Lives of the First World War
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Fonthill School
Fonthill School
Past pupils and staff of Fonthill School, Saint Hill, East Grinstead who served in the First World War. Fonthill was first established in 1808 as a rectory-based school for young gentlemen in Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire. It was owned by the Radcliffe family, first known as Radcliffe's before becoming Fonthill in ca 1820, and remained in Wiltshire until a death in the family meant the living in Wiltshire had to be given up. A new location was found at Rockwood Park in East Grinstead, and the school moved there in 1886. Fonthill was a prep school for the children of the aristocracy and wealthy landowners, professional families and industrialists. It sent many pupils to Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wellington, Rugby, Charterhouse and other public schools. It also prepared boys for careers in the Royal Navy and Army and sent a number of boys to the naval colleges. Fonthill had many well-decorated and well-known pupils who fought in WWI. Of these, many survived to have successful careers in public life. Sadly, more than sixty men died. These included young men who had foregone university studies or early careers to serve their country. The youngest to die was Vernon Hector Corbyn, a naval midshipman who was 16 when he died on HMS Cressy in September 1914. Lord Rothermere's sons Vere and Vyvyan, whose deaths are commemorated on a tablet inside the entrance to IWM London, and their close friends Neville Woodroffe and the Hon. Henry Palmer Howard were four poignant young deaths. The Radcliffes lost three family members, as did the Selwyns. This community brings together some school-related information about as many Old Fonthillians as possible in the hopes that this will be of interest to family researchers. Fonthill Lodge, the surviving school in the Fonthill educational trust, closed in 2011. Fonthill School had already closed in 1985. If you would like information about family members who attended Fonthill, contact me at [email protected]
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Born 1870
Died 1947
British Army Captain Wiltshire Regiment
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Born 1895
Died 1985
British Army Second Lieutenant Lancashire Fusiliers
British Army Captain Lancashire Fusiliers
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Born 1896
Died 1916
British Army Second Lieutenant Northamptonshire Regiment
British Army Lieutenant Northamptonshire Regiment
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Born 1896
Died 1975
British Army Temporary Second Lieutenant Green Howards
British Army Temporary Captain Yorkshire Regiment
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Born 1882
Died 1915
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British Army Captain Rifle Brigade 2 Battalion
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Born 1894
Died 1918
British Army Second Lieutenant Scots Guards
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Born 1887
Died 1919
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Born 1899
Died 1973
British Army Second Lieutenant Grenadier Guards
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Born 1898
Died 1970
British Army Second Lieutenant Grenadier Guards
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Born 1896
Died 1963
British Army Second Lieutenant Seaforth Highlanders
British Army Acting Captain Seaforth Highlanders
British Army Captain Seaforth Highlanders
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Born 1894
Died 1917
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Born 1890
Died 1963
British Army Second Lieutenant East Kent Regiment
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Born 1880
Died 1962
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Born 1878
Died 1968
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British Army Lieutenant Adjutant Royal Engineers Army Troops Second Army
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Born 1884
Died 1930
British Army Second Lieutenant Scots Guards
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Born 1890
Died 1915
British Army Lieutenant Worcestershire Regiment
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Born 1893
Died 1914
British Army Lieutenant Irish Guards
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Born 1880
Died 1927
British Army Second Lieutenant Royal Fusiliers
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Born 1897
Died 1968
British Army Second Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery
British Army Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery
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Born 1896
Died 1918
British Army Captain Hampshire Regiment
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