One hundred years since the end of the Great War, S. Anselm’s gathered on the Headmaster’s lawn this morning to remember before God, and commend to his sure keeping: those who have died for their country in war; those who we knew, and whose memory we treasure; and all who have lived and died in the service of mankind.

Those who attended S. Anselm’s and fell, were remembered in silence:

Those who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918:  2nd Lieutenant N. B. Antrobus, Captain N. Armitage, Captain H. G. Barber, MC, Lieutenant K.L. Cole, Captain H. Colver, Lieutenant E.W. Colver, Captain A.H. Crossley, Major F.W. Dust MC, Lieutenant A.M. Eadon, 2nd Lieutenant J.I. Farmer, 2nd Lieutenant G.N. Storrs-Fox, Lieutenant B.W. Drew, Pilot Officer F.G. Drewry, Major T.P. Kneen, Major D.E. Lockwood, Captain M.S. Macpherson, Trooper J.G. Robinson, Lieutenant J.R. Wilson, Major L.B. Halcomb, Mr H.G. Fielding-Johnson, 2nd Lieutenant S. Knowles, 2nd Lieutenant D.S. Laurence, Captain F.B. Parker, Captain H.K. Peace, 2nd Lieutenant J.R. Prentice, 2nd Lieutenant E.F.R. Robson

Those who gave their lives in the Second World War 1939-1945:  Flight Lieutenant T.G.W. Appleby, Lieutenant Colonel J. Bassett, Pilot, Officer G.H.C. Blunt, Pilot Officer T.G. Bridges, Major S.J. Bunch, Chaplain to the Forces Mr R.C. Chalk, Major Sir C.K. Dick-Cunningham.

Henry Goode Fielding Johnson 1894-1914

Henry is pictured below, as a young boy in 1903, wearing his S. Anselm’s uniform.

Henry Goode Fielding Johnson attended S. Anselm’s at the turn of the 20th century and he was the hundredth pupil to attend from when the school had opened in 1888. He was the first member of four generations. Next came the three Everard nephews: Bernard Thomas (Breedon), William Humphrey and Richard Henry in the 1920s.

In turn Richard’s four sons, Henry, Rupert, Richard and William attended a period spanning the 1940s, 50s and into the 1960s. Finally Thomas James Everard, son of Richard, attended S.Anselm’s from 1983-1988. The connection with the family continues: two cousins (twice removed), Marlow and Zach Collins, are the grandchildren of Richard’s cousin Rosie Daniels whose mother was his mother’s sister.

After attending S. Anselm’s, Henry Goode went on to Rugby School and then Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1913 to study Mechanical Sciences. After his first year an advert appeared in the newspapers calling for motorcyclists to sign up as dispatch riders. Henry was said to have dashed home on his motorcycle to presumably get his father’s permission and then roared off to Scotland Yard in London to enlist. Henry became Corporal 28050 in the Royal Engineers and after a couple of days of being drilled and lectured, he travelled to Carlow Barracks near Dublin. One week later he set sail on the SS Archimedes to Le Havre in Northern France.

Within a week 5th Signaling Company set up a base at Dour, Belgium and by 23rd August, just barely 2 weeks after Henry Goode enlisted, he was sent to dispatch a message to the 15th Brigade. He never returned.

What happened to Corporal Henry Goode Fielding Johnson is not known. Most likely he was caught in German fire on the main road and wounded. He would have been most likely taken to a nearby convent, but as the Germans advanced, it was overrun. Around 50 male patients were taken prisoner, some of those under care may have been hidden and some would have died from their wounds. Corporal Henry Goode Fielding Johnson’s body was never recovered. He is commemorated at La Ferte sous Jouarre Memorial, Seine et Marne.

 

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.


Our boys who went to war

To mark the centenary of the end of World War I, a display of photographs and documents from the S. Anselm’s archives is available to view in the glass cabinet in the main school foyer. The images and records depict S. Anselm’s boys from the turn of the century to 1914 – many of whom would have gone on to serve in the war.