Notes about this article

School Register Available The RWWS has a copy of The Imperial Service College Register featuring the names and other details of former pupils at the Imperial Service College. The dates cover the period from around 1912 - 1941 when the college moved back to Hertford. Those seeking information about former ISC boys are welcome to request the relevant entry from the register. Please email Thamesweb

Reminiscences and photos We would welcome your reminiscences of these schools or the temporary loan of any photographs that you may have that could be included here - especially of any buildings since demolished, or school activities. Your own scans by email would of course be equally welcome. Please send them nice and big, at least 1000 pixels wide which may make a file size of several MB - that would be fine!

An Early Postcard c. 1907

1. The Chapel. 2. The School Crest. 3. The Laboratory.
4. (centre) A view to the east.
5. The Hermitage, (now Camperdown House). 6. A view to the south.
7. School Room and Gym.
The card is titled United Services College, St Mark's, Windsor

The card was posted in 1908 from within the USA to an address in Philadelphia suggesting that a pupil, or staff member, from Windsor with American connections took it to America and subsequently posted it. The message begins "Dear Aunt, ..." and was addressed to a Mrs David Berner (?), 602, Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia. PA. The message appears to be signed by 'Tony'. Selected enlargements from this card are featured below. The photograph was taken by 'Vickery' who was a carpenter at United Services College, Westwood Ho! and who moved to Windsor in 1906 as Clerk of the Works after USC failed financially and merged with St Marks' School, Windsor. Mr Vickery was also a keen photographer and the above pictures, along with a number of pictures of the rugger teams, and doubtless other events, were taken by him. He retired in 1912 and died in 1943 aged 88.

In the article below we take a look at the history of the school in Windsor.

The Beginnings - St Mark's School

Imperial Service College grew from a small 'cottage' school founded in 1845 by Revd Steven Hawtrey, curate at Windsor Parish Church and later at Holy Trinity Church. The school was originally known as St Marks School.
  St Marks soon grew to 50 or so pupils and the premises at the corner of Goswell Road and Oxford Road (formerly Clewer Lane and now buried beneath Ward Royal) were, within 20 years, too small, so new buildings were built in Alma Road on land obtained from the Vansittart Estate. These were opened on 25th April 1862, St Mark's Day, Revd Stephen Hawtrey remaining as Headmaster. The school was located in buildings behind what is now The Frogmore Hotel, which at that time was the Rectory for Trinity Church, Trinity Place. The school was obviously held in high esteem as the subscription list, opened to raise money for the building of the new school, was headed by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and the Duchess of Kent.
  In 1870 the first boarders were accepted with additional buildings constructed in Alma Road. These included a Chapel and Alexander House on the site now occupied by the Police Station and named after the Chairman of the School's Governing Body, Prince Alexander, 1st Earl of Athlone. Across the road was Lawrence House, on the site now occupied by Lawrence Court. A short distance northward was The Hermitage, which still remains today as residential accommodation, and now known as Camperdown House.

The main entrance to the school was opposite Lawrence House. There is some question as to who is commemorated by this building but it seems likely that it was Sir John Lawrence rather than his brother, Sir Henry Lawrence.

Lawrence House as viewed from the Kipling Building gateway in 1975
(© J Handcock)

Lawrence House as viewed from the Goodhart gateway,
opposite St Mark's Road, in 1975
(© J Handcock)

In addition there was Roberts House (68 Alma Road), since demolished, and Connaught House, now known as Upton House School in St Leonard's Road.

St Marks Middle School occupied new buildings in Grove Road where a plaque on the Parish Rooms, dated 1871, remains to this day.

In 2005 we were given the following pictures by David Andrews and to whom we are very grateful. It has not been possible to positively identify all the buildings featured in the photographs and so any assistance would be appreciated.

The School Room with Roberts cannon outside.
It is believed that the Gym was to the left, or in the School Room itself

Alexander House with the Roberts cannon in foreground

Alexander House from the Alma Road entrance, with
The Hermitage (Camperdown House) in the background, to the right.

A view from a similar angle but looking more to the west, with Alexander House now out of shot to the right. In the distance, centre left, is Cromwell Cottage with Vansittart Road and Vansittart Recreation Ground beyond. Here the gift of the cannon by Lord Roberts is acknowledged.

A classroom at Imperial Service College in Edwardian times. The bench seats (forms), large mantlepiece and overmantle mirror, plus extensive plasterwork and cornices show that this classroom was one of those believed to be set up in a converted private house adjacent to the school.

A hallway quite possible in the same house as the classroom above.

The Engineering Laboratory

St Mark's School and USC

At the start of the 1900s, the St. Mark's School amalgamated with the United Services College, which had originally been founded in 1874 at Westward Ho!, Bideford Bay, Devon, originally occupying a row of former lodging houses there. The first headmaster was Mr Cormell Price who, after Oxford and a spell as a tutor in Russia, came to Haileybury School in Hertford to organise the 'Modern Side'. Haileybury was to play a significant part in the later history of the school at Windsor during the Second World War.
  After the merger, the school became known as United Services College, St. Mark's, Windsor. The following photograph is an enlarged image from the postcard featured at the start of this article.

Unfortunately, USC had encountered financial difficulties in 1903 and failed. The boys from USC, following moves through two other schools, arrived at Windsor in 1906. It is this connection that links Windsor with Rudyard Kipling, who had been a pupil at USC from January 1878, when he was 12, and remained there until he returned to India in September 1882, taking up a post on the Civil and Military Gazette in Lahore. His stories about the USC, 'the Coll.' as he often called it, are featured in 'Stalky and Co'.

USC becomes ISC

The school in Windsor soon encountered financial difficulties too and so in 1911 approaches were made to the Imperial Service College Trust, whose objective was to assist with the education of army officers' children. The result was a new lease of life as the Imperial Service College.
  With the death of Revd Nagel, the headmaster, also in 1911, Mr EGA Beckwith was appointed his successor in April 1912.

In due course parents expressed a need for a new Junior School and so in 1920 ISC bought the estate of Mr Edmund Baines Foster which included Clewer Manor and which was used for the ISC Junior School from 1922.

One of a series of ISC postcards believed to show Clewer Lodge when used by ISC's headmaster,
Mr Beckwith.

Other buildings were acquired as part of the estate, including Clewer Lodge, in which Mr Beckwith lived, and the gatehouse to Clewer Lodge. Although the lodge was demolished to make way for Peel Close, the gatehouse remains at 364, St Leonard's Road.

Imperial Service College, Windsor - OTC (Officer Training Corps)

The postcard view above was posted in 1925, although the image could be several years earlier. Being a school with a military background, the training corps were important in the school's daily activities. Here the Officer Training Corps are photographed on parade.
  The view is taken across the area that was to become Kipling Building lawns, looking north-west with Vansittart Road, running left to right, beyond. The Officer Training Corps are on parade beneath a flag staff that features several cross arms presumably for raising signals. To the left, and running parallel with the lane (Vansittart Road) beyond is a rifle range, then comes a pavilion with steps that was later used by a local shooting club in the 1950s, then Cromwell Cottage and another single storey building to the right of that. We believe that this last building was demolished when Kipling Building was erected in 1939. Behind the pavilion and Cromwell Cottage, several of the trees remain to this day (2003) in Vansittart Road Recreation Ground, though the two poplar trees are now gone, lost during storms in recent years.
  In various articles and reports that we have read while researching the history of ISC, the college is always referred to as 'Coll.' and 'Big Side' is believed to be the northern area of the ISC grounds, before the construction of Kipling Building, the area now occupied by an office block dating from the 1980s.

Buildings and Benefactors

Financial difficulties remained throughout the early 1900s because the Imperial Service College Trust allowed only for bursaries, leaving other debts outstanding. Benefactors continued to come forward, including Patrick Alexander, aviation pioneer, friend of the Wright brothers, and financial supporter of many aeronautical projects. Patrick Alexander will be featured in future ThamesWeb articles. He was closely connected with the school until his death on 7th July 1943. He lived at 28, St Mark's Road, Windsor, from 1940-1943. His grave is in Windsor Cemetery and is illustrated in an article here.
  In 1922 another benefactor, Mr F E McCormick-Goodhart, donated land that was sold to benefit the school, part of which was developed as College Crescent. On 23rd September 1924 Mr McCormick-Goodhart died and so the College lost one of its greatest supporters. The Headmaster, Mr Beckwith, later wrote in his history of ISC, Imperial Service College, 1912-1933, the following tribute to Mr McCormick-Goodhart:

F. E. McCORMICK-GOODHART, Esq.

By the death of Mr. McCormick-Goodhart on the 23rd of September, 1924, the College loses one of its greatest benefactors. At a time when the finances of the College were at their lowest and it seemed impossible that they could recover, Mr. Goodhart came to the rescue. Not only did he remove a terrible technical embargo of over £70,000 by the payment of a large cheque, but also in addition gave a further cheque of £9,000 to meet current debts, and then, as if such generosity was not enough, bought the Alma Park Estate for £13,000, the free use of which the College has since enjoyed. Although he found it necessary to leave England in order to acquire the status of an American citizen, he continued to take the liveliest interest in the College, and had actually arranged in his last letter to the Headmaster to stay with him in the summer of this year, when he purposed coming over to England. It is no mere 'facon-de-parler' to say that the College owes very much of its present flourishing condition to him.
  Truly may it be said of Mr. Goodhart - "his works do follow him." In addition to being a Governor of the College, Mr. Goodhart was a leading member of the Council of the Church Army.

Mr McCormick-Goodhart had decided to leave England at some point and take up American citizenship, yet he continued to take the liveliest interest in the College, planning a visit to Windsor and to stay with Mr Beckwith in the summer of 1924.
  The Goodhart Gates were erected at the main entrance in Alma Road in his memory. HRH The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn laid the foundation stone for these gates on July 24th 1926. They were located almost exactly opposite the junction of Alma Road with St Mark's Road. A wall in the same style, together with a second set of gates, extended beyond Camperdown House. The fine St Mark's lions on the pillars of the Goodhart Gates were reproduced from figures of the same in Ripon Cathedral and were incorporated at the suggestion of old boy, Barrington Hudson.

In 2002 the only remaining part of the wall and gate in the original style is to the northern end, alongside Camperdown House, the curved entrance now obscured by ivy. Related article - The demolition of the ISC buildings, Windsor

Camperdown House

The single gate, to the right and beneath the tree in the above picture, is stoutly constructed of oak although it is beginning to show signs of age. [Update 30th September 2002. The frame has been strengthened and the gate painted with a black preservative paint. Update April 2005 Camperdown House received substantial attention to the slate roof.]
 The bricks used in the construction of the wall are of non-standard size, and we have been advised that they are known as Dutch bricks. There are several examples of houses nearby also constructed in the same style of brick in Vansittart Road, adjacent to the recreation ground, and at the southern end of Alma Road, either side of the junction with Goslar Way.

Another valuable benefactor was Mr F C Macaskie who donated generously to the college, funding a classroom block which was named after him, in the area now crossed by Goslar Way. Mr Macaskie J.P. died on 17th January 1933. Mr Beckwith wrote the following obituary.

It is with the deepest regret that we record the death, following an operation, of Mr. F. C. Macaskie, J.P., on the 17th January, 1933. To many, his is but a name connected with classrooms, but to a few of us here, and to the writer especially, the great privilege was vouchsafed of knowing the man, and it is a further privilege to be able to let the present I.S.C. generation know in the hope, too, that future generations may also know what Mr. Macaskie did for the I.S.C. and how it is that he has earned the name of one of the School's greatest benefactors. Not only did he pay for the Macaskie classrooms, but also gave the writer another five figure cheque to wipe out a heavy load of back debts, and it was the writing of this cheque that made it possible for the Trustees of the King Edward's Horse Fund to make over the Fund to the School, in very truth a case of " bis dat qui cito dat." Hence the name of Macaskie must be inextricably bound up with any success that the School has achieved. Such generosity speaks for itself, but those who were present when he laid the foundation stone of the Macaskie classrooms will never forget that wonderfully human touch, when he handed over a further cheque for fifty pounds to celebrate the event, "so that (to quote the gist of his humorous remarks at the time) those who were not especially interested in work and to whom the classrooms rather denoted an interference with the liberty of the individual might derive at any rate some enjoyment, and, he hoped, might not feel too evil effects".
  Surely it is no spirit of exaggeration or adulation that we may say that the I.S.C. boys of the future will rise up and call him blessed, while those of yesterday (with memory of the huts) have already experienced a deep and abiding sense of gratitude.

A second view of the Macaskie classroom block looking south-east.
After WWII the building was used as a barracks and were finally demolished in 1966 to make way for Goslar Way. King Edward Horse Hall was to the right of this view and York Road beyond, to the south.

The Boathouse

Being just a short distance from the River Thames, rowing was an important sport at the Imperial Service College and eventually, in 1934, the College had their own boathouse. Prior to that the boys had used the facilities belonging to Eton College and their boathouses near Windsor Bridge. The new boathouse was opened on May 22nd 1934 by Lady Mary Crichton. Afterwards the dignitaries, Eton College boating masters and their wives were entertained to tea in the grounds of the Eton Country Club, later demolished to make way for the original Windsor War Memorial Swimming Baths in 1962.

The King Edward Horse Hall

In the late 1920s ISC was approached by King Edward VII's Horse Regiment Endowment Fund. With the disbandment of the regiment, the fund's trustees wished to pass on the assets to an educational institution that would permit bursaries to be paid for sons and descendants of commissioned officers. Part of the fund was to be used to create a memorial to the regiment, and this resulted in The King Edward Horse Hall being built in 1931 and used as the School Hall.

 

The Beckwith Memorial

With the death of Mr Beckwith in 1935, a memorial to him was commissioned, 'The Statue of Ambition', which stood in the grounds near the Horse Hall. The Old Boys Journal (March 1937) reports that ‘The design is simple but dignified and adds greatly to the effect of the hall and the classrooms which flank the court on the south and east sides. In the centre of a grass quadrangle, at the intersection of two flagged paths, there is a bronze figure of 'Ambition', the work of the late Richard Goulden. The statue is supported on a granite pedestal and was the gift of Mrs Goulden. The north side at present remains unfinished.’

The inscription reads "In Memory of Edward George Ambrose Beckwith, First Headmaster of The Imperial Service College, 1912-1935, This Court was given by Governors, Masters, Boys and Friends, July 25th 1936."  Below it reads "Well done thy good and faithful servant." At the bottom of the picture, by the path, a small plaque commemorates the unveiling of the statue by HRH the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, President of the Board of Governors. On the day of the unveiling, the weather was most unkind, with heavy rain. Mr Clyde Young was the architect of the memorial having designed the King Edward Horse Hall and classrooms buildings. 'The Statue of Ambition' is now believed to be in the possession of Haileybury School Hertford.

'Tokio' - The Chaplain's House

In February 1920 a reference to the house 'Tokio' (38 York Road) was found in an ISC journal 'Chronicle' which reads ‘The house 'Tokio' in York Road, which is now the property of the College and is to be known in future as the Chaplain's House, is under Mr Healey's charge.’ This house was the subject of a planning application for demolition in 2003 which was fortunately refused. Details

Kipling Memorial Building

Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay on December 30, 1865
and died on January 18, 1936 in London

On the death of Rudyard Kipling, a past pupil of the USC at Westward Ho! from 1878 to 1882, it seemed appropriate that ISC should benefit from the Memorial Fund set up in his honour. Six months later a letter from the Governors of ISC appeared in The Times as follows:

Sir, ­
Rudyard Kipling was at the United Services College, Westward Ho! from 1878 to 1882. His old school is now at Windsor under the new name of the Imperial Service College, and it aims at educating, on favourable terms, the sons of those who have served throughout the Empire in any capacity under the Crown. We feel that this aim is in keeping with the ideals implicit in his writings. In a letter written not long before his death he expressed his great pleasure that the continuity and traditions of his old school were being so well maintained and fostered by the College.
  We wish therefore to appeal for funds to perpetuate his memory by erecting a library or group of buildings containing a library at the Imperial Service College, to be called after him. Subscriptions should be sent to the Hon. Secretary, Kipling Memorial Fund, imperial Service College, Windsor.
We are, etc. etc.

Athlone (Chairman, Board of Governors ISC)
Stanley Baldwin
Alexander J Godley General (OUSC and Member of Board of Governors ISC)
Hepworth A Hill, Lt. Col. (President, OUSC Society)
L C Dunsterville, Major-General (OUSC and President of the Kipling Society)

Rudyard Kipling Memorial Fund Banquet

In March 1938, in the ISC Journal, the following report was published about the fundraising banquet.

An inaugural Banquet was held at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, on the 17th November, 1937. The Chair was taken by the President of the Fund, Major-General the Earl of Athlone, K.G., who was accompanied by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone. The guests of honour were "Stalky" (Major-General L. C. Dunsterville) and "M'Turk " (Mr. G. C. Beresford). There were over nine hundred guests present, among them being the Brazilian Ambassador, Lord Londonderry, Lord and Lady Dufferin, Lord and Lady Plymouth, Lord and Lady Greenwood, Lord and Lady Nuffield, Mr. Winston Churchill, General Sir Alexander and Lady Godley, Sir Bruce Bruce-Porter, the Headmaster and Mrs. Tollemache, Members of the Coll. Staff, Representatives of the Services, the Royal Empire Society, the Kipling Society, and the President and Hon. Treasurer representing the I.S.C. Old Boys' Society.

Lord Athlone read the following message from the King: "I am glad to know that representatives of all parts of the Empire are united in planning a fitting memorial to Rudyard Kipling, whose genius is the common heritage of all who speak the English tongue."

Messages were also received from Lord Linlithgow, President of the Indian Committee of the Fund; Lord Tweedsmuir, President of the Canadian Committee; Lord Gowrie, President of the Australian Committee; Sir Patrick Duncan, President of the South African Committee; Lord Galway, President of the New Zealand Committee; and letters from Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, Chairman of the American Committee; and from Mrs. Kipling.

The loyal toasts were proposed by Lord Athlone and a silent toast was drunk to Kipling's memory.

Mr. Winston Churchill proposed the toast of the Fund in a speech of great eloquence. He paid tribute to Kipling as a poet of Empire whose memory should be worthily perpetuated in the carrying to fruition of the objects for which the Fund was founded. There was never a moment when he did not feel the surge of his (Kipling's) appeal upon " the great verities of our race and State," and he maintained that Kipling had succeeded better than any Blue Book in laying before those who dwelt at home, true pictures of British administration in India. Nor had he rested there, for life in each one of the Dominions had been adorned and interpreted by strokes of his wand. Nothing would ever deprive him of the gratitude which Britons owed him for his inspiration, or of the homage which English-speaking peoples would render to his genius.

Lord Athlone, in replying to the toast, said that as a result of the Dinner nearly £10,000 had been added to the Fund, which now stood at £45,000. 'The Council was aiming at £250,000 and would continue its work until it had secured that sum. The money would be devoted to the erection of suitable memorials to Kipling at Westward Ho! and, possibly, at Windsor, the building of a Kipling Library in the grounds of the I.S.C. and the endowment of Bursaries tenable at the I.S.C. for the sons of those engaged in the service of the Empire.

Lord Greenwood proposed the toast of the Guests. In the course of their replies, "Stalky" and "M'Turk" dispelled some popular illusions as to the activities of the trio at Westward Ho!, but at the same time supplied further details of them and of Kipling's life at school.

Lord Plymouth proposed the toast of the Chairman and paid a well-deserved tribute to the work he was doing to promote the success of the Fund.

The string band of H.M. Irish Guards played during dinner and afterwards Mr. Peter Dawson sang "The Irish Guards " and "The Smugglers' Song" and Mr. Hugh E. Wright spoke "Sestina of the Tramp Royal."

Coll. Prefects acted as stewards in collecting subscriptions that were afterwards made by the guests in response to the appeal.

* * *

The present position is that next September six Kipling scholars will join the I.S.C.; one from each of the Dominions, one from India and one from the Empire generally (including England and British communities in foreign countries).

In 1937 The Journal of the ISC Old Boys reported that the plan was still for the Kipling Memorial Library and Laboratory block to be built to the west of the Beckwith Memorial Court but finally a new classroom block was decided upon to the north, the foundation stone for which was laid in March 1939.

1939 and the School Prepares for War

The following article was published in the Old Boys Journal of April 1939

The College has been organised as a unit in the A.R.P. Scheme at Windsor, and A.R.P. and the Crisis have left their marks. On the 2nd July last, A.R.P. Drill was heralded by the bell sounding the alarm at 9.45p.m. Immediately all lights were extinguished and everyone assembled in their respective shelters. Several boys from each House had previously been detailed to act as dispatch-riders and stretcher bearers, and on the alarm being sounded, they went straight to Headquarters in Alexander House Junior Common Room.

The scheme was that Cambridge House had been hit by incendiary bombs, and a fire-fighting squad rushed to deal with the blaze. This was made extremely realistic by some ingenious smoke bombs manufactured by Mr. Spauls. Another incendiary bomb was reported on the top of Lawrence House, which Major Nicholls gallantly extinguished with a bucket of sand. A high explosive bomb was dropped on Camperdown House, and the stretcher-bearers had a busy time carrying the wounded up to the First-Aid Station in Roberts House, where Mrs. Holdway was in charge. A rescue party composed of the College groundsmen also went over to Camperdown House and assisted with the wounded.

Sir Archibald Campbell (the Head A.R.P. Organiser for Berkshire) and Colonel Robinson from the Home Office, accompanied by the Mayor of Windsor, watched the proceedings and were shown round the various Houses, where they saw the boys assembled, theoretically, in their gas-proof shelters.

The cease fire signal was sounded at 10.30, whereupon everyone returned to their beds. It was an extremely instructive demonstration, but let us hope it will never have to be put into practice.

During the Crisis gas-masks were fitted, windows were painted over and trenches were dug by the boys. The present condition of the trenches is uncertain, but it hoped that they are not in such a state as will be an inducement to aquatic sports during the warmer weather.

In the same edition, April 1939, the following editorial was published giving details of the progress of the Memorial plans.

The outlook at home, or at any rate at the Coll., is less fraught with anxiety than the outlook in world affairs. The Kipling Memorial Fund Council has decided to place at the disposal of the School the sum of £32,000 for the erection of two new houses. They will be built on Big Side facing South, slightly in rear of the line of Alexander House. It is intended that they should form the central portion of a block of six houses extending from Alma Road to Vansittart Road, to be known probably, as the Rudyard Kipling Memorial Block. The two houses to be built now will contain from 47 to 50 boys each, with Housemasters' quarters at either end and Matrons' quarters in the centre. They will be occupied by the boys at present living in Roberts, Connaught, Beckwith and Kitchener Houses. An account of the laying of the foundation stone by Princess Alice appears on another page, and it is expected that the houses will be ready for occupation by November, 1939.
  In front of the new block on Big Side, grass cricket nets have been laid on the West and hard cricket nets on the East. A new cricket square has been constructed in the middle of the Rec., and it is hoped that this will soon be accompanied by an adequate pavilion.
  The thanks of all concerned with the welfare of the Coll. are due to the Memorial Fund Council for enabling this project to be carried out, for, although many of us will regret the passing of Big Side and its surroundings as we knew it, the question of housing was a burning problem that had to be solved before the Coll. could expand much more. Those boys who have lived in scattered houses ill-adapted for the purpose will now be housed within the School grounds nearer their fellows, in first-class quarters equipped (as the house-agents say) with every modern convenience. The temporary shelving of the plans for a Library and the completion of the Quadrangle is more than compensated for by this achievement.

Also in April 1939 a report was published of the Foundation Stone ceremony.

Rudyard Kipling Memorial Building

The foundation stone was laid on Monday, March 6th, 1939, by H.R.H. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, who on her arrival, inspected the Guard of Honour of the O.T.C.

The Earl of Athlone welcomed the guests, among whom were the High Commissioner for India (Sir Firoz Khan Noon), the Provost of Eton, the Rector of Beaumont College, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Colonel Lionel James, the Governors of the College and a large number of parents, Old Boys and friends, and mentioned that Lord Kenilworth had taken a prominent part in the inauguration of the Rudyard Kipling Memorial Fund.

The Hon. Vincent Massey, P.C, High Commissioner for the Dominion of Canada, said that it was proper that the name of Kipling should be commemorated by this building in the grounds of the school which he had immortalized. The School, in a different place and under a changed name, was faithful to the traditions in which Kipling so firmly believed. He welcomed the idea that boys from the Colonies should be educated at the Imperial Service College and hoped that some of those who passed through would make their way to Canada and help in the development of the Dominion.

The Headmaster expressed the thanks of the College to all who had helped to make possible the erection of the new building and particularly the Kipling Society. He also announced that Princess Alice had graciously consented to become Patron of the College.

Her Royal Highness then formally laid the Foundation Stone and stated that she had had a very charming letter from Mrs. Kipling, saying what great pleasure this memorial would have given to Kipling.

Three hearty cheers were accorded to her, after which the guests were entertained to tea in the K.E.H. Hall.

The simple Foundation Stone photographed in the 1970s

A similar report appears in the Kipling Journal, No 49 of April 1939 which reads:

In the Daily Telegraph and Morning Post (March 7th) there appeared a long account of the Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Rudyard Kipling Memorial Buildings at the Imperial Service College, Windsor, on the previous day, 6th March 1939, by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone. The college is a direct descendant of the Old United Services College at Westward Ho!, the scene of the immortal 'Stalky and Co.' The Earl of Athlone told those present that the new buildings would allow more than 100 boys now living in houses outside to be accommodated within the college. The Memorial Fund now totalled £40,000 and five Kipling scholars had already arrived. The Hon. Vincent Massey, High Commissioner for Canada, said there could not be a more suitable site for a memorial to Kipling than the school which he immortalised. In a different place and under a changed name it was faithful to the traditions in which the author so firmly believed. It was fitting that several of Kipling's former school-fellows were present, and they would agree that Kipling would have been very happy to have his name permanently linked with the school he loved. Mr. L de O. Tollemache, the headmaster, said that it was largely due to the Earl of Athlone that the fund had been so successful. Princess Alice has been a devoted friend to the school, and he was glad to say that she had become patron of the college.

Kipling Memorial Building Completed

With the onset of the war, and the original school buildings, Connaught House and Roberts House, already commandeered by the army, The Rudyard Kipling Memorial Building (locally known as Kipling Building) was completed by September 29th 1939, delaying only for a week or two the start of the Christmas Term. The building comprised two school houses, retaining the names of Connaught and Roberts, and each accommodating fifty pupils. At the eastern and western ends of the building were house masters' accommodation. The building was designed by Mr Clyde Young in collaboration with Mr. Bernard Engel. On the south side was a lead plaque illustrating the characters of the 'Jungle Book' modelled by Mr Benno Elkan. This plaque is now installed in the building currently occupying this site in Alma Road, Windsor.
  The writer recalls Kipling Building from the 1950s. It was very solidly built with large stout wooden doors, varnished, with high quality, polished wood floors throughout. The windows were metal, Crittal style, with large cast iron radiators in all the rooms. There were also fireplaces in some rooms. I recall being shown the boiler-room and was fascinated by the hopper, full of solid fuel, probably anthracite, which was delivered to the bottom of the boiler by a huge horizontal Archimedes screw.
  There were two air-raid shelters in brick with flat concrete roofs, one at the western end, near Vansittart Road, the other to the north, running alongside the line of the path constructed in 1981 that connects Alma Road and Vansittart Road.
  A rifle range had been built alongside Vansittart Road, running north-south, approximately the full length of the nearby Recreation Ground. At the 'target' end, the north end, a large wall, with curved ends, some 15 feet or more high had been constructed, with firing areas at selected points along the sunken ditch that formed the range. Each of these had a roof over them with round, dark wooden supports at each corner. The floors of the firing areas were covered with what seemed to be fine clinker or cinders. The range was a reminder of just how important military skills were in the days of the Imperial Service College at Windsor. As a boy I remember collecting the small, brass, spent cartridge cases from the firing areas.
 Beyond the rifle range at the northern end was a Cricket Pavilion and beyond that, Cromwell Cottage which, when Kipling Building was taken over by Windsor Corporation in 1949, became the home of Jimmy Johnson and his family. See the postcard above for a view of these buildings. For many years Jimmy Johnson was foreman at the council depot and could always be relied upon to get out with his crew in all weathers, especially in snow and frost, to salt the roads or clear snow drifts, or attend to any other emergency that might arise.

Kipling Memorial Building (south face) from the lawn (1)

The Rudyard Kipling Memorial Plaque on the south side of Kipling Building, overlooking the lawn. Cast in lead, it was modelled by Mr.Benno Elkan.

Headmaster Rev. L. de O. Tollemache, 1935-1941

Rev. L. de O. Tollemache was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford. He was appointed headmaster of ISC in 1935 following the death of Mr. Beckwith. We are indebted to A Bowra who writes:

I was reading an old book today and there was an 'interesting' fact concerning Christian names handed out by parents to their offspring. In this case it seems the Revd Ralph William Lyonel Tollemache, 1826-1895, of South Witham, Lincoln bore seven daughters and seven sons. Obviously a student of old English history he named his seventh son, (b. 11 January 1892) as follows:
Lyonulph Cospatrick Bruce Berkeley Jermyn Tullibardine Petersham de Orellane Dysart Plantagenet Tollemache.

The birth certificate might make interesting reading.

Lyunulph Cospatrick Bruce Berkeley Jermyn Tullibardine Petersham de Orellana Dysart Plantagenet died on 30 November 1960.

1940 Wartime ISC

The following was published in the April 1940 issue of the ISC Old Boys' Journal. Whilst not all is relevant to Windsor, we have included the extended text as ISC had such close ties with the British Armed Forces. The school almost certainly lost in action a much higher percentage of their Old Boys than other schools.

Time moves against Germany in all spheres and the past six months have been of immense value to the Allies in strengthening their positions. But they cannot win the war without first destroying the enemy's power and will to fight and we should be foolish to underrate his strength. The overthrow of the enemy can be achieved only by the supreme effort on the part of every individual directed into the right channel and this will inevitably entail great sacrifice. We cannot foretell what lies ahead, but this year will surely see us put to the test and the full issue joined. Lord Halifax has said that we are opposed to an active force of evil that, if it should triumph, would not permit our civilization to live. No price, then, is too great to pay for our freedom.

* * *

The war has changed the lives and prospects of most of us and not the least of the difficulties it has created is the problem facing the boy about to leave his Public School. If he is destined for the Services he finds the Cadet Colleges closed to him and if he contemplated a University degree he will be able to take only a somewhat truncated course of study - at any rate for the time being. As the Headmaster said in his speech on Founders' Day, it would seem advisable for the undergraduate to postpone his military training until after he has taken his degree, but the problem of the boy who contemplates the Army or Air Force as a career seems as yet unanswered, and training for a professional or business career will have to be viewed in the light of the requirements of militia training. When peace comes again it is hoped that the State will tackle such problems without prejudice and with practical sympathy.

The future of the Public School system itself may well create a serious post-war problem, both for parents and governors. The cost of even the average-priced Public School has been of late years an increasing strain on the resources of many parents who are now faced with possibly dwindling incomes and certainly increased taxation. Will the State be compelled to step in and assist the Schools to lower their fees ? If so, undoubtedly the State will demand its price. Let us hope it will be a fair one with due regard for the benefits that, despite its many shortcomings, the Public School system has bestowed on the community in the past.

* * *

At the Coll. the most important development during the year has been the completion of the Rudyard Kipling Memorial Block on the old Big Side. The buildings were designed by Mr. Clyde Young, in collaboration with Mr. Bernard Engel, and a description of the building programme was given in last year's Journal. It had been hoped that there would have been a formal opening by an important personage, but the war prevented this. Instead, they were informally occupied at the beginning of the Christmas term by the former inhabitants of Connaught and Roberts Houses. The design is in harmony with the K.E.H. Hall, the Classrooms and the proposed Laboratories. In the centre gable of the south front is a plaque, modelled in cast lead by Mr. Benno Elkan, illustrating the characters of The Jungle Book.

A bust of Rudyard Kipling, which will be placed in the buildings, has been presented to the Coll. by H.R.H. Princess Alice and Lord Athlone. The bust was executed by Madame Ginette Bingguely Lejeune, and has been on view both in the Royal Academy Exhibition in London and in the Paris Salon.

Mrs. Kipling herself died on the 19th December last.

* * *

It is with great regret that we publish a list, of casualties suffered already among the ranks of Old Boys of the Coll. No words of ours are needed to convey honour to their services or sympathy with the bereaved.

It is necessary, however, to point out the requirements of the Press and Censorship Bureau, set out in a circular letter to the Headmaster. In the publication of lists of Old Boys who are serving their country or who have lost their lives in such service, the Authorities are anxious that, though the name, rank and regiment may be given, no reference should be made to any ship, battalion or other unit within the regiment, or to any command, unless such particulars have already been officially published. It is also requested that no information should be published that would reveal the locality in which any member of the Forces is serving.

* * *

It was reported that 481 Old Boys, one Assistant Master and three members of the College staff fell in the Second World War.

It is beyond the scope of this article to publish the lists of those from ISC who were killed in action, or serving in the Armed Forces or who were decorated, but we will retain the published lists here for as long as is practicable if anyone would like to research their forebears. Please contact Thamesweb

ISC Leaves Windsor

In 1942, just three years after Kipling Building had been completed, ISC merged with Haileybury School and moved to Hertford. This was not as it might seem at first sight a totally unconnected move, for United Services College at Westwood Ho! was created by Mr Cormell Price, its first headmaster, when he took a class to Devon from Haileybury and so, after over sixty years, the school was, in a sense, returning to its original roots.
  At the time it was hoped or assumed by many that the move to Hertford was quite possibly a temporary war-time measure. The following editorial and letters, as published in the ISC Old Boys Journal of April 1942, reveal the real background to the move.

We have the sad duty of confirming the information, which has already appeared in the Press and has also been circulated to members, that the I.S.C. will have come to the end of its existence at Windsor on March 31st, 1942. As from the beginning of the summer term the Coll. will be amalgamated with Haileybury, under the title of 'Haileybury and Imperial Service College'.
  The causes which have led the Governors to make this decision are financial. We understand that the state of affairs had become so serious that only a large sum of money could save the situation and as this was not forthcoming the only alternative to closing down was to seek an amalgamation.
  The Junior School remains at Clewer, though losing some part of its grounds. Boys from this will have certain advantages, including some closed scholarships at Haileybury and I.S.C. The Trust Funds remain intact and the income will be used for this purpose, and also for the provision of Scholarships and Bursaries as before. All the school buildings including the land known as Big Side are to be sold, and also the rest of the playing fields, in order to pay off the indebtedness. The sale of the former is, however, probably postponed as the Government has requisitioned the buildings.
  It is not for us to apportion the blame for allowing the finances of the Coll. to have reached such a deplorable condition, but we have no hesitation in stating that those responsible should have realised the situation and should have taken steps in time to avert the disaster. Those who were present at the Coming of Age Dinner in 1933 may perhaps remember the late Mr. Beckwith's words of warning and those of us who were privileged to assist him in building up the traditions of the I.S.C., whether as Masters or as Boys, will deeply sympathise with Mrs. Beckwith and her family in seeing his life's work brought to nought.
  The Captain of School, as Editor of the I.S.C. Chronicle, has dealt very ably and sympathetically with the situation as it affects the present generation of boys and we are glad to reprint his editorial below, together with a letter from Mr. Sidney Beckwith to Ex-Juniors. We would also call attention to letters from Col. Tapp and Gen. Godley in the O.U.S.C. Section. [Reproduced below, Ed.]
  The closing of the Coll. at Windsor is naturally as much of a blow to Old as to Present Boys. The Coll. has a record of which it may justly be proud. Its members are now scattered over the face of the earth, fighting the Empire's battles, and as in the Great War many of the best have already fallen. Old Boys may be assured that the best traditions have been maintained to the end, and we know from observation how manfully and tactfully the Present have carried on during the very difficult period of the last two terms. There has been no rot from within.
  The Headmaster of Haileybury, Canon Bonhote, has given assurances that I.S.C. Boys will he welcomed and not treated as strangers, and the hand of friendship has been offered by the President and Secretary of the Old Haileyburian Society.. The boys, some one hundred and ten, who are going on will be housed in Lawrence and Kipling Houses. The former is already a Haileybury name and we are glad to note that Maj. Nicholls has been invited to be its Housemaster. Several other Masters have been invited to continue their work at Haileybury and I.S.C. We can only hope that the union will be a happy one and that the members of each School will strive to that end by being prepared to accept what is best in the other.
  From all quarters Old Boys have expressed the hope that, after the war, it may be possible for the School to return to Windsor. Financial support on a considerable scale would, of course, be necessary, but, given the right spirit and the determination to fight an uphill battle, the difficulties might not prove unsurmountable. Any practical suggestions from Old Boys will be welcomed.

* * *

The following editorial and letter are reprinted from the last number of the I.S.C. Chronicle:-

"The chief characteristic of the boys of this School is the nobility of their conception of the purpose of mankind." So says the Dean of Windsor. And although this term is to be our last at Windsor, this is an ideal which we should carry away with us, wherever we go, ever striving to maintain it throughout all our lives,
  It is hard for us, who have a tradition peculiar to ourselves to be forced to stand by and watch our school gradually drifting apart; hut we must remember that the spirit of a school, and of this School particularly, is intimately bound up with the boys themselves. One of the traditions of the I.S.C. has been that the School has been run by the boys, and for the boys with the minimum of needless interference by the masters. Thus it will be more difficult for us to adapt ourselves to the routine of another school; but we must never lose sight of the fact that Haileybury will be experiencing a similar problem; and although our's must, of necessity be the greater sacrifice, we must try and " see the other fellow's point of view," and not abandon ourselves to fruitless recrimination. With our recent sporting victories over Haileybury still fresh in our minds, we know that we shall be accepted as equals.
  We have met Canon Bonhote, and we have every reason to believe that the social life of this school is as vital to him as that of Haileybury itself. We must hear in mind that this amalgamation will be the ultimate test of the value of the College, requiring all the strength of our traditions of Service and Obedience. We must see to it that we do not try to evade this final duty.
  Now, all that remains for us to do, is to wish all members of this School who are going on to Hertford the best of good fortune; and we beg that they will try and remember that they were once proud to be boys of the Imperial Service College.

---

By Sydney Beckwith. (Headmaster at the Junior School)

Dear Ex Juniors,

As this is probably the last opportunity I shall have of addressing you through the medium of these notes, there are one or two things I should like to say to you.
  I have been intimately associated with the College since 1912, when it first became known as the Imperial Service College. It was then a small school of not much more than fifty boys and burdened with an almost, overwhelming debt. In spite of this, the School and I grew up together, so to speak, until its numbers reached nearly four hundred, which was the goal that had been set for it. Devoted though my father was to my sister and myself, he made no secret of the fact that the College was to him both son and daughter.
  You can understand then that the sudden news that the I.S.C was to be amalgamated with Haileybury, that the old associations with Windsor were to be ended, and that most of the land, redolent of happy memories, was to be delivered into the hands of the builder, came as a bitter blow to my family and myself.
  You may possibly wonder why the Junior School is able to continue. The answer is that it has so far succeeded in paying its way. Whether it will continue to do so in the future depends largely on circumstances. The fact that it has in the past contributed considerably to the upkeep of the College is perhaps beside the point.
  I fully realise what this amalgamation means to you. It is not only buildings that you will be leaving behind you. I can only pass on to you a piece of advice repeatedly given to me by my father and one which has stood me in, good stead on more than one occasion: "When the milk has been spilt, go to the next brown cow." One of the arts of life is that of knowing how to deal with the fait accompli.
  I am no prophet, but it is by no means unlikely that by your amalgamation with Haileybury you are setting an example that will have to be followed willy-nilly by most of the Public Schools in the near future. You are at any rate amalgamating with another Public School of considerable standing, with a fine reputation both for work and games (yes, I put them in that order on purpose), and you are retaining your name.
  Just to start with, you may find things a bit difficult. Schools are usually notoriously jealous of their customs (often erroneously confused with traditions) and there may be a tendency at first for each school to try and show the other "where they get off." Forget it. Show one another how to get on. Remember that Haileyburians may not be much keener on the amalgamation than you are. Be broadminded. There are two sides to every question. If the truth will out, probably each school can learn something of the other. You will find that masters are much the same whether you call them beaks, brushers or just tramps, and there is precious little difference between a prefect and a monitor. Anyway, we shall all have to adapt ourselves to circumstances before long, if we have not done so already.
  Three things have always struck me with regard to the I.S.C.: your splendid good-fellowship, your outstanding "guts," and your motto, magnificent alike in its sentiment and its simplicity, " Fear God, Honour the King."|
  If I were asked to define the tradition of the I.S.C., a tradition that, in spite of the comparatively short history of the School, has left its mark in every corner of the Empire, I should answer without any hesitation, "The tradition of turning out men."
  So I wish you all the best of luck. We shall greatly miss you. Take with you to Haileybury all that was best of the old "Coll," and "quit yourselves like men," so that whether I.S.C. or Haileybury and I.S.C. you may still be-

Sons of Empire
Strong to hew
Steps to fame
The wide world through.

Yours always, SIDNEY B.

---

It was with great regret that we learned during the summer holidays that the Headmaster, Mr. L. de 0. Tollemache, had decided to resign and take up a Government appointment under the Midland Regional Commissioner immediately.
  Mr. Tollemache was appointed Headmaster in April, 1935, after the death of Mr. Beckwith, and it was evident at once that he did not intend to work with a "new broom." He recognized and determined to retain all that was best in the institutions of the I.S.C.
  One of his chief efforts was directed towards the closer union of the U.S.C. and I.S.C. and to him is due the credit for the first idea of the Kipling Memorial Building.
  During the period of Mr. Tollemache's Headmastership numbers reached their high-water mark and it was after the outbreak of war that the decline set in which accentuated the financial difficulties. Far reaching changes were made in the administration and it came as no surprise when Mr. Tollemache announced his resignation.
  We wish both Mr. and Mrs. Tollemache all possible happiness in the future.

* * *

The Journal also included a summary of the changes that the school had seen since 1908 following the amalgamation with USC.

1908-1942

From 1908 to 1942 is a far cry, and very many changes have taken place during that time at the dear old Coll. New buildings have appeared one by one, and the old Houses have been altered, in many cases, almost out of recognition.
  The Squash Court is adjoining "D" House (then "Old House") were taken down before Mr. Beckwith joined in 1912, as also the Laundry and Printing Shop, where the "D" House Changing Rooms now are.
  The Dining Hall, which used to be in "A" House, was transferred to the Rig Hall, which in early days was used as Classrooms, underneath being the Gymnasium where the Kitchen now reigns in all its glory.
  The name of the College was altered on Mr. Beckwith's arrival in 1912, and with his advent a new regime started. One of the first changes he made was that of the boys' headgear; caps and bowlers on Sundays were altered to straw hats (or Bashers as they are generally called) on weekdays and Sundays. This change did not appeal to many at first, but I am sure no boy would be willing to exchange his Basher for a cap nowadays.
  The custom of wearing First and Second XV caps outside the College was discontinued, much to the sorrow of the Windsor people, who greatly enjoyed seeing the boys thus arrayed walking up Peascod Street on half-holidays.
  From 1912 until 1918, when Mr. Oliver joined, Mr. Beckwith and myself carried on the work of the School Office alone, and I remember once when we had to close down three weeks before the end of the term owing to a bad epidemic of measles, finding Mr. Beckwith on. my return from London (where I had been to see a boy off to Scotland) giving out journey money from my cash box; later on I found my balance in hand was £10 more than it should have been and as Mr. Beckwith was sure this sum did not belong to himself, it was handed over to the School Mission.
  A lot of Canadians, who were stationed somewhere in the Great Park, [See Smiths Lawn in our Great Park article here] were a great help to the College about the commencement of 1915, coming over every day and fixing up small wooden huts on the spare patch between Camperdown and Alexander Houses. These huts were very much appreciated as classrooms, and eased the congestion considerably in the various Houses, but were found to be very hot in summer and too cold in winter. During the wet periods a series of lakes appeared, which had to be waded through, much to the discomfort of the individual. These huts were discontinued when the new Classroom Block was presented by Mr. Macaskie, and what a red letter day that was too. I remember after the Foundation Stone had been laid, Mr. Macaskie gave the Headmaster £50 to be divided amongst the boys; the boys, after a series of mathematical problems, found it would mean very little if portioned out separately and they asked for a dinner to be provided and everyone attended it in state!
  Very many of our Masters joined up, and were replaced by others; one especially remains in my memory, probably because his room was next to my Office in Lawrence House. He was a very nervous man and, of course, this was soon spotted by the boys, who used periodically to creep along the passage and then at a given signal burst large paper bags. Another Master had a great dislike of whistling; one Sunday morning a great- noise was heard outside his study window where a large number of boys had gathered and were enjoying themselves thoroughly.
  The recent happenings, and all the very happy times we spent together during Mr. Tollemache's Headmastership, are too vivid to have escaped one's memory; and we felt that with his departure a new era had started, but it was a tremendous blow to all of us when we heard that this term would be the last for all of us at Windsor, and now we find ourselves shortly to be scattered all over the universe and the dear old Coll. will be no more; but I am sure that those of us who have been privileged to be counted amongst its members and have learned to love every stick and stone, will always remember the very many happy times we have spent together, and those boys who are starting out on life's big adventure, will never bring discredit on their School Tie and Old College traditions.

" Fear God. Honour the King."

Miss V H Schofield

Also in the Journal of 1942 are reproduced some of the letters explaining the situation. The following is taken from the United Services College Old Boys Society newsletter, by this time incorporated into the ISC Old Boys Journal. The correspondence is introduced by Col. G C Hodgson, DSO of East Molesey, Honorary Secretary of the OUSC Society,

News Sheet

OWING to the war and my still having more than a full-time job with the Home Guard, I am afraid the heading is a misnomer, for I have had no spare time to collect news and O.U.S.Cs. have evidently not had time either to write and give me any.
  Most of the little there is has been given me by Mr. Hughes, the Hon. Secretary of the I.S.C.O.B. Society, to whom we are again very much indebted for his ever ready help and for again most kindly offering to send to our members the combined publication.
  You will all be very sorry to hear the tragic news that, owing to financial difficulties and falling off in numbers, the I.S.C. is closing down as a separate entity.
  The following copies of letters from Col. H. A. Tapp, a member of our Committee, which I sent to our Chairman, Gen. Sir A. J. Godley, and asking him if he could do anything for the return of the I.S.C. to Windsor after the war, as Tapp suggests, and his reply will explain the situation better than any other way, I think:

The first letter is to Col. G C Hodgson, from Col. H A Tapp.

CRANMORE LANE,
ALDERSHOT.

14th February, 1942.

DEAR HODGSON

1. Recently in the Press it was announced that the Imperial Service College would shortly leave Windsor and amalgamate with Haileybury, both Colleges retaining their identity. It is extremely unlikely that two schools can really retain their separate identity for long under such circumstances.

2. Lord Kenilworth's notice to parents implied that financial difficulties due to war conditions was the reason for this 'merger.' To all those interested in the I.S.C. and its association with Kipling and the old United Services College, this brief explanation is not entirely satisfactory.

3. If the I.S.C. has found it hard to keep going during the last few years, a thorough overhaul of its administration could, no doubt, have detected weak spots and enabled economies to be effected. Other means might have been found for obtaining the necessary financial aid.

4. Is the Governing Council entirely blameless for the present state of affairs, and has the possibility of carrying on the I.S.C. at Windsor been sufficiently examined?

Unfortunately no desire has been expressed by Lord Kenilworth for the School's return to Windsor after the war. In fact, the buildings are up for sale.

5. Quite apart from the depressed feeling aroused among some of the Staff, the boys (and after all boys are often good judges!), and we must include 'old boy' parents, at the thought of leaving Windsor, there is the aspect that the Nation's memorial to Rudyard Kipling will be abandoned. Are these and other memorials to be lightly discarded?

6. £45,000 has been collected in recent years for Scholarships and the building of Kipling memorial houses. A sum of nearly £30,000 Regimental Funds of the King Edward Horse provided a very fine School Hall in addition to Scholarships for the sons of the Regiment. Many other gifts have been given to the I.S.C. to help forward the School and to keep alive the memory of Kipling. Canada and South Africa are particularly interested in the College. More than ever such an Institution as the Imperial Service College will surely be wanted after the war.

7. The surplus land of the College has been advertised and sold at a figure which should relieve the College of the greater part of its financial embarrassment.

8. It is understood the merging of the I.S.C. with Haileybury requires the sanction of the Privy Council. Is it not possible to have the situation re-examined, with a view to preventing the I.S.C. leaving Windsor or ensuring its return after the war?

9. I send these few thoughts to a number of friends who may wish to start a press campaign to save the I.S.C. - being a serving soldier I cannot write to the press (thank goodness!) Action will be needed quickly as time is pressing.

10. Please forgive me worrying you, and I only do so in the hopes that you may agree to put in a plea for maintaining the I.S.C. at Windsor or for ensuring its return there after the war.

Yours sincerely,

H. A. TAPP.

The next letter is also to Col. G C Hodgson, from General Sir Alexander Godley, GCB, KCMG, of the Board of Governors of ISC.

THE ROYAL EMPIRE SOCIETY
NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE
LONDON, W.C.2.

4th March, 1942.

MY DEAR COLONEL

As I said I would, I am writing again to tell you something of what transpired at Monday's meeting of the Executive Committee of the I.S.C. I am afraid things have gone too far for it to be possible in any way to even postpone the amalgamation with Haileybury. Lord Kenilworth saw both your letter and Tapp's, and everything that you both said in them was explained to the Committee. I feel that I ought to have kept you better informed of the negotiations for the amalgamation, but, as I have said to you before, the circumstances were such that it was necessary to take immediate action, and we all jumped at the chance of amalgamation with Haileybury, the school from which the United Service College originally came, rather than run any risk of missing the opportunity by delay; and having to accept some very much more unsatisfactory solution. It is impossible in a letter like this to go into the details of the financial situation, but it was such as to make it quite impossible to carry on as things were and the alternative would have been not only bankruptcy but a most inglorious departure from Windsor. The number of boys also was dwindling so steadily that there would not have been enough left with which to carry on. As it is we march out of Windsor with our flag flying high, with all our traditions and every safeguard that the identity of the College will be in no way lost. The name is to be 'Haileybury and the Imperial Service College.'

The sale of the properties will realise such a sum as will enable us to not only maintain the present boys at their present fees, but to nominate and bring in other boys of the same kind under the same conditions and same circumstances as at Westwood Ho! or at Windsor, at a fee much lower than the ordinary and which their parents can afford. Arrangements are being made for all Memorials worth keeping to be transferred to Haileybury, or to the Junior School. Our governors will be well represented on the Haileybury and I.S.C. Council. They have asked me to be a Trustee for the disposal of the funds of the College in the interests of I.S.C. boys and you may rely upon me to ensure that the Old Boys Societies are voiced and recognised in every way by the amalgamated school. I have made a great point of this in all our discussions and the same applies to the King Edward Horse, and Kipling, connections.
I am writing to Dunsterville to ask him to become a Governor, and I hope we may be able to get someone else of one of the Old Boys' Societies represented on the Council or Trustees.

The boys were, of course, very unhappy at first at the idea of leaving Windsor, but the position has now been thoroughly explained and I think that they gave come to realise the situation much better and to be much more reconciled to it, especially in view of the fact that they will have many more amenities, as I think I explained to you before, than they had at Windsor, and that they are assured that they will be most sympathetically received. The Headmaster of Haileybury has already been to Windsor and met the Prefects, and I believe they were much impressed by his kindness and evident sympathy with them in their natural reluctance at the transfer. He is a particularly nice man, Canon Bonhote, and I am sure he will do everything to make things easy for them.

If there is anything more about which you would like information, or about which I can tell you, do please write to me again. I can assure you I am only too anxious to do everything I can to keep the old School's end up and to satisfy the Old Boys' Societies in this unfortunate matter. In Tapp's letter, he is naturally anxious about the Kipling Memorial Houses and the King Edward Horse, and I can only repeat that we have every intention, in some way or other, of identifying both these things with the amalgamated school.

Yours sincerely,

ALEX GODLEY

Aftermath

When ISC Senior School moved away from Windsor, 128 boys and seven masters transferred to Haileybury School, Hertford. Lawrence House took over the original Haileybury Lawrence, with Major Nicholls as House Master and M G R Kingsford as House Captain. Connaught and Roberts Houses formed Kipling House and members of Cambridge House joined other Haileybury houses.

Most of the various memorials from Windsor were either removed to Haileybury School or Westwood Ho! before petrol restrictions came into force. Details appear in the ISC Old Boys Journal of 1943. The Honours Boards from the Dining Hall at Windsor could not be accommodated at Hertford and so the names were transcribed onto vellum in book form and located in the Library at Hertford.

In April 1943 it was reported that the land at 'Big Side', the Chapel, King Edward Horse Hall, Kipling Memorial Building, the classrooms, Dining Hall and 'A', 'B' and 'C' houses were purchased by Windsor Corporation.

The ISC Junior School became known as Haileybury and ISC Junior School, and remained at Clewer Manor, off Imperial Road. The headmaster was EAS (Sydney) Beckwith, EGA Beckwith's son, a position he held from 1934-1968.

In April, 1945, three years after the move, Mr Beckwith wrote the following article for the Old Boys' Journal.

An Open Letter from Sydney Beckwith, Headmaster, Junior School

DEAR O.U.S.C'S. and O.I.S.C.'s.,

It has been suggested to me by several Old Boys that I should write a brief account of the Junior School and its doings in this number of the Old Boys' Journal. I will, therefore, endeavour to give you all the necessary information.
   No doubt you are by now all aware of the fact that, since April, 1942, the "Coll." as a separate entity finally ceased to exist, that it has permanently amalgamated with Haileybury at Hertford as Haileybury and Imperial Service College, that all the land (including a large portion of the Junior School grounds) has been sold for building and that Big-Side, including all the buildings, has been sold to the Town Council for municipal offices, etc. The idea is, I believe, to make it a civic centre.
   The Junior School, however, now known as Haileybury and Imperial Service College Junior School, is still carrying on in its old surroundings at Clewer Manor. The numbers are just on 100 and with present accommodation and bookings there are no more boarding vacancies before 1949. It is hoped, however, that before then we shall be able to increase our accommodation. The numbers aimed at will probably be in the neighbourhood of 100 boarders and possibly 25 day-boys. Unfortunately now that the surrounding land has been sold the school will ultimately be situated right in the middle of a built-up area and there is more than a possibility that we shall be compelled to move to other premises in the near neighbourhood. In fact, negotiations with that end in view are already under way. If we do have to move no one is likely to regret it more than myself. I am quite sure, however, that it is the only policy under the circumstances. Clewer Manor with its present surroundings is ideal. Clewer Manor in the middle of a building estate of four hundred and forty not particularly high-class houses with Clewer Lodge pulled down and Imperial Road a by-pass is a different proposition altogether. Whatever happens, we shall, if possible, remain in the neighbourhood so as to keep the connection with Windsor. The present scheme is largely dependent in the first place on the sanction of the Board of Education; it is also impossible at the moment to have any idea as to when we shall be able to build. In the meantime, a great many boys will have to be turned away.
   At the time of writing, the following sons of Old Boys' are at the School: Hetherington, Hazelton and two Webbes. Dark and Newton i have just left us for the Senior School. Newton ii is due to join us next term and several others are entered for as far ahead as 1952. So don't leave it too late if you want to register your sons. I have very reluctantly had to refuse several sons of Old Boys' recently, owing to lack of accommodation.
   Of course the large majority of boys go on to the Senior School, but we have in recent times been represented with distinction at Aldenham, Blundells, Charterhouse, Cheltenham, Dartmouth, Douai, Eastbourne, Epsom, Merchant Taylors, Rugby, Pangbourne, the Worcester, Shrewsbury (£80 scholarship), Merchiston Edinburgh (Top scholarship) and Wellington (where Holdway was recently Captain of the School, Captain of Athletics, Captain of Swimming, and Scrum-half in the XV).
   The XV continues to flourish (subject to correction I don't think we have lost more than six school matches during the last ten years). On the whole we don't have such big scores as we used to, as we either play stronger schools or we play an "A" team. At one time we never considered it a decent win if we scored less than 50 points! Our two best efforts were 98-0 v. Gayhurst and 79-0 v. Cranleigh Junior School.
   The standard of cricket, though never up to the rugger, is improving and last season we did not lose a match.
   Boxing is taken by Sergt. Major Featherstone, Instructor at Eton, and judging by the number of boys who have represented their Public Schools, afterwards, the standard is good.

The letter goes on to mention that it is Mr Beckwith's view that the USC and ISC Old Boys' societies should merge with Haileybury Old Boys if the newly merged school is truly to be "Haileybury and ISC". He writes:

"I know very well that I am treading on very delicate ground, and that I shall probably bring down a heap of abuse on my head by what I am going to say. However, I think it is my duty to do so. I cannot very well be accused of being pro-Haileybury or anti-ISC and anyway the Beckwiths have thick skins! I refer to the amalgamation of the Old Boys' Societies."

This suggestion was not taken kindly to it seems, or at any rate it had not been acted upon a year later for in the Journal of 1946 it is reported that a meeting had taken place in London in March of that year but that it had been agreed not to progress the suggestion until after an Annual General Meeting. In any event, the view was that the two Old Boys' Societies of United Services and Imperial Service College should merge first. On 4th June 1946 the AGM took place and the merging of the two Societies was unanimously agreed to but that amalgamation with The Old Haileyburian Society should be left in abeyance. By the time the 1947 Journal appeared it had been snappily renamed the Journal of the United Services College and Imperial Service College Society. Membership was reported to be 700.

In 1966 the junior school became known simply as Haileybury Junior School and in 1997 amalgamated with Lambrook School in Winkfield, the land being sold for housing development.

In 1942, the main ISC school buildings, including Kipling Building, were taken over by the War Office although it is reported in Windsor 1000 Years [WLHG - out of print] that Windsor Corporation actually purchased Kipling Building in 1943 for £37,000 so the War Office leased the building until 1949.
  We have been told that Queen Elizabeth II, when Princess Elizabeth, learnt to drive in the grounds around Kipling Building at this time. Princess Elizabeth spent much of her time at Windsor Castle and Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park during the war years with her parents, George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and her sister Margaret.
  Kipling Building was finally taken over by Windsor Corporation in 1949, using them as the Council Offices until the merger with Maidenhead Borough in 1974. Berkshire County Council Health Department occupied the building at the eastern end. Plans in the early 1950s showed that Kipling Building could have become a fully fledged 'civic centre' though these plans never materialised. Instead Borough offices were built in the form of York House in Sheet Street. A strange choice of location, being virtually as far east as it is possible to get in Windsor and not particularly close to either the main shopping centre or the majority of the residential areas.
  In 1981 Kipling Building was demolished and replaced by a new building first occupied by Rank Hovis McDougall, then by Reckitt and Coleman and from 2001 by the Six Continents Hotels group. In 2003 the site became the offices of the Intercontinental Hotels group. Here is a link to more pictures of Kipling Memorial Building. By coincidence, at the time of the demolition of Kipling Memorial Building in 1981, the Chairman of Rank Hovis McDougal, J. McA. Rank, was an Old Boy of Haileybury Senior School in Hertford.

The entrance to Six Continents Hotels in 2002
originally the entrance to Kipling Building and lined with flowering crab apples planted in 1949. These were bulldozed away in 1981.

King Edward VII Horse Hall was used in the 1950s and 60s for public events but was not a popular venue because of its location. Its demolition followed to make way for Kipling Court, residential flats for the elderly. Only the clock from the roof of The Horse Hall now remains, placed above the main entrance to Kipling Court in York Road.

During the war, the Macaskie Classroom Block had also been taken over by the War Office and used as a barracks. They were finally demolished to make way for Goslar Way in the mid 1960s.
  It is sad to note that the three major buildings constructed in the 20th century by the College were demolished after only forty or so years. Demolition was not an easy task - the buildings were intended to last for hundreds of years as befitting a Public School - and it seems that the company charged with the work significantly underestimated the time it would take as they were so solidly constructed!
  Much of the land sold by ISC in 1942 was bought by Messrs. Varney, (Builders), who constructed new residential areas along Springfield Road, Green Lane, York Road and York Avenue from the 1930s - 1960s.
  Vansittart Road Recreation Ground was threatened with similar building plans in the late 1940s and early 1950s but planning permission was refused and so Messrs. Varney sold the land to Windsor Corporation. An attempt to build on the land in 1989 was similarly halted on appeal to the Ministry as Windsor was, and remains to this day, substantially short of Public Open Space. Story here
   Haileybury Junior School moved to Winkfield in 1997.  In 2001-2002, Clewer Manor was converted to flats while the surrounding Open Space has been given over in part to residential development although a Ministry inspector had refused an earlier application to develop the site in 1979 "on the grounds of amenity alone".

A new gateway to Clewer Manor, the former Haileybury Junior School.
The low wall beyond is much older.

The construction of housing on this site has necessitated the creation of a wider junction some 50 yards to the north for the access road to Imperial Road as well as realignment of the entrance to Windsor Girls School. This has also provided the school with additional sports grounds.

Local Road Names and their link with Imperial Service College

Several of the roads in this area reflect the influence and importance to Windsor of the Imperial Service College and its predecessors from the 1840s. These include St Marks Road and St Marks Place, Hawtrey Road, Foster Avenue, College Crescent and Imperial Road which passes alongside Clewer Manor. Imperial Road was built on the line of the old path known as 'Lover's Walk', running from St Leonards Road to Clarence Road, as an unemployment relief scheme in 1923.

Personal Reminiscences
by former pupil Mike O'Neil-Shaw
17th April 2002

I attended the ISC junior school at Clewer Manor from February 1940 to December 1946. At that time the headmaster was Mr Sydney Beckwith, a man universally liked and respected by both boys and parents.
I vividly recall the last Sunday service in the senior school chapel, to which we junior school pupils used to walk every Sunday. "SB" read the last lesson, but was overcome with emotion and was unable to finish. I was only nine years old at the time, but I remember it as if it had happened yesterday.
  After the ISC amalgamated with Haileybury, I eventually moved on to Haileybury in February 1947.
My six years at Clewer Manor were very happy, with the emphasis (of course) on sport, especially rugby and cricket. Looking back on those days, one can see how idyllic the ambience of the place was, with the spacious grounds and wooded areas.
  As I was there from 1940 to 1946, I well remember watching the air raids over Windsor from our dormitory window, with the searchlights, tracer bullets and explosions of bombs and flak. We had an unwelcome visitor in the form of an oil bomb, which fell near one of the rugby pitches, but failed to explode. Since it fell some distance from the nearest building, it probably would not have done much damage, even if it had exploded, but of course it could have fallen on the buildings just as easily.
  When you are eight years of age, you don't think of death as being in any way relevant. Death is for adults, usually old ones. It never occurred to us boys that we were in danger and we treated the thing as a big firework display.
  After the senior school closed, we walked to the Guards Church [Holy Trinity Garrison Church, Ed.] in Windsor every Sunday. The Guards band often played, which we of course thought was marvellous, and we used to watch the church parade afterwards, before making the crocodile walk back to school.
  I haven't seen Clewer Manor for over forty years, as I moved to Australia in 1959, but I can picture the driveway and the buildings quite clearly. I hope that whatever is happening to it now will do justice to the way it used to be.

Mike O'Neil-Shaw

School Colours

Black and gold

House Colours

Cambridge (A): Green and black.

Camperdown (B): Saxe blue and black.

Lawrence (C): Navy blue and silver.

Games Colours (C) North: Maroon, blue and white. South: Blue and white.

Alexander (D): Blue, black and white.

Connaught (E): Green, black and white.

Roberts (F): Red and black.

1st XV. Gold and black stripes with gold tasseled cap.

1st XI. Blue blazer with school crest embroidered in re on pocket

Shooting. K E H Colours. (No reference as to what these might be, though it could be the colours of the King Edward Horse Regiment)

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We invite other former pupils of ISC to send in their memories with a picture or two if at all possible.

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Other links

Histories Home Page

Royal Windsor Home Page

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To contact us, email Thamesweb.

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