Misc: The Erasmian December 1918 - Obituaries *********************************************** Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives Dublin Index Copyright ************************************************ File contributed by: Joyce Tunstead joytun at utvinternet.com OBITUARIES 1918, THE ERASMIAN Transcriber's Note: The years quoted in brackets would be the period when each person was a pupil at The High School, Dublin, unless otherwise stated. JOHN HANDLE PHILLIPS ROGERS It is seldom that we have to announce the death of one who is taken from us while still at school. Handel John Phillips Rogers (Jack) died as the result of influenza on Friday Nov. 1st, barely a month after his sixteenth birthday. He was always rather a delicate boy, and he had grown rapidly, but he was fond of games cricket, swimming, gymnastics, and he seemed to have become stronger. He was always a good worker, conscientious, high-minded and determined, and he was looking forward with good hopes to a very successful life. But it was not to be. He had, however, done something. He won a School Scholarship and passed the Junior Grade twice, last summer with honours, and the high distinction of a prize for Classics. He leaves behind a bright example as a help to us all. 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. REV. ARTHUR OULTON, M.A. Rev. Arthur Oulton, M.A. (1900-03) died on November 4th of pneumonia, was, perhaps, the most lovable, attractive and gifted boy ever at the School. We give below an appreciation of him by one of his class fellows. There were two striking things about Arthur Oulton - a generous and charming personality which made everyone like him both at School and afterwards, and a genius for music. His end was a tragedy. He had just resigned his living at Aghade, Co.Carlow, having obtained a post for which he was eminently fitted and which had been his ambition, the Clerical Vicarship Choral of York Minster. He died on a Monday, and his wife and son, who was born after his death, died the same week. He was the eldest son of Mr. G. N. Oulton, K.C., and was born December 16th, 1883. Though the muse be gone away, Though she move not earth to-day, Souls erewhile who caught her word, Ah! Still harp on what they heard. The following appreciation has been sent us by a former schoolfellow:- "To many people in Dublin and in the provinces the news of Arthur Oulton's early death from pneumonia following influenza will come as a great shock. He had by his gifts won for himself a foremost place in musical circles in Dublin. He will be remembered by most people as a solo pianist and accompanist; but he also played the viola in the College orchestra, while as an undergraduate he was organist of the Magdalen Asylum Chapel. He was no niggard in the giving of his services when called on. No request for help in a good cause ever failed to enlist his whole-hearted sympathy, and he gave of his best whether he was entertaining a few friends in a private house or was appearing before the larger, but not more appreciative, audience of the concert hall. But it was not only his musical ability that attracted. He had a charming personality, and the gift of interesting himself in any matter that came under his notice. All his friends will remember the impulsive hastening to greet, the close hand shake, the lighting up of the kindly eyes - he made you feel that his joy was real in coming across you once again. It was so on the Monday morning before he died when the writer met him, seemingly in perfect health, in Westmoreland Street, just the same happiness in meeting one he knew, the same kindly smile that he had in the old school days. The picture that rose in my mind when I heard the news of his death was connected with those days, when we used to take a delight in watching him as he walked up and down the play-ground interestedly discussing the subject he loved and so absorbed in the discussion that he never noticed that his books (which he always carried loose and never fastened together with a strap) were dropping one by one from under his arm, until the fall of the last one recalled him to the fact that his volumes of learning lay marking his path across the gravel. He has gone from us after a few years of life, and in all probability standing on the threshold of a great career. Yet those who knew him at school or college will feel that his short life was not an ineffective one. The school of his day was the better for his being in it - and that is a great thing to say of any schoolboy" C.C.W.D. C. C. W. STRONGE Professor C. C. W. Stronge, M.A. (1896-97), who was born on 29th October, 1879, was the youngest son of Mr. S. E. Stronge, of Dromartin Castle, Dundrum, one of the Head Inspectors of National Education. He obtained many distinctions in Classics, English and German in Trinity, among others winning the Stewart Scholarship, and graduated in 1902 with First Senior Moderatorship and Gold Medal in Modern Literature. When the Chair of Modern Languages was founded in Magee College, Londonderry, he became its first occupant, and held it till his early death. He also took an active part in bringing about the existing relations between Magee College and Dublin University. H. E. TAAFFE Among the victims of the "Leinster" outrage was a former master of the School, Mr. H. E. Taaffe, who taught modern languages here from 1906-08. He was a very capable scholar, and after leaving the High School held appointments in the Bermudas and in England. Transcriber's Note: The years quoted would be the period when each person was a pupil at The High School, Dublin. Source: The Erasmian, Vol Xvi. No.1. December 1918