept. 19, 1914). Capt. Grenadier Guards (S.R.). France, 1915, 1916. British Mission to Serbian Army, Salonika, 1917-18. Serbian Order of the White Eagle (5th Class) (with swords).Serbian Gold Medal for Valour.
1st Viscount Crookshank CH, PC, Conservative politician; Minister of Health between 1951 and 1952 and Leader of the House of Commons    between 1951 and 1952.

Delius,* John Daniel (1893- 1969) B.A. (Sept. 16, 1914). Lt. 4th Hussars (Capt.). France, 1915-19. D. France, 1919.
Managing Director D&R Delius (wool firm), Commissioner of Land tax, Lt. Col. WWII Finance Officer British Military Government Westphalia.

Dunne,* Laurence Rivers (1893- 1970)[5] (Aug. 15, 1914). Capt. 6th K.R.R.C. Maj. H.Q. 27th Div. (D.A.A.G., H.Q. 22nd Div.). France, 1914-15 ; Salonika, 1916-19 ; Caucasus, 1919. M.C., June 3, 1918. Croix de Guerre avec palme. D. Salonika, 1918, 1919.
Barrister; Sir Laurence Rivers Dunne, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.

Dunstan, Eric Cipriani (1894-1973)[6] B.A. (Oct. 3, 1914). Lt. 7th The Buffs (E. Kent Regt.). France. (Resigned on account of ill health.)
Academical Clerk; private secretary to Gordon Selfridge; the ‘Golden Voice’ of the early BBC; film critic of The Star; in charge of E.N.S.A. for India and SEA Commands.

Farquhar,* Harold Lister (1894-1953)[7] (Aug. 15, 1914). Lt. Coldstream Guards. G.S.O. 3 France. M.C., June 3, 1919.
Sir Harold Lister Farquhar (1894–1953), MC, CMG, Ambassador to Sweden 1948-1951.

Gielgud, Lewis Evelyn, (1894-1953)[8] B.A. (Sept. 15, 1914). Capt. 6th Shropshire L.I. Capt. (Staff-Lt.) General Staff. France. M.B.E. (Mil.). Croix de Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur. Officer of the Order of the Crown of Rumania.
Under Secretary General Red Cross; Co-ordinating officer Inter-Allied Reparation Agency; Head of Bureau of Personnel and Management, UNESCO.

Graham, Herbert Leslie (1893-1986) (Sept. 3, 1914). Capt. Scots Guards. France, 1915, 1917, 1918. M.C., Dec. 2, 1918.
Soldier; Brigadier, Norway Campaign; CBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire.

Henderson, James Elmslie (1889-1973) (Sept. 16, 1914). Capt. R.A., Staff-Captain, H.Q. II Corps. France, Belgium, Germany. M.C., June 3, 1918. D.France, 1916 twice, 1919.
Inspector Egyptian Ministry of Finance; Stockbroker; Deputy Lieutenant     of Orkney.

Higham, Ronald Harry (1894-1966) B.A. (Sept. 12, 1914). Capt. R. Welch Fusiliers
Barrister.

Hinmers,* William (1893 – 1974) B.A. (Oct. 24, 1914). Capt. 2/7th King’s (Liverpool Regt.). France, 1917-18. M.C., Mar. 26, 1918.
Barrister, Solicitor.

Lawford, Archibald Bruce (1894-1928 Milan) (Sept. 1914). 2nd Lt. Grenadier Guards. France. (Resigned on account of ill health.)
changed his name to Lucian Bruce Lawford in 1926 living in Italy.[9]

Leir, Randolph Marriott (1894 – 1952) B.A. (Apr. 17, 1915). 2nd Lt. 15th Hussars. (Resigned.) See below.

Lyon, Hon. Michael Claude Hamilton Bowes (1893-1953)[10] (Aug. 15, 1914). Lt. 3rd, attd. 2nd, R. Scots.France. (Prisoner of war.)
Vice Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. 

Mander, Howard Vivian (1894 – 1950)[11] B.A. (Aug. 26, 1914). Capt. 1/6th S. Staffordshire Regt., attd. No. 8 O.C.B. France and Belgium, 1915-1 7- M.C., Jan. 14, 1916. D. France, 1915.
Director Mander Bros. Ink Manufacturers.

Paton,* Robert Douglas (1893 -1945) (Aug. 1914). Lt. 3rd R. Scots Fusiliers (Capt.). France.
Wine and Spirit Merchant.

Prevett,* Reginald Arthur Charles (1894-1967) B. A. (Aug. 26, 1914). Lt. E. Yorkshire Regt. Belgium and France.
Lt. Col Regular Army East Yorks Regiment. 

Reynolds,* Eustace Bailey (1893-1948) Oct. 2, 1914). Lt. 2/8th Middlesex Regt. Capt. and G.S.O. 3, G.H.Q., Great Britain. Gibraltar, 1915 ; France, 1915-16, 1917.
School Master. 

Ritchie, Andrew Popham (1894-1960) probably Durham Light Infantry B.A. (Sept. 7, 1914). 2nd Lt. 3rd R. Scots Fusiliers.
(Not in College Record 1922) Inspector of Taxes .

Ronald, Nigel Bruce (1894-1973)[12] B.A. (Oct. 14, 1914). Lt. 6th King’s (Liverpool Regt.) (T.F.). Lt. Grenadier Guards (S.R.). France.
Sir Nigel Bruce Ronald, Ambassador to Portugal.

St. Audries,* A. P., Lord (1894- 1971)[13] Oct. 3, 1914). Lt. 5th Somerset L.I. (T.F.). India.
Alexander Peregrine Fuller-Acland-Hood, (C.St.J.). Member of Somerset County council, JP.

Scott,* Oswald Arthur (1893-1960)[14] (Aug. 22, 1914). Maj. 10th Hampshire Regt. Salonika. D.S.O., June 3, 1918. D. Salonika, 1918.
Sir Oswald Scott, Ambassador to Peru.        

Shorthose, David Neaum (1893-1956) (Dec. 12, 1914). Lt., Acting Capt., R.F.A. France, Mesopotamia.
Engineer, Oxford University Lecturer in Engineering.

Stanley,* Lord (1894-1938)[15] Aug. 1914). Capt. Grenadier Guards (Bde. Maj.). France, Italy. M.C., June 3, 1919. Croce di Guerra.
Edward Montagu Cavendish Stanley, Lord Stanley PC, Conservative MP entered the cabinet as Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1938) but died soon after.

Tankerville-Chamberlayne, Crinus Henry Leopold Francesco Maria (1893-1950)[16] (Jan. 16, 1915). 2nd Lt 5th Leinster Regt. Lt. Scots Guards. France.
Irish Landowner Lt. Col. In WWII. 

Tyson,* John Dawson (1893-1976)[17] B.A. (Aug. 15, 1914). Capt. 4th Arg. & Suth’d. Highlanders. France, 1915, 1917. (Prisoner of war, Dec. 1917~Nov. 1918.)
ICS Sir John Tyson Sec. to Govt. India Dept. Education, Health and Lands (1940-45).

Wales,* H.R.H. the Prince of, D.C.L., K.G.,(1894-1972) [18] (Aug. 8, 1914). Capt., temp. Maj., Grenadier Guards. G.S.O. 2. Col.-in-Chief 12th Lancers, R. Scots Fusiliers, and D.C.L.I. Col. Welsh Guards. France, Belgium, Egypt, Italy, 1 914-1 9. G.C.M.G. G.C.V.O. G.B.E. M.C.June 3, 1916. Croix de Guerre. Order of St. George (3rd Class). D. France, 1916.
King Edward VIII, later Duke of Windsor.

Wigan,* Denis Grey (1893-1959) (Aug. 5, 1914). Capt. K.R.R.C. France.
Farmer.

Wilkinson,* William Dale (1893-1973) M.A. (Dec. 1914). Capt. 7th Yorkshire Regt. France, ) 1915-18 ; India, 1918-19. D.S.O., Feb. 8, 1917. M.C., Aug. 25, 1916. D. France, 1917.
CB Civil Servant, Under Secretary Ministry of supply.

[1] Obituary: The Times, no.54022 (12 December 1957), p. 16.

[2] Obituary: The Times. no. 52742 (2 October 1953), p. 8.

[3] The Arch 320 (May 2012) p. 8.

[4] Obituary: The Times, no. 55215 (18 October 1961), p. 17.

[5] Obituary: The Times, no. 57907 (2 July1970), p. 10.

[6] Obituary: The Times, no. 58802 (7 June 1973), p. 21.

[7] Obituary: The Times, no. 52537(4 February 1953), p. 8.

[8] Obituaries: The Times, no. 52556 (26 February 1953), p. 10. and The Times, no.52561 (4 March 1953) p. 10.

[9] London Gazette, (28 May 1926), p. 3525.

[10] Obituaries: The Times. No.52611 (2 May 1953), p. 8. Issue 52611; The Times, no. 52615 (7 May 1953), p. 10; The Times, no. 52624 (18 May 1953). ; p. 10.

[11] Obituary: Alan MacDonald, Lack of Offensive Spirit (Beckewnham, Kent: Iona Books 2008), p.301.

[12] Obituaries: The Times, no. 58783 (16 May 1973), p. 21; The Times, no. 58789 (23 May 1973) p. 21.

[14]Obituary:  The Times, no. 54776 (20 May 1960) p. 17.

[15] Obituaries: The Times, no. 48127 (17 October 1938), p. 21; The Times, no, 48128 (18 October 1938) p. 16; The Times, no 48130(20 October 1938), p. 19.

[16] Obituary: The Irish Times (24 May 1950) p.5.

[17] Obituary: The Times no. 59766 (27 July 1976), p. 14.

Leir, Randolph Marriott (1894-1952).[1]

One unusual case should be mentioned here, and that is the case of Randolph Marriott Leir (1894-1952). He was the son of Lewis Randolph Marriott Leir (1860 -1914) and Rosamund Frederica Marriott (1865-1937). Lewis matriculated from Magdalen in 1879 and in 1886 he became Rector of Charlton Musgrove, near Wincanton in Somerset. The Leir family had provided rectors of Charlton Musgrove for over 300 years, and had accumulated a considerable estate in the area. When Lewis died in 1914 he left about £7.5 million adjusted to 2012 for average earnings. Randolph does not seem to have married, and when he died in 1952 he left ~£2 million adjusted for average earnings to 2012 values. In short he came from a wealthy family and was himself a wealthy man.

Leir enlisted in Brighton on the 9 September 1914 and was posted to the 19th (Service) Bn Royal Fusiliers, but was discharged to Sandhurst 10 November 1914, and was commissioned as 2nd Lt 15th Hussars 17 April 1915. He was posted to the 15th Hussars in France on 20 December 1915 from Longmoor Military camp where the Hussars had been stationed at the beginning of the war. On 15 April 1916 Lt.Col. Pilkington commanding 15th Hussars wrote about Leir ‘ Since [he arrived] he has made little or no progress in his work compared with others. He is very lacking in ability and common sense, he has no command over men, and is quite incompetent to command even the smallest numbers. It would be a danger to others taking him into action in any position of command, and he is not fit to command men left behind.’ The Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief asked for ‘special reports from the three senior officers serving with the 15th Hussars’. All were equally damning. On 3 May General Monro, Commanding 1st Army wrote ‘I recommend that 2nd Lt Leir [and one other officer] 15th Hussars be called on to resign their commissions. They are evidently quite unfit to be Cavalry Officers and there is no indication that they would succeed in any other branch of the Army.’ On 15 May the Commander-in- Chief, The British Forces in France wrote to the Secretary at the War Office ‘I consider these officers inefficient and am of the opinion that their retention would not be in the interests of the service. I recommend that their services be dispensed with. Orders have been issued for these Officers to proceed to England, on arrival to report in writing to the War Office.’ This Leir did in a letter dated 21 May 1916 from 11 Kensington Court, W. In reply he was asked to write a letter of resignation, and on 19 June he wrote: Sir, I have the honour to write and request that you will consider this my application for the resignation of my commission, as has been suggested. I have the honour to be, Sir, your Obedient Servant, R.M. Leir 2nd Lt, 15th Hussars. Lt. General Francis Davies, Military Secretary wrote to accept Leir’s resignation which appeared in The London Gazette of 3 July with effect from 4 July.

And so ended the Military career of Randolph Marriott Leir. He does not seem to have been suited for the Army, but it is perhaps surprising that his weaknesses were not detected earlier, for example when he discharged himself from the Clifton Contingent of the OTC, or when he was at Sandhurst, and why if he was such a bad horseman, as one officer wrote, was he drafted into a Cavalry Regiment.   Moreover, his school reports leaves one to wonder how he was ever made an officer and how he got into Magdalen. They are peppered with ‘weak’, ‘industrious but not very successful”, ‘needs to wake up’ and the final telling remark, which could explain much ‘Parents silly’[2]. However, he was fortunate, he would have been unlikely to have received such gentle treatment had he been a private soldier.

[1] All the military information on Leir comes from his military papers held at the PRO WO 339/29288

[2] Thanks to Dr C S Knighton (Principal Assistant Keeper of Archives, Clifton College) for information on Leir