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Extract from the Autumn 2001 Edition of the Waddelow Society Magazine

Henry John Wadlow and the Frenchay Connection

Henry John Wadlow came to Frenchay, at the age of 31, with his wife Laura. His first entry in the school diary reads: April 2nd 1894, "I took charge of the school this morning. Henry John Wadlow." Frenchay Church of England School was founded (as Frenchay National School) in1842, and the school was built on land donated by Hannah Rooke of "The Big House" (now called Frenchay Park). He commenced his duties at the National School at £100 per annum. In July 1901 there was an outbreak of scarlet fever and the school was closed. Laura contracted the disease and died in her home at the schoolhouse. A plaque can still be seen on the wall and reads "In Memoriam. LL Wadlow 1901".

Their son, Harry, born 26th February 1895, was a pupil at the school until December 1908 and went on to Bristol Grammar School. At the outbreak of the Great War, he enlisted in the ASC and was promoted to Lieutenant and awarded the Victoria Cross, the 14/15 Star and the British War Medal, in Galipoli. Later, he joined the Royal Flying Corps and was training to fly a "DH2 Scout" on Joyce Greenfield Airfield, Kent, when he died in a flying accident 1st May 1917. Hilda Adams, a pupil at the school, recalls: "Mr. Wadlow was in a terrible state when he got the news and he didn't open the school."

Mr. Wadlow's last entry in the school diary reads, "September 27th 1923. I leave this School after 29 years service. The Teachers, Children, Managers, Parents and many old friends present me with a gold watch on leaving. H. J. Wadlow." He died in 1950.

In Memory of

HARRY WADLOW

Captain
Royal Flying Corps
who died on Tuesday, 1st May 1917. Age 22.

Son of Henry John Wadlow, of The Gables, Queen's Grove, Parkstone, Dorset. Born at Frenchay. He was buried at Frenchay (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Frenchay’s war

Extracts from ROY BULMER’s book Frenchay - A Village at War

EVERY town and village has a story to tell of its people during the, of the local lads who lost their lives and the effect it had on the community. A glimpse how Frenchay coped with this tragic event of the Great War of 1914-1918 can be seen in the parish magazines that were published throughout the war. The early issues record the growing number of young men of the village enlisting in the forces. New organisations like the Voluntary Training Corps and the Voluntary Aid Detachment are being formed. The Red Cross is recruiting and gathering strength for the troubles ahead. Men are drilling in the streets, and a rifle range has been set up.

Before long, reports of casualties begin to appear. The Roll of Honour is frequently updated and we see more and more names added to the list, including many women. Mrs. Tanner of Frenchay Park becomes Commandant at Cleve Hospital for wounded soldiers. The two daughters of Dr. C H B Elliott, Molly and Nancy enroll in the Red Cross and serve in Cleve Hospital, while Mrs. Elliott is organising female labour to take the place of the missing menfolk. The casualties grow. Mrs. Bowen, who is recently widowed through the death of Captain Bowen of the Remounts, learns that her son Eynon, Royal Flying Corps, is reported missing. Private William Criddle, a well-known football player in the Frenchay AFC, is killed in action in Mesopotamia while serving with his Gloucestershire Regiment. And the heroes emerge. Lance Corporal James Pullin has received the Military Medal for bravery in the fighting in Ancre, and Private Albert Francis Hutton is similarly honoured for conspicuous bravery in the firing line and for carrying back wounded under heavy shell fire. Letters from the Lads at the Front are recorded and local subscriptions are set up by Miss Good at the Hambrook Post Office to send a Christmas present to every serving soldier from the parish.

It is also possible to follow the story of individuals involved in the struggle. The Rector is delighted to be given the assistance of a young curate, the Rev H C Kinred, but he very soon enlists in the 14th Gloucesters and by February 1916 it is recorded that Lieutenant Hugh Kinred has "gone to the Front". In the Roll of Honour for September 1916, Kinred had been promoted in the field to captain and is recorded as being returned wounded, having had a "marvelous escape from death which will probably rank as one of the most remarkable stories of the war". While walking along a trench he saw a bomb come over and drop near seven soldiers who were fast asleep. "In a moment," he said, "I saw the danger they were in, and that no time could be lost in picking it up. "So I decided to smother it by lying on it. No sooner had I lain on it than it exploded, blowing me from the corner of the trench at an angle of about 30 degrees on to its top. I should doubtless have been killed but for the lucky chance that I was wearing a Whitfield steel waistcoat." Kinred, who was seriously wounded, was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery.

By October 1914, Harry Wadlow, son of Frenchay National School's headmaster, had enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery and in April 1915 we read that he has qualified on the Rifle Range. He serves in the Dardanelles and in November it is recorded that Second Lieutenant H Wadlow, who was lying dangerously ill with fever, has happily recovered, but is not at present fit to return to foreign service. By September 1916 he has joined the Royal Flying Corps and in December is promoted to Captain. On May 1, 1917, he was killed in a flying accident while training in Kent. He was buried with full military honours in Frenchay Churchyard on May 7 in the presence of many of his friends and neighbours.