Page 17 - War bMemorial Names

The Old Derbeian Society
Soon after the outbreak of war he obtained a commission in the Sherwood Foresters, transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and was sent to France in September 1916. Soon after he contracted trench fever and was in England till November last. He then returned at the commencement of the recent German offensive.
The high esteem in which he was held in his company and the extremely efficient and gallant way in which he did his work are shown by letters received by his father. 2nd Lieut. G.R. Moon., writes “He was loved by all the company and his section thought the world of him. I cannot write of him as you know, perhaps better than I do, what a grand character and large heart he had. Every man found in him a friend and I know no better. There was a great character shining in his life. In life and death he has given us a great example. It was a privilege to serve with him and all I will say is I pray I may live and die as he did.” The writer adds “It was a great and terrible fight. We fought over our dead, carried our wounded, our guns, our ammunition, day by day and fought them to a stand. Then as we were coming out of it Roy was hit. He had been to see the section comfortable in their billets and was coming back, when a long range shell fell in the road near him. None of us thought the wound he received would be fatal, and it was a terrible blow to us all to hear the worst”.
Major Napier writes: Your son’s worth through the battle was invaluable; for four days with his Sgt. And two guns he fought continuously, being twice cut off, and I had given him and his men up for lost, when one day they turned up with their guns, having done immense execution and saved the brigade on one occasion when the flank was turned. His men were very cut up at the news of his death. Your son was the life and soul of the men and an extremely efficient officer.” After his death Lieut was awarded the Military Cross for valour and conspicuous service in the field.
William Lowe Mugliston – 1887 – 1892
Born February 21st 1875 he came to the School in January 1887. He obtained a House Scholarship in the following year and in 1891 was in the 1st Football XI. Later he became the Assistant District Locomotive Superintendent on the Midland Railway at Lancaster and afterwards went over to Canada.
On the outbreak of the war he enlisted as a sapper in the Canadian Expeditionary Force being attached to the Royal Engineers. All we have been able to learn is he died in France on February 4th 1916 of heart failure; but we hope to hear fuller details later.
Fergus Fullerton Munro – 1912 to 1914
2nd Lieut. Fergus F. Munro, Cameron Highlanders, was killed in action in France September 20th 1917, at the age of 17 years. He was bringing up his men to the tranches for relief when a shell burst quite near and he was hit over the heart by a fragment and killed instantaneously.
It seems but yesterday that he was taking his part in the School and now, while his memory is still fresh among us, he has been called upon to give his life in our defence.
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