Page 21 - War bMemorial Names

The Old Derbeian Society
lad and one of the most trusted Corporals in my section, never shirking his work, however difficult and dangerous to perform.”
A boy of good ability, he was in the VIth when he left School, he passed the London Matric. and obtained a scholarship at the Technical College where he was studying science with the ultimate view to medicine, when the war broke out.
He had his 2nd XI colours for Football and played in the 1st team at Cricket during the summer of 1913.
He felt it his duty to give his services to his country, and early responded to the call for men enlisting in the Public School's Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers which so many other Old Derbeians joined. He was later transferred to the Royal Engineers. By the many friends of his schooldays his early death in the discharge of his duty will be very keenly felt with a sense of deep regret and loss.
Robert William Kerr Reid – Sept. 1908 to July 1910
R.W. Reid came to the School from Oporto (Portugal) in September 1908. He took a prominent part in the athletics of the School. He was a member of the 2nd Football XI of 1908-09 and in the summer of 1909 played for the 2nd Cricket Team and occasionally for the 1st. In 1910 he obtained his 1st Football colours and was a very fair half with plenty of dash. The same year he kept wicket for the Cricket XI. At the athletics sports in 1910 he won the 220 yards Open (handicap) and the Hurdle race. He was also the best Fives player in the School and won both the singles and doubles in 1910. Moreover he was a member of the cadet corps which was changed into an O.T.C. Just before he left. He will be remembered as a good sportsman who earned the respect of all who knew him.
At the commencement of the present war he came over from Portugal to enlist in the Public Schools' Battalion (Middlesex Regt.) A little later he obtained a commission in the Loyal North Lancashire Regt. and it was while serving with them he met his death at the Front.
Frank Spencer Riches – Jan 1908 to Dec 1912
Private F. S. Riches, Middlesex Regt. was killed in action in France on Sept 26th 1916 at the age of 21 years. On leaving School he entered the United Counties Bank and was engaged at the Leicester Branch when war broke out. He promptly joined the Bankers' Battn. of the Royal Fusiliers but on going to France he was transferred to the Middlesex Regt. with whom he was serving when he was killed. He was reported missing on Sept 26th whilst engaged in the fighting on the Somme front. Afterwards, it was ascertained that he was killed in action and buried within the British lines. His Company Officer says “He was one of my best men, always cheerful under the most trying circumstances”.
During his School career Riches was a capable boy, good at work and games, of an honorable, upright character, and exercising quietly a good and healthy influence. Liked and respected by all, his early loss will be deeply regretted by his many friends.
He was in the Cricket XI, got into the VIth form in 1911, was made Præposter in 1912, and was in the Football XI in 1912 where he was an excellent and reliable goalkeeper.
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