Category: First World War

Douglas James Small joined Bootham School in early 1905.  At school, he had success in school swimming and athletics competitions.

“Bootham” magazine of September 1906 records:

“D. J. SMALL came in January, 1905, and leaves from the Middle Schoolroom, No. 44 on the list. He intends to be a stockbroker in Glasgow.”

The October 1916 edition of “Bootham” lists Douglas as living in Pollockshields, Glasgow.

By the December 1917 issue of “Bootham”, Douglas had moved to Canada and had joined the Army, in the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment).   In the list of Deaths in that issue we read:

“SMALL.—In July, 1917, killed in action, Douglas James Small (1905-6), of Milverton, P.O., Ontario, Canada, aged 28 years.”

The death notice in “Bootham” may be incorrect as other sources [i] show his date of death as 30^th August 1917, aged 25 years.

Private Douglas James Small is buried in Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.

Adolph Broadfield Cohen died on 22nd July 1917, aged 24 years, of wounds received in the Great War.

He was born in Leeds in 1893 and attended Bootham School from 1906-11.  His hobbies at school included archaeology and drama.  He was a prominent member of many school societies and was on the committee of several, including the school Natural History Club.

The school magazine, “Bootham”, in November 1911 reported that:

“A. B. COHEN passed Matric. in 1910, and leaves from the College Class. He was a reeve and a member of the 1st boys’ cricket XI. A good fives player, he has more than once represented the school against St. Peter’s, and won the Fives Championship. He was also a prominent member of all the school societies, and distinguished himself in the last “charades.””

 After Bootham School, Adolph went on to Leeds University, graduating in 1914.  A month after war broke out he joined the University Officers’ Training Corp and became a Lieutenant in the Prince of Wales’ Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) in December 1914.

“Bootham” magazine of March 1915, under Bootham School War Lists, shows:

“ Under Military Discipline:—

COHEN, A., 17th Bn. West Yorks Regiment. 2nd Lieutenant.”

 The March 1916 issue reported that Lieut. Cohen was with the British Expeditionary Force in France.

Then in December 1917 “Bootham” reported:

“COHEN.—In July, 1917, died of wounds, Adolph Broadfield Cohen (1906-11), of 1, North Grange Mount, Headingley, Leeds, aged 24 years.”

This was followed in May 1918 by :

“In Memoriam

ADOLPH B. COHEN. Loyal and public-spirited while he was at School, A. B. Cohen had a great influence over his contemporaries during College life, and was an active worker throughout his University career in many departments outside the purely academic sphere. He was a very successful editor of the University magazine (the Gryphon); a keen member of the Social Study Society, which largely owed its origin to him; active in helping and taking part in the amateur theatricals and concerts, which were so prominent a part of the social life at the University; quite a good gamesman, fives, perhaps, as at School, being his strong point; and deeply interested in the work of the University Lads’ Club. To me the memory of A. B. C. which returns most frequently is as a lover of the open air. He never seemed happier than when at his beloved Coniston, tramping the fells, fishing the streams, or sailing his favourite boat, the Pip, on the waters of the lake; and he loved to share these pleasures with his friends. On all sides his influence was strong for comradeship and fellowship, and the memory of his friendship is treasured by all who knew him, and alike to them and to casual acquaintances will be a lasting inspiration. J. S. L”

The notice of his death in the Gryphon may be read online at http://digital.library.leeds.ac.uk/5305/1/LUA-PUB-002-GRY-121_000.pdf , page 11.

Lieut. Adolph Broadfield Cohen is buried in St Sever Cemetary, Rouen, France.

Harold Edward Jackson was reported missing, later presumed killed, in France on 12^th June 1917, aged 20.

He was born in York in 1896 and attended Bootham School from 1913 to 1915.  At school, he was interested in archaeology, entomology and photography and played pianoforte.  He was a curator of entomology. When he left school, “Bootham” magazine said:

“H. E. JACKSON has spent eleven terms at Bootham, and leaves from the Upper Senior. He occasionally played for the 2nd XI.  at both football and cricket. He also did much admirable work as entomologist and photographer.”

The March 1916 issue of “Bootham” magazine, under “Bootham School War Lists” shows, under “Under Military Discipline”:

“Jackson, H. E., Leeds University O.T.C.”

In 1917, Harold was serving at the Front.  He was able to attend the Whitsuntide meeting of the Old York Scholars’ Association in York, having “just arrived from the trenches”.

The December 1917 issue of “Bootham” Magazine reported the following:

“HAROLD E, JACKSON (1909-12), Second Lieut., W. Yorks, has been missing since June, when it was reported that the success of a movement was mainly due to his splendid example and leadership. Any further news of him would be most thankfully received.”

By the following year it was clear that Harold had been lost.  “Bootham” reported in the May 1918 issue:

“HAROLD E. JACKSON. ” British Official.—Last night, in the —— Sector, our troops carried out a successful raid. “

It was on such a raid as this that Harold Jackson took part in June last year. At the time of this raid I was on trench duty in another part of the battalion front. Shortly after the raiders had left our lines I was walking along the grids to the point of exit when I heard a man coming running towards me. Hurriedly he told me that the raiders had encountered heavy opposition, and that stretcher-bearers were urgently needed.

It was not until morning that I heard that Jackson had never returned, and that he was last seen chasing several Germans back towards their support line. One of his officers wrote :

The success of the operation was due to a great extent to the splendid example and leadership of Jackson. I could always rely on him carrying out thoroughly everything he had to do.”

Harold Edward Jackson is remembered on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Richard Herbert Sikes was killed in action in France on 24^th April 1917, aged 44 years.

He was born in Cork, Ireland in 1873 and attended Bootham School from 1887 to 1889.

In 1914 he joined the Royal Fusiliers and spent a winter in the trenches.  He was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was in command of a company in the Howe Battalion.

Sub Lieutenant Richard Herbert Sikes is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France and the War Memorial in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork.

Harold Green was killed in action in France on 28^th February 1917, aged 24 years.

He was born at Lurgan in Northern Ireland in 1892 and attended Bootham School from 1905 to 1909.

Harold was keen on sports at school.  He was in the Cricket 1st XI (Captain) and Football 1st XI’s at school. He won 2nd prize for Gymnastics in the 1906 Athletics Open competitions at Bootham. In 1907, he won the Junior Two length and One length races in the Aquatics competiton .  He was Captain of Fives and was winner of the Fives championship at school in 1908.

“Bootham” magazine of May 1909 includes football notes by the Captain: “GREEN, H.—Has developed into a tower of strength, and even shows considerable speed.  Always in the way of an enterprising forward.  His kicking is precise, calm, and very well judged.”

Harold was also on the committees of the school Photographic Club and the Reading and Discussion Society.

“Bootham” of May 1909 reported that: “HAROLD GREEN (1905- ) has passed the Matriculation Examination, 2nd Division, of the University of London.”  The October 1909 edition reported that Harold Green had won the school Economics prize.

As he left Bootham, the magazine reported:

“HAROLD GREEN leaves from the College Class, having passed Matric. Winner of Economics Prize. Captain of cricket eleven, full-back on 1st football XL, fives captain, was two years a reeve.”  (A Reeve is equivalent to Prefect.)

By March 1916, “Bootham” magazine reports in School War Lists: “Green, H., Despatch Rider, Mechanical Transport, A.S.C.”

Then in March 1917, “Bootham” magazine tells us that H Green fell in action on 28^th Feb 1917.

In June 1917, “Bootham” reports:

GREEN.—On the 28th February, 1917 (killed in action in France), Harold Green (1905-9). Aged 24 years.

and

“H. GREEN (1905-09). His relatives have kindly allowed us to see the following :

A fellow officer came across him after they had gone over the parapet, and writes :

I was speaking to him for a long time and we were looking around getting our bearings when I turned my head to look to the side for a few seconds. When I looked back I noticed Green down and got down immediately. I had never seen death before, yet I knew that he was dead when I looked a t him. . . . I found after that he had been hit through the heart; there was no doubt he had died instantaneously. . . . You should be very proud of your son as he had seen a lot of fighting with his battalion and was a favourite and very respected by everyone.

Some of those who knew him in harness at Bessbrook before the war have written :

I want to express on behalf of all in the Mill down to the youngest child our sympathy with you. We were all fond of Harold. I never knew him do a dishonourable act and we were closely associated. He was a credit to his father and mother. In the passing he has taken with him the greatest asset, a noble character.

Another wrote :

Having worked alongside Harold in the Mill, I can truly say that every workman would have done anything for him, for his genial manner and good nature left their work and influence on Bessbrook, which will bear and has borne fruit. I am sorry this cold paper will not express what I would like to say, but if you had been in Bessbrook yesterday, and seen the tears shed for Harold that I saw, then you would understand how Bessbrook is taking the loss of one of her best citizens.”

Harold Green is remembered on the Thiepval memorial in France and also on the Bessbrook War Memorial, County Armagh.

John Maclellan Mowat was killed in a flying accident at Cramlington, Northumberland on 5th January 1917, aged 20 years.

He was born at Busby, near Glasgow, in 1896 and attended Bootham School from 1911 to 1913.  He was in the Cricket and Football XI’s at school.  In the 1913 school Athletics competition he won the 100 yards (11⅘ sec) and the Kick (53 yds 0 ft).

The November 1913 issue of “Bootham” magazine reports:

“J. M. MOWAT leaves from the Lower Senior after two years at Bootham. He served the School well in games, as goalkeeper, batsman, and bowler, and his kicking in the Sports was very good.”

The March 1916 issue of “Bootham” magazine lists, under Bootham School War Lists, Under Military Discipline:

MOWAT, J. M., Second Lieut., 3rd Bn. Prince of Wales’s North Staffordshire Regt.”

In March 1917, “Bootham”, in the Across the Months section reports that:

“WE have heard with great regret of the deaths of four more Old Boys. J. G. MOWAT (sic) was killed on January 5th in an aeroplane accident. His generation remembers him as a good goalkeeper.”

This was followed in the June 1917 issue by a letter from a schoolfellow who knew him well:

“It was with great regret that we heard of the death of another old scholar, John M. Mowat, whilst flying at Cramlington, Northumberland, on January 5th, 1917.

He joined the Glasgow University O.T.C. in September, 1914, and was gazetted to the North Staffords on April 29th, 1915.

He thought he would go on active service sooner if he was in the Royal Flying Corps, so he applied for a transfer, and it came through in September, 1916, just as he was starting for Mesopotamia. He finished his observer’s course at Oxford in the end of October, and then did the first part of the pilot’s course at Turnhouse, and was very nearly qualified for his “wings” when he met with his accident.

Very little is known about the accident. He was flying alone in a difficult machine, and a letter that reached home the day after he was killed speaks of “very bad flying weather.”

I quote the words of his CO. : ” His death is a loss to the R.F.C. Both his instructors and I felt sure he was going to become a good pilot. He was keen in all his work, and liked by all who knew him.”

All who were at school with him will remember him for his unselfish disposition and his willingness to help others.

The School has lost a gallant Old Boy, and those who knew him have lost a good and true friend.

He was buried at his home, Kilmacolm. His funeral took place on a most perfect day, and Mowat went to his long last rest with Nature’s blessing.

All that life contains of torture, toil and treason,

Shame, dishonour, death to h’m were but a name.

Here, a boy, he dwelt through all the singing season,

And ‘ere the day of sorrow departed as he came.”

Lieut, J. M. Mowatt, R.F.C. was buried at Kilmacolm Cemetery near Glasgow.