A second report on Dickie from Headmaster Ramsay to Maria Concetta, anxiously waiting at home for news – and probably not quite the end of (final) term everyone was expecting: “Dear Mrs Agius, I am glad to say Dick is … Continued
Headmaster Ramsay has found time to give Maria Concetta an account of Dickie’s unfortunate accident. The news is not good, and makes upsetting reading: “Dear Mrs Agius, … I wish to tell you further news of Dick. As far … Continued
The news of Dickie’s accident was a great shock to Marie Concetta. It is reasonable to suppose that only children Daisy and Arthur were resident at the Grove when the telegrams arrived in July 1914. A rare sample of Marie … Continued
In mid July two telegrams from Downside reached the Grove in rapid succession: Fr Ramsay to ETA: Operation over Dick recovered from anaesthetic Fr Ramsay to ETA: Nose badly fractured recovered from anaesthetic quite comfortable hope for good night ETA … Continued
“The European continent was at peace on the morning of Sunday 28th June 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia Chotek arrived at Sarajevo railway station. Thirty-seven days later it was at war.” For ETA however another death … Continued
ETA has decided that Dickie is to leave Downside at the end of July 1914. Dom Leander does not try to change ETA’s mind over the boy’s possible university education. He has been here twice before with ETA. Edgar was … Continued
In 1914 Dickie was 17 and in what was to be his final year at Downside school. His brother Arthur had turned 21 at Easter, and some of the family celebrations were in Malta. ETA had decided his youngest son … Continued
Arthur is finally home again, never to return to France and The Western Front (although he doesn’t know this until he is able to look back after the war). In January 1917 he was showing signs of shell-shock and , … Continued
Arthur sends news that he is on his way home …
17th December 1916 Arthur’s last known letter to Dollie from the Western Front: it is Sunday and he has been to Mass and Communion with brother Alfred. No mail today, and in the replay of the football match, Arthur’s team … Continued