War News - Erasmian 1918

This piece, taken from The High School Dublin's school magazine, is most interesting as it names some past pupils who were hoping to enlist and others who were coming home from the war; some who had won awards, and others who had been killed in action.  It gives us a real insight into how the lives of past pupils, of varying ages, were being affected by the war.

TAKEN FROM “THE ERASMIAN” DECEMBER 1918
Notes on Old Boys

The following Old Boys have lately obtained war distinctions:-

Bernard D'Olier Darley (1890-98) Executive Engineer, Tarai, United Provinces, India, has been awarded the C.I.E. (Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire).

Charles F. Draper (1891-95), Territorial Captain, Acting Major Royal Engineers, has been awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), Military Division, for services in Egypt.

Lt.-Col. R. G. D. Small (1902-05), Royal Air Force, has again been specially
mentioned for services in connection with the Air Force in France.

L. M. Bayly** (1895-1902), Captain, Royal Irish Rifles,
G. H. McElnay (1910-12), Lieut., Royal Dublin Fusiliers
G. H. Noblett (1912-1913), Captain, Royal Dublin Fusiliers,
Have all won the Military Cross.

(L. M. Bayly ** died later that year.)


D. M. Killingley (1914-17), left in December for Wellington in India, having obtained a Commission in the Indian Army.

A. S. Larkin (1902-13), Captain, A.S.C., has been successful in his application for a Commission in the Indian Army.

G. E. Larkin (1905-15), Lieut., Royal Dublin Fusiliers, expects to get a Commission in the Regular Army.

E. W. Scales (1912-15), after winning the High School Exhibition, joined the North Irish Horse.

John Bell (1909-15), Lt., R.D.F.
T. E. Flewett (1911-16) Lt., R.F.A.
H. T. Bird (1909-16), Lt., R.F.A.
Have all been wounded.

H. R. Ardill (1896-1904), Lt., R.F.A.
R. J. Charters (1910-15), Lt., R.I.R.
F. S. Marchant (1911-15), Lt., R. Inniskillings
D. G. Lawson (1908-12), S. I. Horse
R. N. Montgomery (1893-99), R.A.M.C.,

Have all returned home safe from Germany.

Obituaries from the War:

LANCELOT M. BAYLY
Capt. Lancelot M. Bayly, M.C., R.I.R. (1895-1902) died of wounds in France on
October 22nd, having been shot through the body by a sniper.   He was the second
son of the late E. F. Bayly and Mrs. Bayly, Killough Castle, Thurles.  Every one
who knew him, whether at school or at Lansdowne Road, where he played for the
1st XV of the Lansdowne Club in the Cup Matches of 1904 and 1905, will remember
him for his kindly, unassuming, straightforward character, one of the best type
of men.  When the war broke out he was in India, but at once came home and
joined up.  The last time we saw him was when he called at the School in the
spring of 1917 after being wounded.  On his return to France he gained the
Military Cross in March last for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  He
commanded a company through a week's heavy fighting, taking part in rearguard
actions and counter attacks, in which he set a fine example.  On one occasion he
carried a Lewis gun during the whole of a long march.

WM. BUCKLEY
Trooper Wm. Buckley of the Irish Horse (1903-04) died in hospital, aged 29,
whilst a prisoner of war in Germany on August 6th last.   He was the eldest son
of the late Francis Buckley of Enniskerry.

WM. FRANCIS BENSON
Wm. Francis Benson, Sub-Lieut., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (1907-12), was
killed in action while leading his platoon on October 8th, aged 23.   He was the
eldest son of the late Wm. Benson and Mrs. Benson, 46 Reuben Avenue, S.C.R.   He
was a scholar of the School, and distinguished himself in the Intermediate.
When the war broke out he joined the R.A.M.C., but later transferred to the
Royal Naval Reserve when his good services won him a Commission.

HILL WILSON WHITE
Capt. Hill Wilson White, R.A.M.C., (1895-1903) was reported missing last spring,
but has now officially been announced as presumed to have been killed on April
12th last.   He will be remembered by many boys for his charming personality,
and his keen interest in everything concerning the School.   He joined the army
in August, 1914, and served in France and Flanders.   He was wounded at Ypres in
December, 1915.  In March last he was in medical charge of a reinforcement camp,
and was despatched with a battalion to meet an almost overwhelming advance by
the enemy.   In the ensuing fight he acquitted himself with great gallantry,
attending to the wounded under heavy shell fire.   He was the fourth son of the
Dean of Christ Church and Mrs. White, and was born June 12th 1885.

HECTOR A. YOUNG
Hector A. Young, R.A.S.C. (1910-11) died on December 30th of pneumonia at the
Military Hospital, Tidworth.  He was born 10th November 1895, and was the fourth
son of the late Dr. Poyntz Young and Mrs. Young, of 17 Sandymount Road.