Lest We Forget

OE John Paynter - Influential figure in music education who championed creativity

John Paynter managed to be a rebel and an establishment figure at the same time.

Classroom-based music is a generally unsung corner of education, yet many composers - Zoltán Kodály, Carl Orff and Ralph Vaughan Williams among them - have given it serious attention. Though less widely known as a composer, John Paynter, who has died aged 78, was regarded by many as the most influential figure in musical education.

Paynter developed a new philosophy for music in schools. While other arts subjects, including English, were engaged in exciting debate and experiment, thanks to the influence of such practitioners as Herbert Read and David Holbrook, music tended to remain in its well-worn (and not much liked) rut. It concentrated on instrumental and vocal training for a few pupils, and the study of musical theory and history for the generality. Paynter experimented with a new approach that placed creativity at its core. For the full article visit this link

Seymour Pike and his part in the Raid of St. Nazaire

I would like to tell you the forgotten, but incredible, story of Old Boy Seymour Pike (OE 1933-37) who served, and died in World War 2. As with many Old Boys, there is little in Seymour's school record to suggest that this boy had the mettle to take part in one of the most outrageous, and dangerous, commando assaults of World War 2.  The attached photo is the only existing photo of Seymour we have, pictured in a school rowing squad from 1937.

After joining up, Seymour quickly  found active service in the Navy, and because he was a gifted German linguist, he was chosen to take part in what has become known as "the Raid of  St. Nazaire".  Why has this particular battle become so famous? Well, 622 sailors took part in the raid, 168 were killed, over 200 ended up as PoWs,  5 Victoria Crosses were awarded, along with many Military Crosses, and Distinguished Service Medals. It was the biggest, single, commando attack of the War. The basic aim of the attack was to destroy heavily fortified docks in North France (St. Nazaire), which were then occupied by the Germans. The attack was to take place at the end of March 1942. If these docks were destroyed this would force German submarines and warships to travel much further for repairs.

Once the attack was underway a destroyer (HMS Campbeltown) was accompanied by 18 smaller boats (Pike was on the boat that led the attack -  Gun Boat 314). The destroyer  rammed the St. Nazaire lock gates and was later blown up ending the use of the dock. Commandos then tried to land on the docks to destroy as many  structures and installations as possible, before attempting to fight their way out. Out of 622 men who entered the St. Nazaire harbour, around only 200 made it at far at the docks. The fire-fight was so extreme the sea caught fire as they battled with a hugely superior German force.  This is the main reason this attack has attained  such high status in War folk-lore: it reads like something out of a boy's comic, or a computer game for today's generation.  A destroyer is used as a battering ram to destroy a dock 18 smaller boats with very little defence support the attack against a heavily defended  German dock. It was a near kamikaze assault which succeeded, but with heavily casualties.

What was Pike's precise role in the attack? He served on  Motor Gun Boat 314, which led the St Nazaire Raid, and for this is listed as a recipient of the DSM .  Lucas Phillips writes that after the attack was underway...

"Pike, the specialist in German signals, is near at hand, his night lamp and his German signals ready..... Pike had been quick to grasp what was needed of him, was standing ready at his elbow on the bridge of the Gun Boat with his night signalling lamp, as the harsh white light burst on them.... It worked like magic.... Pike, cool and steady, complied, making ‘EB' followed by the Morsename. "

 These delaying tactics delayed the German response and played a crucial part in the success of the raid.

Seymour Pike certainly had a colourful War. He survived the Raid of Nazaire and remained in the Navy serving on battleship convoys. Two years later he was serving on HMS Laforey, near Italy.  Laforey was trying to locate a U-boat by dropping depth charges. The commander of the U-boat was obviously very skilful, as after surviving hours of depth charges it surfaced and fired 3 torpedoes, which hit, and quickly sunk the Laforey.  Only 65 of the 247 sailors on board survived. Seymour Pike wasn't one of them. He was an only child, and his mother kept his school cap and tie until her death in the 1980s, they are currently on display in the School Archive.

Emanuel School had exceptionally high active service (and casualty) rates in both Wars. We shouldn't forget that many of those who served were no older than many of our 6^th form pupils. Seymour Pike was 22 when he took part in what is known as "The Greatest Raid of All", the single biggest commando attack of World War 2, and this is only one of many incredible stories from the Wars recorded  in the School Archive. I encourage current pupils to have a proper look around, as there are many  stories of Emanuel school boys who paid the ultimate sacrifice. In the photo Pike is seated in the middle of the front row. The rest are unknown. Tony Jones, Emanuel School Archivist

Brothers in Arms

When reading the excellent History of Emanuel Boat Club by Daniel Kirmatzis I had the opportunity to view many familiar photographs with a different eye. Even though many of them originated in the archive, Dan provided a wealth of extra detail which gave an extra dimension to many of them.

The 1935 First Four can be seen celebrating another victory in the Staines Regatta. At the time, this squad was regarded as the best school four in the Boat Club's short 20 year history. They had many other successes, including victories at Reading, Kingston, Richmond and Twickenham.

When the War broke out in 1939 the boys had already left school, and the services beckoned for them. Of course, there is a story behind every picture, and this article details how all their lives were drastically altered, or ended by the War. For the full article visit this link

Remembrance Day: from the Archives - November 2008

In the School Chapel two memorials remember the Fallen OEs from the World Wars. Lists of the dead also appear in the older versions of the School History. To the casual reader, one might think these lists ought to be complete. However, over the last few years we have added many fresh names to our Fallen list, mainly through relatives who have contacted the school seeking information. For the full article visit this link

Major J W D Armstrong (1920-1945) Major Armstrong was promoted quickly after leaving Emanuel in 1938. He was tragically killed, commanding his men, in a skirmish in North Italy. He was a very well respected member of the school, being a committed sportsman and a member of the School Shooting XIII. He also took part in frequent OTC campaigns and trips.
Captain K C Baker (1919 -1943)
Sergeant Eric Harold Botting 1919-1942 Eric Botting was killed during the Battle of El Alamein 25 October 1942. Tragically he had recently refused a transfer, as he did not want to leave the regiment his father and grandfather also served in. They all served in the London Rifle Brigade. His CO wrote after his death: "Botting, learning there was a wounded officer some 400 yards out, jumped into his truck and drove towards them. He got almost half-way before being hit by a shell and then machine-gun fire. His death must have been instantaneous - tragic, but a very good show nevertheless, and a great inspiration to his company."  He left a widow, after only being married a few months.
Frank David Bowles (1920-1942) Frank was a Leading Stoker in the Royal Navy. He was buried in Londonderry City Cemetery.
Flight Sergeant Douglas J Fitzgerald (1921-1944) Flight Sergeant DJ Fitzgerald fell when his aircraft was shot down on 30th August 1944. He was tragically killed in the same plane as another OE RC Fitzgerald (no relation). When Fitzgerald's OE friend Eric Richardson, died earlier in the War, DJ sent a photo to the school with this epitaph: He Loved the birds and green places And the wind on the heath And saw the brightness of the skirts of God The Portcullis of 1945 states that this was a fitting epitaph to DJ also.
Flight Sergeant Raymond C Fitzgerald (1922-1944) Flight Sergeant RC Fitzgerald fell when his aircraft was shot down on 30th August 1944. He was tragically killed in the same plane as another OE DJ Fitzgerald (no relation). RC Fitzgerald had been married a few short weeks before he was shot down. He had been a navigator for 4 months after serving in the Reserves, in a letter to his parents, his CO said he had the potential to be an excellent airman.
William Frank Godfrey (1896-1916) William Frank Godfrey was one of,  at least, 170 OEs to lose their lives in the Great War. Like many he left school, joined the army, and within a  few months was shipped to France . He was one of a large number of OEs to die in the Battle of the Somme. One day, in particular,  of this battle cost 8 OEs their lives.
Stanley A. George Harvey  (1893-1918) Stanley Arthur George Harvey (affectionately known as "SAG" to his friends) was a true Emanuel character.  He played a major part in keeping Emanuel School abreast of how the War effort was going via the 100s of letters he sent to the Portcullis "From the Trenches" pages. His letters were always signed "SAG" and the school was deeply saddened of news of his death, which came very close to the end of the War in 1918, when the trench war was  almost over.
JG Hunt
PH Jackson
PC Lockeyear
MH McDonnell
ARJ Skillern
EH Smith
KF Stoner
DF Ward
AEF Wheeler
R Young
WL Page
C Payne
GE Richardson