George Robson (FN 57-64) continues his articles on OSBs who fell in the First War. “Over recent years The Old St Beghian has featured articles about the eight Old Boys who carved their names on the Foundation dining room panelling and later fell in action during The Great War. Coincidentally, photographs of all eight were discovered amongst the many sports’ team portraits displayed around the walls of the room. However, the school records include other team photographs. And there is one that is particularly poignant - that of the 1908 1st X1 cricket team (also mentioned in the previous article). A photo of the 1908 St Bees School cricket team, taken from ‘The Story of St Bees (1583-1939)’ may be seen here. Of the twelve boys featured (and when you look at them, I think you’ll agree they are better described as men), seven (58.33%) were to be killed in action during the First World War. This is particularly tragic in that the overall proportion of deaths amongst British forces in the war was to be 11 %. Of the seven only one – Donald Francis Neilson – inscribed his name on the panelling. Neilson and his impressive achievements has featured in two previous Bulletins and it is my intention over coming months to investigate the stories of the other six. I start with:
JOHN CEDRIC RAILTON (1890 - 1916). The elder of two sons of Macclesfield stockbroker Charles Railton, the elder John entered the school in 1901. Having completed his time at St Bees he became a sharebroker’s clerk at his father’s business. But as war broke out, he answered the call and enlisted on 2nd November 1914 as part of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). This unit was assigned to support ground forces in France, but when it was disbanded, he received training as a pilot on a Maurice Farman biplane. His task was to patrol the coasts and waters around the UK looking for enemy ships and U-boats. Based at Tresco in the isles of Scilly in order to guard the western approaches, his Maurice Farman bi-plane plane crashed near Gush Island in the Scillies on 9th May 1917. He drowned, as did his co-pilot Flt. Lt. R.S. Whigham. Railton was buried in Penzance cemetery (plot R14.16.) with his headstone carrying the words from Psalm 139 that were later to be highlighted on the Vasconcellos monument that stands outside the school Memorial Hall. *Interestingly John’s younger brother, Reid Railton, was a motor engineer who designed the car known as the Railton Special in which John Cobb broke the land speed record in 1947.”

John Cederic Railton Grave in Penzance Cemetery

 

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk