Susie Schofield, the Alumni Officer at Alleyn’s School, has been continuing her research into the identities of the Alleyn’s Old Boys who were killed in both World Wars.
Did any receive decorations?
Six Alleyn’s Old Boys (AOBs) who died were honoured – five with the DFC [Distinguished Flying Cross], and one [Lt Cecil Meadley] who was Mentioned in Despatches twice. Many who survived the war were also decorated with honours.
Pilot Officer (P/O) David Leary DFC’s citation in the London Gazette reads:
Pilot Officer David Cooper LEARY (42756)— No 17 Squadron.
In November, 1940, this officer was engaged with his squadron in protecting two destroyers which were being attacked by a formation of enemy dive bombers heavily escorted by fighters. Showing magnificent courage and determination, Pilot Officer Cooper destroyed two of the enemy bombers and assisted in the destruction of another. He has now destroyed at least five enemy aircraft.
P/O Leary was an ‘Ace’ – where a pilot shoots down five or more aeroplanes. P/O Leary was 19 years old.
P/O Peter Nash DFC, another Ace, was killed in action over Malta. His citation in the London Gazette) reads:
Pilot Officer Peter Alfred NASH (113759),
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 249 Squadron (since deceased).
Whilst operating from Malta, this officer has shot down 16 raiding aircraft. Six of these he destroyed within a period of 3 days. Pilot Officer Nash, who has displayed high courage and devotion to duty, has destroyed at least 12, and damaged several more enemy aircraft.
P/O Nash lived at 102 Kent House Road in Beckenham. He was 20.
Were there any civilian casualties listed?
Two AOBs whose names appear on the Honours Board are recorded by the CWGC as civilians, Ivor McKinley and Charles Drew. Charles Drew worked in the Auxiliary Fire Service and was killed during a raid over London in March 1941.
One other civilian is listed in the EA Magazine: Maj (Retd) WJ Boutall MC who was killed on 22 June 1944 at his home of 112 Burbage Road. His home fell victim to the first V1 to fall in SE24. This V1 demolished four houses in Burbage Road, severely damaged 10, and slightly damaged 83.
Peter Jenkyn is remembered as being killed by enemy action on a separate plaque at the School. The 16-year-old lived at 32 Lovelace Road; his house took a direct hit from a V1 bomb at 2.15pm on 1 August, the second flying bomb to hit Lovelace Road (the first being on 23 June 1944). The bomb demolished six houses and badly damaged 40 others. (See the website Flying Bombs and Rockets)
Of Peter’s death, the EA Magazine perfunctorily records: ‘The grim hand of war has touched the homes of many of us, staff and boys, but we are very thankful to say that only one of our number has been taken from us; with deepest regret we report the loss of PH Jenkyn… who was killed by enemy action on July 31st [sic].’ The account then immediately (almost breezily to my sentimental 21st-century eyes) turns to reporting the departure of Fifth Form boys at the end of the previous term. As an adjunct to Peter’s story, Arthur Chandler writes that ‘Fellow pupils were saddened when they were told after the war that Jenkyn’s name could not be included on the War Memorial as he had not been killed “on active service”.’
Where are the AOBs buried and remembered?
Fifty-nine are either buried in cemeteries or commemorated on memorials in the UK. Their names can be found on memorials in Europe as well as in Algeria, Canada, China, Egypt, Israel, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Myanmar [then Burma], Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia.
Ten were killed ‘accidentally’. One [Lt Officer Stanley Turner] was killed in an air crash after the war on his return from India in January 1946. Prosaically, Pte Arthur Williams of the Army Catering Corps ‘died from injuries due to bursting of a stove in Italy’.
Memorial board
A War Memorial Fund was set up to finance four further panels to the existing Honours Boards, and to create a War Memorial Garden on the triangle of ground at the junction of Townley Road and Calton Avenue (where the RAF barrage balloon site had been during the war).
A memorial service was held in the Chapel on 29 March 1947 where the Roll of Honour was read aloud. The anthem ‘Requiem Aeternam’ was composed for the occasion by AOB John (‘Jack’) Lanchbery, who was to become one of the twentieth century’s best known ballet conductors and composers. The War Memorial panels were unveiled on Founder’s Day in 1949.
This is an on-going project as Susie hopes to gather details of the experiences of those Alleyn’s Old Boys who fought and survived the Second World War. If you are interested to find out more, please contact Susie on alumni@alleyns.org.uk or 020 8557 1466.
Alleyn’s First World War Dead DOV article by Susie Schofield
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