Wellington College & the Great War

The following information has been taken from the 'Wellingtonian' War Number, 1919. Where possible, I have also included a link, in brackets, to the Auckland Cenotaph record of each man.

Masters and ex-masters

Dr. G. V. Bogle was on the College staff for about three or four years, when he left for Edinburgh to study medicine. His genial manly nature endeared him to both the bosy and his colleagues. At school he took a great interest in both cricket and football. His work at the front was characterised by earnest devotion to duty. One letter from an Old Boy describes how on one occasion Dr. Bogle was for forty-eight hours without a break attending to a stream of wounded men. He was killed in France on 15th September, 1916 (Auckland Cenotaph)

T. Brodie, enlisted as a sergeant in the 39th Reinforcements, and left in 1918. On arrival in England he passed through the N.C.O's course, but was commandeered for educational work, and, much to his disgust, had to remain in England. He has since been given a commission, and now holds the temporary rank of captain. (Auckland Cenotaph)

A. E. Caddick, also an Old Boy of the Shool - had been some years on the staff. He enlisted in 1915 as a corporal in the Third Field Ambulance, and soon gained his promotion to sergeant. Proceeding to Egypt, where his unit joined up with the Division, and the France, he saw service at Armentieres, the Somme, Fleurbaix, Le Bizet, Ploegsteert and Messines. Later on, at La Basseville - the scene of several sharp encounters - he had some exciting experiences, and shortly afterwards was promoted to the rank of Staff-Sergeant. He hed previously refused a commission in the Intelligence Corps, as it wold have meant separation from his 'boys.' On the 12th of August, 1917, during a heavy bombardment at Charing Cross Aid Post, Ploegsteert Wood, he was dangerously wounded in the head and back, and for some time his life was despaired of ; but a fine constitution stood him in good stead, and he eventually pulled through. He was invalided home, and after a year's treatment, recovered sufficiently to return to us in February, 1919. (Auckland cenotaph link)

A. J. Cross was the first of our Staff to see service. He enlisted as a Lieutenant in the Wellington Regiment, Main Body, and sailed on the 15th October, 1914. He took part in the repulse of the Turkish attack on the Canal, and passed unscathed through the landing and the fighting at Cape Helles, finally winning his captaincy. Later on, however, he was invalided home with enteric. After some months in New Zealand, he succeeded in again passing the medical board, proceeded to England, and was for some time on duty there ; but, his hold trouble recurring, he was again sent back to New Zealand. He has since held a position of the Head Quarteres Staff as a Director of Organisation. (Auckland cenotaph link)

J. R. Cuddie - another Old Boy of the College - came to the Staff in 1916. He had previously made several attempts to pass the doctors, but without success. Later on, however, he was called up, and passed fit, and went into camp early in 1917. He was passed through the N.C.O. Class of the 33rd Reinforcements, but the doctors again stepped in. Finally pronounced unfit, he was retained on Home Service till January, 1919, when he returned to his old position.

A. W. Diprose came to the Staff from New Plymouth in 1916. It was not long, however, before he went into camp and he left New Zealand with the rank of corporal. He saw considerable service in France before being wounded during the early fighting in teh south in 1918. On recovery he was made an instructor under the Educational Scheme, and remained for some months at Codford. He returned early in 1919, and has again taken a position on the Staff of the New Plymouth High School. (Auckland cenotaph link)

H. T. M. Fathers enlisted as a Lieutenant in the 14th Reinforcements, and proceeded direct to England. Owing to the heavy casualties during the earlier part of the fighting on the Somme, his draft soon found its way to the front, and he arrived in time to take part in the attacks of the 25th September and the 1st October. He served later at Armentieres, Fleurbaix, Le Bizet, and Ploegsteert, and was in the thick of the fighting at Messines and Warneton. On October 4, he was wounded at Paschendaele, and enjoyed a well-earned rest in England until Christmas, when he rejoined his unit. In March, 1918, he took part in the attack upon La Signy Farm at Collincamps. In April he was appointed Battalion Q.M. and went through the advance from Gommecourt through Bapaume and over Welsh Ridge and the Hindenburg Line to Le Quesnoy. He remained with his unit during the march through Belgium, passing through Maubeuge, Huy, Charleroi, Namur, Liege, and Verviers to the German frontier - thence entraining for Cologne. He was in one of the first drafts detailed to proceed to England, leaving the Division on the 31st December, 1918. He finally arrived in New Zealand in March, 1919. (Auckland cenotaph link)

J. H. Goulding was on the staff of the College for twoor three years up to 1906, when he left to take up a position in Blenheim High School. He was a keen footballer and cricketer. He left New Zealand with the rank of captain in the Canterbury Battalion, and was killed in the trenches at Gallipoli on June 6th, 1915. (Auckland cenotaph link)

J. B. Mawson joined the Staff in 1914. He enlisted early in 1915, and sailed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Reinforcements. Upon arrival in Egypt he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. In France he saw service with the Second Brigade at Armentieres and on the Somme, and was awarded the M.C. Soon after the return of the brigade to Armentieres, he was transferred to the Division Machine Gun Company, and spent some three months in training in England. Returning to the front in February 1917, he served in the Le Bizet, Ploegsteert and Messines sectors, and was finally wounded in the succesful attack upon the ridge. He was invalided to N.Z. and discharged as unfit towards the end of 1917. He returned to the Staff in 1918. (Auckland cenotaph link)

G. W. Morice left with the 24th Reinforcements with the rank of Lieutenant. On his arrival in France, shortly after the Battle of Messines, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, and saw strenuous service in the Ypres sector. After the Division was moved south in March 1918, he was appointed to Brigade Headquarters as Bombing Officer, and some time later was promoted to the rank of Captain. He saw the fighting at Gommercourt and Bapaume, but later on in the advance, during an attack, near Cambrai, he was severely wounded by a bomb. He has made a good recovery however, and expects to return to the Staff in the course of a month or two. (Auckland cenotaph link)

P. A. Ongley came to the staff in 1915. He enlisted in the following year as a sergeant in the 22nd Reinforcements, but, before leaving New Zealand was given his commission and posted to the 27ths. After further training in England he arrived in France in time to see the fighting at Ypres towards the end of  1917, but came through unhurt. He was for some time acting as the Intelligence Officer to his Battalion. In March he went south with the Division, and saw the fighting preliminary to the last advance, but some time later met his death near Bapaume. (Auckland cenotaph link)

J. Russell, who was on the staff during 1911, left us to take up a position in a native school in Fiji. Shortly after the war broke out he returned to New Zealnd to enlist. He left New Zealand in 1915, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

C. M. Taylor was a prefect and a member of the Cricket Team in 1911. When war broke out he was taking a course in Engineering at Canterbury College. He enlisted in the Canterbury Battalion, Main Body, and took part in the repulse of the Turkish attack on the Canal. Transferring to the Machine Guns, he served at the landing and at Cape Helles, and was promoted Corporal. During the fighting in August he commanded a gun team and took part in one of the most thrilling incidents of the war, the repulse ofthe great Turkish counter attack from Sari Bair in which several Turkish battalions were practically annihilated. He was finally invalided to England, dangerously ill with enteric, but finally recovered. He was given a commission in the R.F.C., but failed to pass the doctors, and was finally returned to New Zealand unfit. His state of health preventing further study, he joined the staff in 1917. (Auckland cenotaph link)

O. W. Williams, one of the senior members of the Staff enlisted early in 1915, and went into camp as a Captain in the 3rd Reinforcements of the Rifle Brigade. On arrival in Egypt his Brigade was incorporated with the Division, but, as it was at full strength he was detailed for some time for duty with the reserves in England. After the Battle of the Somme, however, he proceeded to France, and from then onwards saw continuous service till, in the fighting near Warneton, after the taking of Messines Ridge, he was somewhat severely wounded in the head. Fortunately he was wearing his steel helmet at the time and this probably saved his life. Even as it was he was compelled to remain in England on light duty for the greater part of a year. For some time previous to leaving France, he had held his temporary majority. At Messines he had taken his battalion into action, and for his services was awarded the M.C. His rank was confirmed shortly afterwards. He returned to France in 1918, and with the exception of a month or so spent in hospital with trench fever, saw most of the great advance. About this time he was appointed second in command of the Battalion, and he also held the distinction of being placed in charge of the first party of New Zealanders to enter Germany. According to latest advise he was still with the Division at Cologne, but a few months should see him with us once more. (Auckland cenotaph link)