Victoria College at Bedford: Island News in the Second World War
A number of boys had left Jersey in 1940 with the families in the evacuation to the UK. In September 1940, about 40 boys with Mr. Grummitt, Mr. Hopewell and Miss Aubrey were accommodated at Bedford School. Shortly afterwards Mr. Grummitt left on his appointment as Principal of Belfast Royal Academical Institution, and Mr. S. M. Toyne consented to act as Headmaster of 'Victoria College at Bedford. Mr. Toyne had been for 20 years Headmaster of S. Peter's School, York, before coming to Bedford to give part-time help. Victoria College owes a great deal to him for the tremendous work which he did during the next five years.
The Victorians at Bedford took a full part in the activities of their foster-parent school and brought honour to themselves and to Bedford in both work and games, but they never lost their identity as Victorians. As an expression of their gratitude they and other friends of Victoria College presented an Oak Panel, and an oak seat which now stands in the Bedford School playing-fields
As part of their distinct identity as Victorians at Bedford, a newsletter was produced, containing both news gleaned of Victoria College in Jersey, and also of the plight of the Islanders in general.
In the next few weeks, I am posting some extracts from those newsletters:
CHANNEL ISLANDS BOOK COMMITTEE
An Appeal
Our friends now living in Jersey and Guernsey will particularly need information concerning the true record of events since the disasters of 1940 and will ardently desire to know about the many changes and advances in the free world. A representative collection of English books, reviews, periodicals, etc., published during the past three years, and of those published from now onwards, should therefore be available as soon as possible after liberation.
But only a limited number of copies has been and is being printed, and many books will not be available at the moment the Islands become free unless steps are taken now to build up a supply for each Island. Thanks to a meeting called by The Jersey Society in London, a Channel Islands Book Committee has now been established with the object of collecting and buying the more important books, etc., for despatch at the earliest possible moment to the Jersey Public Library and to the Guille-Alles Library in Guernsey. The possible future needs of Alderney will not be overlooked.
The Committee is as follows : Jersey.—C. T. Le Quesne, Esq., K.C. (Vice-Chairman) ; Dr. A. E. Mourant , B.M., B.Ch., M.A., D.Phil. ; P. M. de Veulle, Esq. Mrs. Phyllis Green Joint Hon. Secretary, 4, Wellington Street, Littleport, Cambs. Guernsey.—Professor H. J. Fleure, D.Sc., M.A., F.R.S. ; J. P. Warren, Esq., B.Sc..
A. H. W.
BOOK COMMITTEE F.R.G.s. The Rev. George Whitley. Mks Mabel Carey, Joint Hon. Secretary, 15, Markham Square, Chelsea, London, S.W.3. Joint Hon. Treasurers to the Committee.—H. Arthur, Esq. ( Jersey Savings Bank). L. R. Cohen, Esq. (Guernsey Savings Bank) Both c/o London Savings Bank, 11 12, Blomfield Street, London, E.C.2.
A panel of experts is being constituted to advise in the selection of books. The Committee will welcome advice and invites the co-operation of Channel Islanders in this country and of others interested in the Islands. Details (title, author, publisher, published price, condition, etc.) of books, etc., offered as gifts for inclusion in the Committee's collection, should be sent to Mrs. Phyllis Green, Joint Hon. Secretary, 4, Wellington Street, Littleport, Cambs.
Our friends now living in Jersey and Guernsey will particularly need information concerning the true record of events since the disasters of 1940 and will ardently desire to know about the many changes and advances in the free world. A representative collection of English books, reviews, periodicals, etc., published during the past three years, and of those published from now onwards, should therefore be available as soon as possible after liberation.
But only a limited number of copies has been and is being printed, and many books will not be available at the moment the Islands become free unless steps are taken now to build up a supply for each Island. Thanks to a meeting called by The Jersey Society in London, a Channel Islands Book Committee has now been established with the object of collecting and buying the more important books, etc., for despatch at the earliest possible moment to the Jersey Public Library and to the Guille-Alles Library in Guernsey. The possible future needs of Alderney will not be overlooked.
The Committee is as follows : Jersey.—C. T. Le Quesne, Esq., K.C. (Vice-Chairman) ; Dr. A. E. Mourant , B.M., B.Ch., M.A., D.Phil. ; P. M. de Veulle, Esq. Mrs. Phyllis Green Joint Hon. Secretary, 4, Wellington Street, Littleport, Cambs. Guernsey.—Professor H. J. Fleure, D.Sc., M.A., F.R.S. ; J. P. Warren, Esq., B.Sc..
A. H. W.
BOOK COMMITTEE F.R.G.s. The Rev. George Whitley. Mks Mabel Carey, Joint Hon. Secretary, 15, Markham Square, Chelsea, London, S.W.3. Joint Hon. Treasurers to the Committee.—H. Arthur, Esq. ( Jersey Savings Bank). L. R. Cohen, Esq. (Guernsey Savings Bank) Both c/o London Savings Bank, 11 12, Blomfield Street, London, E.C.2.
A panel of experts is being constituted to advise in the selection of books. The Committee will welcome advice and invites the co-operation of Channel Islanders in this country and of others interested in the Islands. Details (title, author, publisher, published price, condition, etc.) of books, etc., offered as gifts for inclusion in the Committee's collection, should be sent to Mrs. Phyllis Green, Joint Hon. Secretary, 4, Wellington Street, Littleport, Cambs.
If acquisition is approved by the Committee, owners will be asked to hold the books, etc., at the disposal of the Committee until definite forwarding instructions can be given. The number of new books which the Committee will be able to buy largely depends upon the funds available, and the Committee asks, therefore, for generous financial sup-port. Will all who can make a money contribution please send it to the Joint Hon. Treasurers, c/o London Savings Bank, 11/12, Blomfield Street, London, E.C.2. H. J. FLEURE, Chairman. C. T. Le OUESNE, Vice-Chairman
THE ROLL OF HONOUR
John Henry Vine Hall.
Hall was at College House for two or three terms in 1921 before going on to Clifton. He was serving as a Major in the Parachute Regiment when he was killed in action in North Africa in March this year. In civil life he was a solicitor in the City.
Donald James Le Masurier.
D. J. was the youngest of the four Le Masurier brothers of Jambart, Pontac. He was a Corporal in the Marine Section of the R.A.F. when he lost his life through enemy action in February of this year. His craft was returning from the search for a pilot who had baled out in mid-channel, when they were unfortunate to be hit.
Aubrey Mortimer.
Aubrey Mortimer was at College from 1934 to 1940. He came to England with his people on the enemy occupation of Jersey, and while serving in the Home Guard at Reigate was their best shot. Joining the R.A.F., he was trained as a night fighter in England and then in Canada. After getting his wings he became a Pilot Officer, and having got a very high percentage in all his tests was put on to instructing. It amused him that in his first batch of pupils was D. V. Clift, who had been a School Prefect while his instructor was a Fourth Form boy. He was killed in a flying accident in January, 1943, in his twentieth year. A charming character, affectionately remembered.
Anthony Hollis Pontius.
Tony Pontius entered College in 1925 and left in 1931. He was trained for two or three years in the Westminster Bank, in Jersey and London, and then went out to an appoint-ment with the British-American Tobacco Company at Mukden, Manchuria. He and his brother came home together early in the war and joined the R.A.F., both becoming Pilot Officers in due course. Tony was reported missing on active service in the Middle East in September, 1942, and has now been officially presumed killed. He was in his twenty-eighth year.
Henry Durell Starck.
Henry Starck was at College from 1923 to 1929. From School he went to Halton as an Aircraft Apprentice. He was killed very early in the war. Owing to the enemy occupation of Jersey no details are available.
Maurice Frank Taylor.
THE ROLL OF HONOUR
John Henry Vine Hall.
Hall was at College House for two or three terms in 1921 before going on to Clifton. He was serving as a Major in the Parachute Regiment when he was killed in action in North Africa in March this year. In civil life he was a solicitor in the City.
Donald James Le Masurier.
D. J. was the youngest of the four Le Masurier brothers of Jambart, Pontac. He was a Corporal in the Marine Section of the R.A.F. when he lost his life through enemy action in February of this year. His craft was returning from the search for a pilot who had baled out in mid-channel, when they were unfortunate to be hit.
Aubrey Mortimer.
Aubrey Mortimer was at College from 1934 to 1940. He came to England with his people on the enemy occupation of Jersey, and while serving in the Home Guard at Reigate was their best shot. Joining the R.A.F., he was trained as a night fighter in England and then in Canada. After getting his wings he became a Pilot Officer, and having got a very high percentage in all his tests was put on to instructing. It amused him that in his first batch of pupils was D. V. Clift, who had been a School Prefect while his instructor was a Fourth Form boy. He was killed in a flying accident in January, 1943, in his twentieth year. A charming character, affectionately remembered.
Anthony Hollis Pontius.
Tony Pontius entered College in 1925 and left in 1931. He was trained for two or three years in the Westminster Bank, in Jersey and London, and then went out to an appoint-ment with the British-American Tobacco Company at Mukden, Manchuria. He and his brother came home together early in the war and joined the R.A.F., both becoming Pilot Officers in due course. Tony was reported missing on active service in the Middle East in September, 1942, and has now been officially presumed killed. He was in his twenty-eighth year.
Henry Durell Starck.
Henry Starck was at College from 1923 to 1929. From School he went to Halton as an Aircraft Apprentice. He was killed very early in the war. Owing to the enemy occupation of Jersey no details are available.
Maurice Frank Taylor.
The second of three brothers, of whom a note will be found in A etas Letter No. 5, Maurice was at College from 1922 to 1924. After leaving he studied music and was for several years Music Master at Twyford School, Winchester. Joining the R.A.F., he became a Flight-Lieutenant and was stationed for some time in the Shetlands and later in West Africa, where, in February of this year, he was reported " missing, believed killed."' (In my notice, in No. 5, of his elder brother
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