41Q3 - THE QUINTINIAN, AUTUMN 1941

WE are approaching our third Christmas in evacuation, and, while this number is passing through the press, arrangements are being made for the Christmas entertainment of the boys - for School parties and possibly the usual House concerts and teas. Whether or not House teas as well as School teas can be arranged this year when rationing has become tighter remains to be seen, but we are all doing what we can to ensure that the boys will have as good a Christmas as possible in Minehead.

We hope that the Quintinian will appear in its present form and size in all future issues, but with present rationing we are feeling very glad that provision of sufficient paper has been made for the present issue. For that we have to thank our war-time printer, who has done so much in helping us to carry on the Magazine. We all feel that Mr. F. N. Cox has taken a real interest in the School, and we have evidence of this in the "West Somerset Free Press," which he edits, as well as in the help he gives us in publishing the Quintinian.

At the end of the Summer Term news came through that Mr. Pratt must leave us temporarily to join his Unit and, although I have had no confirmation, I expect he is now in his O.C.T.U. We all wish him luck and were glad to see him when he called on us while he was stationed near Minehead. Mrs. Pratt, who has been a helper in the School, has, unfortunately, now left us and rumour tells me she also is joining the Services - the W.A.A.F., I believe. Good luck to her!

In place of Mr. Pratt, as a temporary measure, we have been exceedingly fortunate in obtaining the services of Miss E. M. H. Collinson, B.A., senior history mistress of Parliament Hill School. She is helping the boys who are taking History, and has already entered into full share of that side of School activity. The idea of having a woman on the Staff was examined very critically before the event happened, but Miss Collinson has removed all our misgivings and we all heartily welcome her to the Polytechnic.

Talking of Staff, we were all very sorry indeed to hear of Mr. Beadon's misfortune. He was on week-end "leave" in London and had to undergo an operation, from which I am glad to say he is making an excellent recovery. He tells me he is to have another slight operation, and then all will be well. The Staff and the boys have joined with me in sending him our good wishes and we shall all be delighted when he is back again dealing with the Gym. I think even the defaulters will be glad to see him back on Saturday mornings, directing their efforts with the lawn-mower and other implements of torture saved for our Saturday morning "defaulters' parade"!

The beginning of this term yielded the results of the Higher and General School Examinations held in the summer. The results, especially in the former, were exceedingly good and in the General School Certificate, out of an entry of 69, eighty per cent. obtained a School Certificate. There were many distinctions and 16 of the boys were granted exemption from Matriculation.

In the Higher School Examination, 3 out of 5 obtained the Certificate in Arts subjects, 10 out of 12 in Science subjects, 1 candidate in Group III. Mathematics entered and passed, and 8 out of 9 obtained a Certificate in Economics and Modem subjects. Taking it all round, 22 out of the 27 entrants obtained the Higher School Certificate, and 15 of these 22 candidates were given exemption from their corresponding Intermediate examination in their subject. This is one of the best results in recent years and higher than the average in the country.

Taking all these results into account, it looks, therefore, as though the boys are able to do very satisfactory work even in evacuation.

Some seven boys (Coleman, Dixon, Greenfield, Graham, Clarke, Faithful, and Earle) were awarded a State Bursaryship in Science, and all the boys who left and who have written to me seem to be very nicely placed in suitable employment varying from the National Physical Laboratory to the Unilever commercial group of firms.

This brings me to the main theme I have had in my mind for some time, namely, the Old. Boys. Some of the following remarks appeared in the Poly. Magazine in Mr. Sambrook's usual splendid review of the month. I am afraid he had to suffer a little from my discussion of this theme, which I have always regarded, since I was appointed to the School, as one of great importance. The boys who left at the end of my first year will remember that we had a sub-section of the Old Quintinian Club with their own Secretary, and we were in the way of making recent leavers into a lively section of the Old Boys' Club. Ever since then I have endeavoured to keep trace of Old Boys, and have a considerable file of Old Boys' addresses, but possibly when some readers see these notes they may feel guilty and write to me the long-promised letter! If by any chance any Old Boy is writing to an old Form Master, will he remember that I want to know where he is and what he is doing, and a formal slip in the letter he is writing will be passed on to me to keep in the file.

If ever we have any free time in the School Office here, I propose to send out reminding slips to all boys who are not in touch with me so that we can make this Office a central clearing office for correspondence between boys who have left - especially in my time, but including all Old Boys of the School.

The record in the Armed Services of all kinds of the "boys of the Poly." has been an extraordinarily good one. Many have been recorded in the Old Boys' section of this Magazine. It is difficult to single out special cases, and I think the best course is to leave it to the Editor, who, like myself, is very keen on this very important branch of School activity.

Football, Cadets, A.T.C., Boxing, and all other School Societies are doing well.

The Football team is quite used to playing Army teams. The other day it was interesting to see them meet another School team - Huish's School, of Taunton - where their experience gained against heavier Army teams proved to have been very valuable.

Mr. Broodbank has just called to give me the good news that Fox, who left about 11 years ago, has been elected a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge.

Heartiest congratulations. This is the first case of an Old Boy being elected to such office,

THROUGHOUT the present term football has been in full swing, and thanks to the organising ability of Mr. Lambert (kindly assisted by the Clerk of the Weather), we have had regular fixtures for the 1st XI., a knock-out Senior House Competition, and numerous Inter-Form matches in addition to all the unofficial matches which the Dene ground makes possible. The result has been that a greater proportion of the boys have had the opportunity for football than at any time since we came to Minehead.

At the commencement of the season we had nine of last year's 1st XI. available, and during the early part of the term various experiments have been made with a view to securing the best possible combination. Woodage (W. J.), in addition to his own prowess on the field, has shown great keenness in his captaincy, and the team which he now leads bids fair to prove one of the best of recent years. Some of the good work done by the attack has been discounted by the unsteadiness of the defence, but it is only fair to remember that this has been the "experimental" stage of the season and that the team has chiefly been pitted against Army teams, who have had a great advantage in the matter of height and weight.

The newcomers who have had trials in 1st XI. matches are Grant, Freedman (K.), Gregory, Fountain, Whitmarsh, and Senk, and the first two-named seem to have established themselves as permanent members of the team. In addition Hartley has proved a useful deputy for Herbert in goal, when the latter has not been available. Jackson and Jones have been absentees from recent games, owing to injuries, but they should both soon be available again.

A full list of results up to the time of going to press is appended. The most disappointing one is that of the game against the Minehead A.T.C., although the score does not represent the actual run of the game. The School team found themselves up against a team of determined players, who kept up a great pace from start to finish, and defensive lapses made the score show a greater disparity than actually existed. It is pleasing to be able to record victories against Army teams, and Woodage (W. J.) is to be congratulated on scoring all six goals in the match on November 8th. After last year's disappointment in the home game with Huish's Grammar School, we were pleased to see the School earn a good victory on the Irnham Road ground on November 15th.

In the Senior Inter-House Competition, which took place at half-term, Hester-Lowe's team proved too strong for all others, and after out-playing Lambert-Newman's and Russell-Matthews' they gained an easy 6-0 victory in the final against Kerridge-Swan's.

These notes would not be complete without mention of Mr. Lambert's efforts this term. Owing to unforeseen circumstances, he has had to shoulder practically all the many duties involved in the organisation of School football, and has earned the gratitude of all those who have enjoyed - either as spectators or players - the programme which he has provided.

THE Boxing Club has recommenced its activities this term, and is now in full swing at the Methodist Hall on Thursday evenings, from 6.30 until 8 p.m. No tournaments have yet been held. The usual School Championships, which were the highlight of the season in the pre-war days,, have unfortunately had to be discontinued owing to evacuation, and no opponents, even from Taunton, have yet been found. It is hoped, however, that the Inter-House competitions will take place about the middle of next term, as they did last year. Several senior members left us during the summer, so there is plenty of room for new aspirants. Any boys with any interest at all should not hesitate to join the Club, and learn one of the finest of all sports.

FOR over a year now the Badminton Club has been unable to play owing to the lack of a hall. However, this season, with a full membership, we hope soon to be in a position to challenge and give a good game to local clubs.

A. LAZARUS (Royal Tank Regiment), whom many will remember as secretary of the O.Q.'s Football Club, was posted as "missing" in the Western Desert on June 17th last year. We are very pleased to report that information has since been received that he is now a prisoner-of-war in Italian hands.

"BILL" BOWEN is in the R.A.F., but, he writes, he can't get in an air crew, though perfectly fit for flying duties, because he is too tall and too heavy. (Old Boys will remember how Bowen used to "place" the ball through the basket in basket-ball without much effort), but he has been recommended for a commission as Physical Training Officer.

J. M. O'BRIEN, who left us last year and went to the Polytechnic School of Engineering, has now joined the R.A.F. and expects to start his training about December.

GAYTHORN TEMPLAR has been reported wounded at Dunkirk and is a prisoner in Germany.

C. J. ESTERSON (left July, 1940), is now A.C.2 in the R.A.F. and is training as a wireless mechanic.

L. B. SEAMAN, who was an Old Boy of the School, a temporary member of the Staff, and then a member of the staff of the Craft School, is now in the R.A.S.C.

J. W. H. ALLEN (1924-31), after a period of service as Assistant Auditor in Nigeria, is now in the Colonial Audit Office, London.

J. E. JAMES (1924-27), who was ordained priest some years ago, is shortly taking a curacy in Torquay, having previously been curate at Mere and at St. John's, Devizes, Wiltshire.

J. D. JAMES (1924-32), his brother, now holds the rank of Captain in the R.A.M.C., and experienced both the Dunkirk and Greek evacuations.

MR. GALLOWAY (now Major), writes from Malaya:- " . . . . You can imagine my surprise when I discovered, on my arrival here, that I was to command Indian troops. My big difficulty is with the language, which I am learning, but slowly. Fortunately I have a fair number who can speak English of a kind, and so far we have managed. I do everything I can to encourage the men to learn English. For years Malayan stamps carried a "tiger" design, but I have yet to see my first wild animal here, but snakes, lizards, and large insects are very plentiful, and I have a couple of fine snake skins already."

A. W. THOMPSON joined the R.A.F. in September, 1941, and is in training for a pilot with an I.T.W. on the West Coast. He reports that he also met Del Rosso there.

T. J. FIELD has obtained a post in the War Office Department of the Inland Revenue.

J. C. J. PAYNE, formerly vice-captain of the School, is training for a pilot in Albany, Georgia.

K. B. MARDER, who was at School in the same year as Payne, is in the Royal Corps of Signals.

H. K. LEWENHAK gained a 1st Class B.Com. degree at the London School of Economics.

A. R. ILERSIC also gained his B.Com.(Hons.), and after nine months in the Army was discharged, and is now on the staff of the "Economist."

J. PETTIT, who is at King's College (evacuated to Birmingham), has passed his 1st M.B. with a distinction in chemistry.

N. B. STEWART (1936-1939), is now in the Beds. and Herts. Regiment and is recommended for a commission.

C. COHEN, who, until he left last July, has been so prominently associated with School dramatic activities, is now assistant stage manager at the Lyric Theatre, London.

J. E. BENNETT (U5B2, 1939) is in the R.A.F. somewhere (to use his own words) "blistering under a tropical sun."

Signalman STONER, after fighting in the Western Desert, was made a prisoner in Greece.

G. CAMPLING, who has now had nearly three years in the Fleet Air Arm, in a letter to Dr. Worsnop (July, 1941), says: "I managed to speak to Berrill whilst he was still in the Scottish hospital, and met him later as he came off the train, when a small celebration was enjoyed by all present . . . . While in the Isle of Man I met Young, an ex-B.S. boy, who was on the ground staff, but he was posted just after I went on leave from there. Murchie was up in Scotland when I paid a visit there last April, but he has now left there. Then there was Andrew Deytrich, a great pal of Berrill's and mine; he is just starting his Service flying, and hopes to go on to fighters."

K. HIRST is a Lance-Corporal in the Oxford and Bucks L.I., and is recommended for a commission.

L. G. DIGHT has passed his final B.Sc. examination, and is employed by the Air Ministry as a quantity surveyor in the North of Scotland.

E. B. Jones (brother of "D.D.") is in the Fleet Air Arm training as an observer.

K. CHESTERMAN, School Captain, 1939, joined the Middlesex Regiment last November, and is now machine-gunner and range-taker (1st Class).

We deeply regret to announce the death, in action, of J. M. SMITH, who left School October, 1938, and of DENNIS MURRAY (1934). After going to London University for an Economics course, Smith joined the R.A.F., became a Pilot Sergeant, and was posted to an Australian Fighter Squadron. Murray was a Flying Officer in the R.A.F., and was awarded the D.F.C. He was killed last November, but news of his death has only recently reached us.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the parents and friends of both these Old Boys.

I arrived in Lagos on 26th November last year, so am beginning to consider myself an "Old Coaster" now! From then until the 10th of April 1 was stationed in Port Harcourt, and then moved here. I was in France from 22nd September, '39, as a sergeant with an ammunition company, until 20th January, '40, when I came home to be commissioned.

They are trying to popularise Savings Certificates amongst the troops (black ones) here and the enclosure is a copy of the talk given by one of our n.c.o.'s, who is rather good at "pidgin." As you can probably gather from the text, it starts off by explaining that this book is a saving stamps book, and carries on to explain that if the fellow wants one he can take it and buy stamps at any time he likes. Then you have the details of how he buys this and what he does when the book is full, and how he must be careful not to lose it, and that we will keep it in the office for him if he wishes.

Actually "pidgin" is very interesting and quite hard to learn, having a peculiar sort of grammar of its own. As you can see also, it isn't just a case of speaking broken English, either. Anyway, you have given me some nasty moments in the past by asking me to analyse and paraphrase sentences, so I suggest you have a go at this effort.

Dis book you look for table, him name be Nigerian Savings Stamps Book. The book he be for any man him like left him money for governor post-office saute war he done finish. Den time war he finish governor go back you your money, and put some dash for top for because you done left you money for post-office all war time.

For put money for governor post-office, man he fit make so. Any soldier him take he own book for post-office, he go buy stamps, any one sixpence-sixpence. Clerk for post-office he fix all stamps soldier he buy for book. Soldier he go-go for buy stamps saute book him full up. When dem book he full up soldier he go take 'em for post-office, where he go change 'em for one Nigerian Savings Certificate.

Dis Nigerian Savings Certificate he be some paper he talk say you done get all dem money when you done take for buy stamps for governor post-office. Soldier he must keep certificate saute war done finish so he fit get him money back. Dem book and certificate soldier get he must look out proper one. If he loss 'em, he go loss all him money he done put for post-office. Dem time war he done finish soldier he go take him stamp book and certificate for any post-office for Nigeria. For dem place post-office go back him him money with dem dash he talk say before.

For help soldier for no loss him book and certificate, officer he keep 'em for office. Any time soldier he want go buy stamps he fit come for office after duty, he ask for him book, he take 'em go for post-office for buy stamps. Dem time he done buy stamps he back book for office for lock-up in officer box.

Sometime if soldier get transfer for other soldier barrack he go take him book with him, and go make same office palaver for dem place where he get transfer. Like so him book and certificate he live with him all time.

Up to now it has been a memory of nights and days on a crowded troopship, sleeping in our clothes, and then more nights and days on trains through Canada, pounding on, night and day, behind a great Canadian National engine. A night's rest at Toronto in a real bed instead of being curled up in a seat on the train was heaven.

Looking back through a diary, I see the train stopped in Canada at a place called Reviere de Loup in Quebec Province. It was a perfect French-Canadian town - no English spoken. As was the custom, all the children and odd dogs and loafers turned out to see the train. Our French - not mine, you notice - managed to carry on a conversation, but the only thing we really elicited was that the St. Lawrence river was 30 miles across at that point. The next morning we woke on the edges of Lake Ontario. It was 40 miles wide and looked like the sea. Montreal was only a blaze of lights the night before. Toronto we tour round hurriedly. There was no time to visit Niagara. On again through the night to Detroit and America, On still, and Sunday morning saw us in Chicago. We saw the famous "Million Dollar Skyline" of skyscrapers as we changed over to the La Salle station by bus.

The same afternoon we passed the great Missouri river, and night saw us at Kansas City - another dazzling blaze of light to us poor "blackout" creatures. On through the night and on again all day through prairie till evening saw us at El Paso at the borders of Mexico, New Mexico, and Texas, but no rest, except curled up in a train seat, and on till morning brought us to the burning heat of Arizona. Since when we have lived on the grand Arizona Desert, surrounded by red rock mountains, cactcus, scrub, rattlesnakes, scorpions, &c.

We do cross-country flying, but the country is all desert or mountain, and not very interesting.

At week-ends we get up into the pine forests at Prescott, in the heart of the cowboy country. I saw a real rodeo up there. Just like the films - a really tough show. I hope to get to Grand Canyon by air soon, and then I'll write you about it.

We had a cool spell recently - only on the 100 degrees Fahrenheit mark, but it's gone up again. to its usual 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

At last I've done it! Sunday morning at 4.30 a.m. we arose; by 5 a.m. we were all ready, had "gas" (petrol to you) on board, and off we set in a nice big American Dodge car.

We headed North through the Chino Valley and through the edge of a big National Forest. You know out here they - the Government that is - preserve huge tracts of National land and call them National Forests. They form immense game preserves, where game - deer, birds, bear, &c., are free to roam untouched. Some of the animals are remarkably tame, especially the deer. You may camp in these preserves free, or hire a cabin for a reasonable sum. Open fireplaces made of stone are available in clearings for picnics, and no garish stalls are allowed. Everything is in keeping with the surroundings. We travelled on, through rolling cattle country, until we come to forest land again, and at last a gate-house brought us to the entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park. We were politely asked by a forest ranger, dressed in riding breeches and boots, a green jacket, and Boy Scout's hat, if we had any firearms, dogs, &c., and, after paying one dollar, we received a ticket available for admission to the Canyon for a year.

The Canyon is indescribable. You have only got to say it's 217 miles long, one mile deep, and about 10 miles wide. Now, I ask you, how can you expect me to tell you what it looks like. The colours of the varying rock formations alter as the sun moves on. Sunset turns everything blood red, and deepening reds and blues and greys go to shades only seen in technicolour films.

You can descend into the Canyon by horse and with a guide, but it is a whole day trip to climb down to the muddy Colorado river.

Sunset saw us leave the Canyon on the road for Flagstaff, nestling under the San Francisco peaks. We drove along the desert roads, past the edge of the Painted Desert in the twilight, past Indian villages with mud huts and open fires outside. On past the famous Sunset Crater, ice caves and lava beds flashed by in the dark as we thundered on, the needle always over 80 m.p.h. You guess what this country is like, only two service stations, 60 miles apart, on the whole road. We at last hit the mountain grades again and saw the lights of Flagstaff. A well-earned meal and a drink, then where to sleep? Well, we decided to go wild, so going back out of town, we parked in a pine forest and curled up under the trees to sleep. It was grand. So cool, fresh, and sweet-smelling, after the desert we live in. We rose early and breakfasted. Then calling on an American we had been told to look up, we journeyed off together to visit Flagstaff National Forest, at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks, the tallest of which is about 14,000ft. high. We saw the Lowell Observatory, the site of the world's biggest telescope, and explored an ice cave. No guides or lights but, as we had no electric torches, our American friend quickly made pine torches from pine knots. After lunch we headed on our homeward trail. Our first stop was Oak Creek Canyon. Grand Canyon is staggering, but Oak Creek is breath-taking in its beauty. The walls are of softer blending hues. It is covered down its sides with trees, where Grand Canyon is bare. The bottom of the Canyon is covered with a pine forest and its stream is filled with trout. From on top you can see the road down curving round seven or eight times.

We lingered awhile and tried to catch small trout in our hands. We hated to leave, but duty called.

(The following is from R. J. Quinault (1925-32), now on the staff of the B.B.C.).

In the battle of the ether, as in other fields, the late start was a handicap, and progress was slow at first. None the less, war-time re-organisation effected a great advance and when, at the beginning of 1940, I was appointed to a post in the growing Overseas Service of the B.B.C., I found that nine new languages - Afrikaans, Magyar, Polish, Rumanian, Czech, Greek, Serbo-Croat, Turkish, and Bulgarian - had been added to the previous six, and the existing programmes largely improved. Since that time, expansion had been constant, even during the worst period of the blitz, until nowadays the Overseas Service is a separate part of the Corporation, having little in common with the Home Service, except the sharing of certain premises and technical facilities.

Each new phase of the war has made fresh demands on the service, as one by one further countries have been invaded and more and more broadcasting stations have fallen under enemy control. The order of subsequent additions during 1940 reflects the shifting in the position of the main front as it goes through Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Dutch, and Danish to Hindustani, Slovak, Maltese, Cypriot, Flemish, Burmese, Albanian, Icelandic, and Persian. Side by side, too, with the introduction of new languages has gone a large increase in the time devoted to these already in use, especially of Italian after the entry of Italy into the war, of French after the collapse of France, and of Greek and Serbo-Croat during the campaigns in the Balkans.

My work is with the European side, which can boast the greatest variety of languages in the Overseas Service (now over 20), though fortunately I. do not myself have to know more than a few of these.

The fascinating atmosphere provided by a service employing staff speaking so many different languages can easily be imagined. Among the announcers and translators who prepare the texts of the news bulletins supplied to them by the English editors are men of every profession and creed; ex-diplomats, writers, lawyers, actors, and businessmen, besides soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the Allied Forces, specially detailed for the task. Like all news work it is hard and tiring having moreover for security reasons to be carried on largely underground in very confined quarters. But whereas most newspapers only go to press once a day, we must prepare new bulletins sometimes every quarter of an hour in one language or another. The translating-rooms are a hubbub of contrasted voices, set against a background of typewriters and distant tape-machines. Editors and messengers hurry to and fro with instructions and stories, senior translators check the material page by page as it comes out of the typewriters, and announcers, with one eye on the clock, wait impatiently for the final version, anxious lest it should contain some last-minute pencil correction, difficult to read, or some strange new place-name, more unpronouncable than the last. Outside in the corridors is passing a nearly continuous stream of visitors, calling to discuss, rehearse, give or record talks and programmes. To-day it will include a Norwegian seaman and a Polish pilot, to-morrow the Dutch Foreign Minister or General de Gaulle. Almost the only quiet moments to be had are those in the studio before a broadcast is due to begin.

The starting and finishing times of every programme are scheduled to the second, and as little as 20 seconds' miscalculation or delay may mean the difference between the inclusion or exclusion of an important news item. It is nerve-racking work at first, but one gets used to it in the end, and the best announcers come to know exactly how much they can read it a given time.

And not only do we call, but also we get answered. In this as in the other realm of the air, the enemy has long enjoyed the advantage of a central position and greater resources. None the less, trickles of correspondence, neutral travellers' reports, and the indirect evidence of jamming and Dr. Goebbels' counter-campaigns (the battle of the V sign is a splendid instance) prove to us that our words are still getting through, and one day they will have their full effect. Already they have been influential at more than one point in the course of the war, and in the same measure as this country's power and strength of purpose grow, the Voice of London will become clearer, until it drowns that of the enemy and commands the attention of the world in the much greater task of winning the peace.

ALTHOUGH sorry to lose Reid, the House was very pleased to welcome Norman for its new Captain. Wishes for every success are extended by the House to last year's officials and members who have left.

In the half-term inter-House football competition, the team, under Norman, after an excellent game, succeeded in defeating B.-S., 3-1. However, in our following match against K.-S., we were not so fortunate. This was partly due to two of our players not being able to play in the match.

This term, we are glad to know, shows an improvement in the House National Savings; support for it is increasing,, and I hope will continue to do so in the future.

WE hope it is not too late to wish all those who left us last term success in their future careers.

At the same time we congratulate the present House officials who, we know, will give equally good service, and also the new boys who have had the good fortune to be placed in the best House.

The half-term football competition did not leave us victorious, but we shall be ready for another game at any time, so keep training.

The War Savings effort in this House is rather weak, but it shows signs of improvement. I sincerely hope that all boys will save something every week. Remember - THE SIGNAL IS SAVE!

AT the beginning of this term we lost two seniors, T. R. Smith and L. Greenfield, and the House wishes them the best of luck in their future career.

Congratulations to Woodage senior, on his election as School Football Captain, and to D. D. Jones and Woodage junior, on the fine game they have been playing in the 1st XI. This mid-term the School had its first real inter-House football competition since leaving London. In this Hesters won every match, scoring 27 goals and not having a single one scored against them.

Steward, who was made our National Savings collector, is doing some stout work, and the amount is steadily rising; but it is not quite good enough yet. Steward is always ready.

We extend a hearty welcome to the newcomers to Hester-Lowe House, and hope they will be happy with us.

We are looking forward to having near Christmas the usual House tea and concert, arranged in conjunction with Russell-Matthews.

THE House has been very unfortunate in losing several of its senior members since last July. Among them last year's House Captain, R. Dixon, whom we should all like to congratulate on becoming School Captain, and then, within the next few days, being awarded a State bursary. He is now at St. Catharine's College, Cambridge. Congratulations to Murray, who has been elected to fill the vacant position in the House.

In the only sporting activity to date the inter-House football competition, our team, by a 3-1 victory over Andrews-Hough, again reached the final, but there it was defeated 7-0 by Hester-Lowe after a very gallant and stubborn struggle. But there are other competitions to follow, and provided that everyone pulls his weight, we should again carry off the honours in the other sports.

The House is still very well represented in the Cadet Corps, the position of R.S.M. remaining with a member of Kerridges. In the A.T.C. and the various Scout Troops there is also a fair sprinkling of K.-S. boys.

The National Savings movement has, however, not been at all well supported, but it is hoped that every boy will make a real effort to contribute next term. Remember that every little helps.

In conclusion, the House extends a hearty welcome to all its new members, who we hope will continue the excellent K.-S. traditions.

AT the beginning of term the House was fortunate in having Pantry appointed Captain, a worthy successor to Mock, who is now serving in the Royal Navy. In congratulating Pantry, I would urge every boy to show his appreciation by supporting him fully at all times.

On behalf of the boys and the House Masters, I welcome all those new to the House and wish them every success through their future years in the House and the School. It seems that we have several promising juniors this year, and since inter-House sports are now restricted to football and athletics, they must pay particular attention to these.

In the half-term football competition the House suffered a rather heavy defeat against Hester-Lowe, but as our victors won 7-0 in the final, minus one of their star players, we may congratulate ourselves on having fought them with success equal to that of any other House.

Finally, I would point out that, though Lambert-Newman House has led the field in House Savings throughout the past term, there is still much room for improvement, so re-double your efforts.

AT the beginning of the term we lost Graham, who had been House Captain - and Vice-Captain of the School - for the last year; we all felt at the time that a considerable gap had been left in our ranks, not only had we lost a good captain but a capable footballer, runner, and organiser. At the subsequent election Stocker was voted captain by a large majority, and I am sure that he will be extremely popular and efficient.

He will be taking charge of the forthcoming House tea and concert and, benefiting from his experience in the Dramatic Society, will, no doubt, make an extremely good job of it.

House football this year did not go at all according to plan - at least, not to our plans - for we were knocked out in the first round, which was unusual, to say the least. We were without the help of Jackson, who had injured himself in a School match, and the rest of the team, besides lacking his help, was not so good as it might have been.

However, we can promise a better show next year and so, with hopes that the House concert will be a success, these notes must close. One more thing, however, which has engaged our thoughts for some time, we all hope that Mr. Beadon, will have an exceedingly quick recovery and soon be with us once more.

THE Dramatic Society performed a comparatively ambitious play, "For the Love of Mike," at the end of last term. Ambitious in that it was, I think, the first three-act play the School has attempted, and certainly the first in which another School has helped. I would like to express here our appreciation to all the County School girls who took part and who were so willingly helpful all through rehearsals. Above all the cast offer their thanks to Dr. Matthews for his patience and suffering in role of producer.

The total receipts amounted to about £43, and after deduction of expenses the profits were divided equally between the two Schools. Since the play was presented we have lost both C. Cohen and B. Warren, both of whom have gone into stage life. We have also lost our stage-manager - Dixon - who is now at Cambridge.

THIS term has been a very good one for the Corps, owing to the efforts of Captain Smith, who has worked hard preparing field-days and arranging lectures.

We are deeply indebted to C.S.M. Brodie for his good work in the general training of the cadets. At time of going to press he is busy instructing the senior members of the Corps in grenade throwing, and we are finishing this course with actual grenades, under supervision of the Junior Leaders (O.C.T.U.).

In July we had 17 passes out of 21 entrants in Certificate A. This exam. is a good recommendation in applying for a commission in the Army. Congratulations to the candidates. The Corps wish to express thanks to Sgt. Brennan, R.S.M. Beard, and Sgt. Beard, and to all the other Army Instructors who helped us to get such a number through the exam.

We further commend Sgt. Doswell, who passed out with full honours from a weapon training school. This was a course for Regular Army instructors.

A new Certificate A Class has been formed. The exam. will take place in February. A new subject, aircraft recognition, is being ably dealt with by Mr. Elgood.

This term we have had three field days - two with the local Home Guards. These have proved most interesting, enjoyable, and instructive. The R.A.S.C. provided transport for our field day, which took place at Dunkery and Horner Valley. This was without a doubt the best we have had since evacuation, and was on a level with the field days of pre-war days.

Shooting is going strong once more, and with a plentiful supply of ammo., and targets, we hope to produce a number of good shots.

The band, which is receiving instruction from C.S.M. Brodie, will soon be up to pre-war standard. Two buglers were asked to play at the Alcombe Armistice service. Senior members of the Corps were also invited to the parade.

The Corps at present consists of approximately 25 seniors and 18 juniors. All boys are invited to join. Items of interest and photographs of activities can be seen on the Corps notice-board. The officers and n.c.o.'s at present are:-

Captain Smith, O.C.; Lt. Coleman, Adjutant; C.S.M. Robertson, Sgts. Doswell and Jeffery, Cpls. Catchpole and Bawden; Lce.-Cpl. Giffin.

We are very sorry to say au-revoir to Mr. Pratt, who at present is at an O.C.T.U.

At the same time we must say good-bye to J. Shuttleworth, who put in a great deal of work. He spent 6½ years in the Corps, and at one time was the only n.c.o. to possess Certificate A. We were very sorry to hear of his illness. We wish him the best of luck and speedy promotion in the Bristol University Senior Training Corps. Cheerio, John, and all the best.

As a final note, I wish to express my own thanks and those of the rest of the Corps to the officers and instructors for their good work.

SINCE the last notes were written 10 Cadets have been awarded the proficiency star. In July we had to say good-bye to a rather large number of Cadets who were leaving School. We have already heard from some who have transferred to other A.T.C. units; amongst them is Metz, who has been made a sergeant.

The Unit has now received uniforms, and approval of the good looks of both uniforms and the Cadets in them has been freely expressed.

The most exciting event of the term has been the visit of Sergt-Pilot G. H. Evans and his bomber crew, who all spoke of their work. We hope to keep in touch with them now they are leaving this country. They may be sure that our best wishes go with them.

All Cadets managed some shooting at half-term. We thank the I.T.C. for their kind co-operation. The routine training has gone on steadily and we wish to thank our instructors, Messrs. Turner, Robinson, Elgood, and Smith, for the kind way in which they continue to give up to us their spare time.

Troop meetings have been held from the very commencement of the term, in our usual place at The Dene. Although some members with examinations in mind have felt that it was necessary to drop out at least for the time being, there has been an encouraging number of recruits to take their place. Two new members, who are billeted in Porlock, have shown great keenness in joining up with a School Troop rather than their local one.

L. N. Rapley, who left in the summer, is now making his way in the world of commerce, and the Troop's best wishes are with him. His work as Troop Leader was very valuable as he helped greatly in preserving the continuity of the work from the days when the Troop was first formed under Mr. Gellard.

TROOP activities proceed as usual and our numbers are well up to strength. The former "officers' quarters" are now used as Troop Library and Quiet Room - with Taylor as librarian. A Troop canteen has also been constructed in a spare corner - manager, "Smiler" Hardcastle.

The British Ship Adoption Society now receives regular letters and parcels from us for "our ship," and these are greatly appreciated.

We received a signal from the Minehead U.D.C. asking for cyclist messengers: all eligible members immediately volunteered.

Shortly after his departure from us J. Shuttleworth had to enter hospital at Weston. But he is now out and taking a course in Physics at Bristol University.

We welcome S. S. Coles, transferred from 1st. Brighton Group, and greatly appreciated the talk that his father, a gunnery officer in the Navy, gave us.

For our four patrols we have four very keen Patrol Leaders - Alison, Connidis, Thompson, and Worsnop. We are trying out a rota of Troop leadership, each Patrol Leader taking a month's duty. We feel that the result has been an increase in team spirit, personal responsibility, and self-reliance.

ALTHOUGH we lost three or four members, including Patrol Leader Godwin, last term, newcomers have brought all four Patrols up to full strength. General proficiency and keenness in the varied programme of work have been excellent, and special praise must be given to Troop Leader Tom, Patrol Leaders Hampel, Manners, McVey, and Bignold, and Senior Scouts Price and Newman. They have given instruction to groups interested in air navigation, aircraft identification, and ambulance work. We are indebted to Mr. Eckersley, who continues to look after the signalling section, and to Wells, who has instructed and interested so many in aeroplane modelling. Particular interest has been shown in the new Magazine collection. It is hoped to invest a number of Tenderfoot and Second Class Scouts before term ends and, in spite of coupon difficulties, several Scouts are now looking smart in their new uniforms. Several Seniors have volunteered as messengers in the Rest Centre organisation, in response to a local appeal.

THIS term marks the second session of the 49 Club in Minehead. It also marks two changes in the policy of the Club. First, the light refreshments during the discussion had to be abandoned owing to War-time food restrictions; second, fortnightly meetings were instituted in the hope that high rates of attendance would result - a hope that has soon been entirely justified. Owing to a somewhat belated start there have been, at the time of going to press, only three meetings, but two more are contemplated before the end of term.

Mr. Checkley opened the session with an extremely interesting paper entitled, "The Horizon and Beyond," in which he suggested the direction of thought in which the 49 Club should move. He hoped that we should not confine ourselves to the perfection of our own technique but should look "beyond the horizon" and contemplate the rich lands of knowledge which offer so much to the diligent searcher.

An interesting experiment was the composite paper, "And three men saw a vision." The political, economic, and social aspects of an ideal state were surveyed by Mazower, Cockman, and Pantry respectively. The ideals of the three speakers aroused much interest, and in particular the aspect of State control and the financial problems arising from a scheme for post-war reconstruction provoked the greatest discussion.

A stimulating paper "On Thinking Scientifically," was recently given by Mr. Beresford. The object of his scientific thought was "prophecy and reason," with special reference to the British Israel theory. This aroused a fierce controversy, and Dr. Haskey and Mr. Coleman made notable contributions in clarifying the issue.

It is hoped that the high standard both of discussion and of attendance will be maintained and that the present Sixth Form will step into the breach made by the loss of many of our most enthusiastic members, and will remain true to the long tradition and high aims of the 49 Club.

AN Italian warship was being taken in tow by a British warship in the Mediterranean, and a prize crew had been put on board. An Italian sailor came up to a British sailor who was leaning over the rail and said,

The Englishman turned. "I don't care what you think about our ships and sailors, but don't go spitting in our sea."

BRUSSELS, 10th of May, 1940; at five o'clock in the morning. I suddenly woke up hearing a strange noise above my head. I got up quickly and saw German 'planes flying above, regardless of the A.A. barrage put up by the Belgians. I rushed to my parents' room, where I was informed that Belgium was at war! What a terrible surprise for me! I, who had never believed in war, was in the midst of one now! In two days the Germans were advancing rapidly towards the capital, so my family and some friends decided to leave the country. We decided to split up into two parties consisting of my mother and two lady friends, who would go in one car, and my father, sister, and myself, who would take the other car. So with tears in our eyes we left Brussels.

We had a good journey to the borders of France, where we saw English and French troops on their way to the front. At the frontier town, which was called Poperinghue, we waited with about two thousand other cars, to pass the frontier. Then my mother received permission to cross the border. We waited patiently in our car for two hours until somebody came and told us that my mother was safely in France, and was waiting for us in the town of Conde, about a hundred miles south of Poperinghue. So we went there after crossing the border, but there was not the slightest trace of my mother. Then, for about four days, we searched practically every town in the north of France for her, but in vain. We then went to a town in Brittany, where we had previously decided to go in case we lost each other. When we arrived there we heard the relieving news that my mother was safe, and was to arrive the next day. We settled down thinking that at last we were safe, but the Germans were still advancing, so once more we were forced to leave.

Eventually we reached Brest, and were just in time to catch one of the last boats for England.

Once in England we realised that we would no longer have to live under the shadow of the swastika, but we also realised that many of our countrymen had failed to reach freedom.

THE tail of a fish weighs 9lbs., the head weighs 9lbs. and half the weight of the body. The body weighs the same as the head + the tail. What is the weight of the whole fish?

(One of the interesting features of the boys' life in evacuation conditions has been their increasing awareness of country scenes and activities. This has been reflected in many articles, of which the following are an illustration. - ED.)

I THINK I can claim to be one of the very few of the present day who have been "hawking."

I used to do most of my hawking in Scotland, where my father owns a small grouse moor. Often, early in the morning, I have ridden out alone on my pony, with Diana on my wrist, to hawk before the "guns" were even stirring.

It is one of the most glorious and exhilarating sensations in the world to ride through sweet-smelling gorse and heather, a hawk on one's wrist hooded, waiting and terrible, and to watch and hear the snipe drumming earthwards in an exultation of life. The mountain hares lope slowly away.

Suddenly a grouse rises with a whirr, Diana's grip on my wrist tightens. I whip off her hood and point to the bird. She rises, winnows and stoops, but the grouse is gone. Grouse make bad hawking as they never fly very far at a time, and sink into a deep bush when attacked.

I recall Diana and replace her hood. We ride on; a breeze springs up and, heralding sunrise, beams of light transform the clouds into long fingers of purple and gold. A minute later the sun shows over Ben Raymond and touches the heather into ethereal mists of fire. Away over the moor a dog barks. I turn homewards for the spell of hawking before sunrise is broken.

AT eight o'clock on a nippy February morning we assembled at the kennels on Castle Hill and waited for the kennelman to arrive. About five minutes later we set off and, at half-past eight on the fields above Ellicombe, set up a fox, which was evidently returning from an early morning foray. But, unfortunately, the hounds, being beagles, were too small to be any use, and were called off. Then the first hare was scented. Away over the fields it went with the pack in full cry after it, the hounds encouraged by the strange sound, the nearest to which I can get in writing is "yp" or "yit," which the kennelman utters from time to time. Over the main road they went, only a short interval between hare and hounds, and on to the marsh, where the morning mist made the visibility almost nil. Here, unfortunately, the hare gave us the slip. Undaunted, we went off, and after an hour or so of unsuccessful casting round, two of the hounds jumped a hare by surprise in a little hollow and had killed it before anyone was any the wiser.

I still have a hind pad of this hare, and when I look at it I remember those times on the marshes in the misty winter mornings.

I AM billeted with a timber merchant, and have had many trips to places where timber is being felled - Treborough, Porlock, Heddon, Exford, &c.

At Treborough, on the side of the hill, men were cutting up firewood. Firewood is the name to any tree that is no good for a "stick." (This is the term used for a tree that will make one pit prop or more). It sounds rather out of place when one is talking about a towering giant. At this place a man got three and a half - of honey. No! Not mere pots; but bucketsful, out of a hollow oak.

Trees should be felled only in winter, when the sap is not running; but war-time conditions have caused very large quantities to be felled in summer. The Government will not allow ash to be felled in summer, because it ruins it, and the wood is too precious.

The actual felling of a tree requires quite a lot of skill. It might, for example, be leaning over the wrong side. When the men have decided which way they want it to fall, say to the right, they axe (the name is "dip") about a quarter in on the side they want it to fall. The men then begin to saw on the other side (the left). After the saw has gone in past its own depth, a wedge is hammered in, otherwise the weight of the tree would jam the saw. It seems a long time getting through, but, at last, the tree gives a creak, a couple more, then with a tearing sound the mighty giant crashes to the ground, the branches cracking up like matchsticks, and then silence. The wood-men eye it from where they have jumped to, and then the tree is cut up and taken away.

Often a big problem is getting the timber out. It is very difficult when it has to cross a stream or river, the banks of which must be kept intact. At Exford, in the summer, the horses were knee-deep in mud, and had to pull one another out.

Let us follow the tree to the sawmills. It is cut up by circular saws. There are two types - the inserted tooth, which is generally American, and the plate saw (all in one piece), which is English. The, timber is fed to the saw by a moving table on rollers, which, having a slot for the saw, carries the wood to the saw, through it, and out at the other side. The tree now begins life again as planks.

Chemistry Master surveyed his class. "Now, boys, I am going to get through a lot of work to-day. Settle down quickly. The first experiment is to distinguish between acids and alkalis. Take sulphuric acid and ammonia. You fool, boy. Knocking your book off the desk. I've never seen anyone so careless as you boys. Ah, yes. Now sulphuric acid has very little smell. I'll take a large sniff. Oh, oh, oh, oh - ah, ha, ha. Good heavens, I wish I'd looked at the label on the bottle. I must have smelt the ammonia. Now, I'll hold this piece of red litmus on my hand and pour on the ammonia, like this. That's funny ; the litmus has not changed. My hand is rather warm. Can it be - Oh, dear, I wonder - Ow, oh, ooch. Get me water; get me something. My hand's on fire. I'll put it in the ammonia. Ah, at last, I must have picked up the wrong bottle. Well, we have a tube of acid and a tube of water. Now you always pour the acid on the water, like this." - Bang!!! "Good lord, my suit is ruined. What I took for the acid was the water. Well, we'll leave the acids for a bit. I'd better clear up. There are bottles lying all over the place. Some people are so careless. Ahem! What's this white powder in this bottle? I'll wash it out. Put it under the tap, Jones. Ah, here's a label. S-o-d-i-u-m. What, Sodium? Jones! Hey! Jones! Jones! Don't! Ow!" Crash!!! "Why did you do it, Jones? Now there's even more to clear up."

"Ah, there's a bottle of water with pieces of wood floating in it. You fool, Brown, you've upset it. Never mind, leave it now. Turn on that cylinder of gas and find out what is in it. Oxygen, I expect. Look, those pieces of wood are catching fire. The whole bench is alight. What does the label beside the bottle say? What? Phosphorus? Give me the oxygen. Let me have a few sniffs of it. That's better. Oh, I feel sleepy. What is this gas? N20, you say? Ha, ha, it's so funny. Laughing gas! Has, ha, ha! The whole lab's on fire. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

ALL human crises, whether individual or international, subject the mind to a pressure of thought which tends to result in a concentration of analytical power. This concentration is then brought to bear upon the process of living and, in consequence, the basic principles of life stand clearly defined. This conclusion, forced upon the mind by an almost irresistible pressure, has both its advantages and its disadvantages, and it is the task of man, if he wishes to progress, to consider these possibilities and to determine a way of life which will most surely lead to the ultimates of life - the true, the good, and the beautiful. .

It is not unusual, in times of peace and tranquillity, for the fundamentals of life to be obscured by a cloud of trivialities and fripperies -"airy nothings" which pass as life itself. It is to man's advantage, therefore, if the lessons of times of crisis, when an awareness of the bases of life is forced upon his consciousness are remembered in times of peace. Man will then discard that which is of no value in life and retain that which is vital and permanent. The test of the accuracy of man's impelled analytical power would be whether the resulting basis would lead to the ultimates of life.

In peace, the things that have an essential importance are the settled ways of life, such as a certain amount of sleep, a certain amount of food, feeling of security, &c., but in a crisis we see that the human mind and body are remarkably adaptable. Thus, this regularity of life, though important, is not basic. More important than this, and definitely basic, is that life should have some purpose; with this man will cheerfully bear insecurity and irregularity, but without it his mind will become unbalanced and madness or suicide will result. Purpose is, in fact, the one basis of life, and nothing is as essential; apart, of course, from those essentials needed to keep the body alive. The escapist tendency which we see gaining ground in modern life is, therefore, not only useless but harmful, since it acts as a drug upon the mind and could never lead to the true, the good, and the beautiful. Thus, having discovered the true basis of life, we must reject all in life which either is not in accord with this basis or which will not lead to the ultimates of life. This is not to say that life must be lived with purpose as the sole criterion; activities such as recreative pleasure, excluding escapism, perform a useful function, and should not be despised. Purpose should be the base and not the criterion of life.

The advantage of this discovery of the fundamental of life would be entirely nullified if the basis of life was regarded as life itself. It would, indeed, be a decided disadvantage, since progress would be impossible and life would remain eternally elementary. This basis or element must be regarded as the medium for synthesis, and the compound evolved will be life. It will not be true life, however, if man discovers the fundamentals of life merely to build up another edifice full of the same superficialities and the same pettiness which marred his previous life.

If man, therefore, is not to destroy himself, as he surely will with the crumbling of the present flimsy edifices called life, he must utilise his new power of analysis, reach the basis of his life, discard all that which is useless and debasing, and build from that foundation that life which will lead most surely to the good, the true, and the beautiful. Only that will have the qualities of permanence; only that will bear the stamp of perfection.

Much milk has splashed out of the bottles in the hall (a) to go, "Guguel, guguel!" down sundry Polygluttonous throats, (b) to go, "Ssspplosh!" out of those silly little bottle caps into the eye of the nearest Prefect; in short, much milk has flowed since last I wrote thee.

Now that we've been in the country for two years, it has occurred to me that we are not taking all the golden opportunities that offer themselves for adjusting our learning to the needs of the moment. There's farming, for example. Surely it's time we had that in the curriculum. Of course, we're supposed to wait for the University that controls our syllabus before we progress. But why?! Whateffer for?! Can't we begin now?

Paper 1 - Questions on cows, sheep, horses, pigs, bees, goats, hens, and rabbits:- Care of, milking of, taking out of, tying up of, with and to, bedding down of, skinning of, cooking of for, eating of (with and by, when, where and how), sittings of, and wherein.

Paper 2 - Wheat, barley, oats, roots, buttercups and daisies, yams, clams, and hams. - Care of, use of, implements for getting up of.

Practical paper - The practice of up-to-date farming to include experiments in apple picking and eating, cider making and tasting, cream separating and spreading on strawberry jam, gooseberry singeing and shaving. Effect of cayenne on cows, music on marrows, and sherbert on sheep.

Protection of swine from warbles, baubles, and weazles. Marketing on the hoof, in the pod, and in the bag.

PRACTICAL. - Candidates for State Scholarships must do at least one question. Others may do what they like.

3. - Calculate by experiment which is the most dangerous pest - a flea in the ear, a bee in the bonnet, or death-watch beetle in a wooden leg.

WRITTEN PAPER - Don't write too much. Draw an inch margin down each side and in the middle.

4. - "You can't get more out than you put in." Illustrate this advice to farmers with regard to:- (a) growing corn, (b) milking cows, (c) laying eggs.

5. - What influence does watching a house football match have on the laying capacities of:- (a) geese, (b) hens, (c) ducks, (d) ants, and (e) bricklayers ?

7. - Calculate by trigonometry, algebra, or ordinary common sense, the value on December 20th of ten tons of tomatoes picked on 25th September.

And here is a special agricultural competition. It's for you lads of inventive genius.

The Editor shall have the right to divide the prizemoney, if necessary, and keep the machines submitted.

1 -

2 -

Sep. 20	An R.A. Battery ... ...	Lost	3-5.
Oct. 4	Vehicle Maintenance School ...	Won	4-3.
11	Minehead A.T.C. ... ...	Lost	1-11.
18	Williton A.T.C. ... ...	Won	8-0.
25	An R.A. Battery ... ...	Draw	1-1.
Nov. 1	R.A.S.C. ... ... ...	Lost	2-3.
8	Group H.Q. XI. ... ...	Won	6-2.
15	Huish's School, Taunton ...	Won	3-1.
29	An R.E. XI. ... ... ...	Lost	1-5.