Following our publication of Imogen Thomas’s memories of Haileybury on VE Day, OH Roger Nix (K 44) has been in contact with his own memories from that period. In this extraordinary account, Roger recalls bombs falling on XX acre, VE Day itself, being taught by Edgar Matthews (ECM) and the freezing winter of 1947. All a long way from today’s creature comforts…

V1 and V2 rockets

I entered Haileybury in the summer of 1944 with D Day, in which many of our fathers were participating, on 6th June. A feature of the summer term was that first period was from 7.30 am to 8.10 am with breakfast at 8.15 am. This all coincided with the V1 assault (a gyroscopically-stabilised pilotless flying bomb which flew in a straight line until it ran out of fuel; always with indiscriminate results).

For Kipling, our underground air raid shelter was in the cellars beneath the Science Block. An intermittent ringing of the bell would get everybody up; we would then grab a rug, dressing gown and shoes and set off down to the Science Block and our shelter. If we were there long enough, an announcement would be made cancelling our first period. I cannot remember it ever raining.

When the bell rang continuously, it was a case of just get under your bed – looking out of the windows was strictly forbidden due to the blinding effects of flying glass if the windows were blown out. We were all in our beds when the first V2 – a supersonic bomb landed/exploded at the bottom of XX acre. The whole of KBM block shook when we heard the noise of the rocket coming. With V1s landing just beyond the College Arms, the summer of 1944 came to an abrupt end ten days early.

VE Day

Of necessity, all the younger “beaks” (teachers) had gone off to the war and had been replaced by others coming back out of retirement so that the School was, in effect, run by the Head of School and the Heads of Houses/House Captains. This was all good training for future command.

There were plenty of radios about and, when news of Germany’s surrender became real, there was a sudden great air of relief and happindess which spread through School. Even The Master sensed this and wanted to know what was going on. Interestingly, he did not contact any of the “beaks” but phoned Lodge and asked Deards to find the Head of School – T W Tyrwhitt-Drake – and tell him he wished to see him immediately. The following day was one of celebration with the good news confirmed and an impromptu concert in Big School led by P G Sawyer (C 40).

For those leaving during these years it was military service and the final assault on Europe which confronted them. I had the good fortune to have a long chat with General Roy Dixon (ISC [A] & C 38) who enlisted in the RTR in the summer of 1943 and went straight into D Day in June 1944. With the battles to get out of Normandy with buildings and animals blown apart and with soldiers mortally wounded day after day, he said that by the end of 1944 all the men were prematurely aged.

ECM

I had the great good fortune to be with ECM’s form for the school certified year. This really was one of life’s experiences as the amount of general knowledge we acquired was phenomenal. Saturday morning meant spelling tests and never once did ECM lose the 6d prize on the front of his desk to anyone who got all fifty correct!

To say that ECM was an educated man was putting it mildly and it was “beaks” of his calibre who gave selflessly of their time that maid Haileybury what it was. But ECM spent hours on extra lessons for us which at the end of the day resulted in the required School Certificate. I have been forever grateful as the resulting “matric exemption” became vital.

The winter of 1947

This was one of those winters when it was always snowing; there was a shortage of coke for the boilers and at one point there were rumours of a School shut down as there was no coke left.

Above: Hockey played at Haileybury – somewhat earlier than 1947 but it gives an idea of the cold!

In the evenings it was time to leave the House/Common Rooms to go across Quad for evening call and the first person out of the door said “it’s snowing again”! Afternoon sport was ‘squash, fives or a run’ – all sports fields being covered in snow – and this monotonous routine dragged on for weeks. But this was the way things were and everyone just battled on in a good humoured way.

The OH website really does bring back memories that will be crystal clear in one’s mind. Pure nostalgia!

Roger Nix (K 44)