Plumtree School -
Old Prunitians - Roll of HonourIndividual Biographies 1939-1945 S to Z
These biographies and photos were copied from "A Record - Plumtree School 1902 to 1945." Please submit any additional information and photos to the webmaster.
Sgt.-Pilot L. V. Schafer - Leonard Victor Schafer, who was reported
missing on May 28th, 1942, is now known to have been killed on that date. He was
flying a Hudson bomber against an enemy convoy off the Netherlands coast, and
did not return. His body was subsequently recovered on the island of Borkhum,
where he is buried in the Luther Cemetery. Schafer was born on April 2nd, 1918,
and entered Lloyd House in January 1931. After passing his Junior Certificate
and Matric, he left Plumtree in December 1936, and took up farming. He was a
farm manager at the time he attested in the Royal Air Force in March 1941.
School Record : House Prefect, 1936; Corporal in the Cadet Corps; Rugger 1st XV,
1935-36; Cricket 2nd XI, 1934 to 1936. He was keen on Scouts, also athletics,
swimming and hockey.
Lieut A. J. Scott - Allan John Scott was killed in Burma on November 1st,
1944. He was born on March 5th, 1918, and entered Lloyd House in January 1932.
He passed his Junior Certificate 1st class in 1932, and Matriculated in 1935. He
played for the School 3rd XV, and was interested in Scouts and dramatics. After
leaving Plumtree in December 1935, he won a Rhodes Scholarship and was on his
way to England to take it up when war was declared. Scott returned and attested
in October 1939; he served in the ranks with the Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders, and subsequently he was given a commission with the King's African
Rifles and served through the Abyssinian campaign.
Sgt G. M. Scott - George Murray Scott was killed in England as the result
of a flying accident on July 28th, 1941. He was born at Shamva on February 9th,
1918, and entered Lloyd House in January 1932. He was keen on all sport and
represented his House in most games. After leaving in 1934 he was employed at
the Lone Star Tribute Ltd., Shamva. He joined the R.A.F. on September 13th,
1940.
Pilot Officer N. C. Shattock - Nicholas Coryndon Shattock, who was
reported missing as the result of air operations on January 8th-9th, 1943, is
now officially presumed to have been killed on that date. He was born on
September 19th, 1921, and entered, Gaul House in January 1935. After passing his
Cambridge Certificate in December 1939, he started farming in the Banket
District. He attested in the Air Force in September 1940, received preliminary
training in Southern Rhodesia, and proceeded overseas in June 1941.
Flying-Officer P.
H. S. Simmonds - Peter Hugh Swayne Simmonds was killed
as the result of air operations on April 14th, 1942. He was born on February
4th, 1914, and entered Gaul House in January 1927, leaving Plumtree in December
1932. School Record : House Prefect, January, 1932; School Prefect, March, 1932;
Lance-Corporal in Cadets; committee member of Debating Society.Major A. W. D. Slatter - A. W. D. Slatter was killed in action while serving in the Far East. He was born in 1911, and entered Milner House in January 1924; after leaving in 1929 he won a King's Cadetship to R.M.C. Sandhurst. In 1931 he served in India with the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. School Record: House Prefect, 1929; Sergeant in Cadet Corps; Rugger 1st XV, 1928-29; House Boxing team, 1925-28.
Sgt. Pilot D. N. Smallie - Dan Norman Smallie was killed as the result of a flying accident on March 28th, 1943. He was born on June 5th, 1911, and entered Grey House in April, 1920. Dan left Plumtree in July 1927, and before attesting in 1941 he was employed with the Rhodesian Iron and Steel Corporation at Bulawayo. School Record: Under 12 Athletic Champion, 1922; Inter-School Boxing Team, 1927. He attended the Imperial Jamboree at Wembley in1924.
F1ight Sergeant-Pilot R. N. Smith - Reginald Newbold Smith, who was
reported missing as the result of air operations on February 7th, 1942, is now
presumed to have been killed. He was born on. September 1st, 1919, and entered
Lloyd House in January 1933. He passed his Matric in 1938, and entered the Civil
Service Law Department. He joined the R.A.F. in September 1940, and after being
trained in Rhodesia went overseas in 1941. He took part in the commando raids on
Vaagso and Maaloy Islands, being a pilot of a Hampden bomber. His machine was
hit and he had to crash land in a fjord; he was in icy water for 40 minutes
before being picked up. The late Reginald Newbold Smith's Wing Commander has
written as follows about him: "He was undoubtedly one of the Squadron's finest
Operational Captains. He had the heart of a lion and I shall always remember,
when he returned from his Norwegian trip, how completely unshaken he was and his
keenness to go on hammering the Hun. It was all the more tragic, therefore, that
he should have been lost on what we considered to be a comparatively easy, quiet
trip, particularly as he would ,have been due for a rest from operational flying
after approximately another half-a-dozen trips. I know that you will be pleased
to know that I recommended him for a commission, and that we held a very high
opinion of his qualities both as a pilot and a man. You have every right to be
very proud Of him, and he was a worthy son of Rhodesia." School Record : House
Prefect, 1937; Head of Lloyd House and School Prefect, 1938; Sergeant in Cadet
Corps; Bisley VIII, 1936, 1937, 1938; Rugger 1st XV, 1937-38 (Colours); Swimming
Captain and Colours, 1937; Cricket 2nd XI.
Ws./Sgt. J. E. A. Stack-Budge - James Edward Alexander Stack-Budge died
on active service in India on December 19th, 1944. He was born on May 19th,
1921, and entered Milner House in January, 1935. After leaving Plumtree
School in August, 1938, he took up farming until he attested in March, 1941, and
he proceeded on commitment in August of the same year.
Lieut. D.
R. Stewart - Denis Raven Stewart was killed in action in Italy on
November 23rd, 1943. He was born on February 23rd, 1917, and entered Gaul House
in September 1930; he left Plumtree in April 1935. School Record: 1st Rugger XV,
1934; 1st Cricket XI, 1934; School Boxing Team, 1933-1934; lance-corporal and
marksman in School Cadets; Matriculated December 1934.Pilot-Officer J. K. Stewart - James Keith Stewart, previously reported missing as the result of air operations on August 19th, 1942, is now presumed to have been killed on that date. He .was born on July 8th, 1923, and entered Grey House in January 1936. After leaving Plumtree School in December 1939, he was employed as Assistant Superintendent at the Bulawayo Swimming Bath. He attested in January 1941, and proceeded overseas in August 1941, having received preliminary training in Rhodesia.
Pilot-Officer J. Stidolph - Jack Stidolph was reported missing as the
result of operations in the Mediterranean, and is now presumed killed. He was
born in 1913, and entered Gaul House in January 1924, leaving in December the
next year.Lieutenant F. R. Stokes - Francis Ralph Stokes, of the Royal Armoured Corps, was killed in action in Normandy on August 23rd, 1944, while leading his troop into action against enemy rearguards east of Lisieux. He was born on June 4th, 1910, and entered Grey House in October 1923. He left Plumtree in December 1925.
Pilot-Officer C. B. Susskind - Chesney Brian Susskind was killed as the
result of air operations in Italy early in 1945. He was born on June 24th, 1924,
and entered Milner House in January 1939. Soon after leaving Plumtree in
December 1942, he joined the S.A.A;F., and he did remarkably well during his
period of training. School Record : Passed Cambridge School Certificate
examination with four credits in 1942; House Prefect, 1942; corporal in Cadets
Corps; Marksman and Shooting VII, 1941-42; Rugger :1st XV, 1941-42 (Colours);
School Swimming team, 1939; Captain of Water Polo team, 1942; School Tennis
team, 1942 ; Hockey 1st XI, 1942; Cricket 2nd XI; Dramatic Society.
Pilot-Officer G. F. Talent - George Frank Talent was killed in Egypt as a
result of a flying accident.. He was born in Bulawayo and entered Milner House
in 1937. After leaving Plumtree in 1930 he entered the employ of the Goldfields
Company. Just prior to the outbreak of war, he was on the asbestos mines, Shabani. He joined up with the Rhodesian Air Force at Salisbury, there-after
proceeding to the Middle East, and he was present at the fighting in Iraq.
School Record : Lance-corporal in Cadets, 1938; Rugger 2nd XV, lfJ30; Under 16
High Jump Record, 1929; Dramatics, "Thomas " in "The Admirable Crichton," 1928.
Flying-Officer E. A. Taylor - Ewart Arthur Taylor, who was previously
:reported missing as a result of air operations on December 2nd-3rd. 1943, is
now classified as missing, believed. killed in action. "Ding" was born on June
8th, 1921, and entered Lloyd House in January 1934. He left Plumtree in December
1939, and before attesting in the R.A.F. he was working at the Magistrate's
Court, Bulawayo. School Record : House Prefect, 1938-1939; Rugger 1st XV,
19'38-1939 (Colours 1938-1939); Cricket, Under 13 and Under 14 School team;
Sergeant in Cadets; active member of Debating Society; Matriculated in December
1939.
Flight-Sergeant R. H. Thomson
- Reginald Hamilton Thomson, who was
reported missing as the result of air operations on January 14th, 1945, is now
known to have been killed on that date. He was born on April 10th, 1923, and
entered Grey House in January 1937. After leaving Plumtree in December 1940, he
was employed in the Municipality of Livingstone. He attested in November 1942,
and after training in Rhodesia went overseas in December 1943.
Pilot-Officer P. C. Traill-Smith - Patrick Cullimore Traill-Smith was
born on May 25th, 1917. He entered Gaul House in January 1931. In the Air
Ministry casualty list of April 27th, 1941, he was reported as killed in action.
Gunner S. C. Vernon - Sidney Colin Vernon died of wounds as the result of
action in the Western Desert on November 1, 1942. He was born on . July 9th,
1918, and entered Grey House in 1927. After leaving school in August, 1934, he
was employed in the Post Office, and at one time was stationed at Plumtree, and
later at Gatooma.
Flight-Sergeant L. Warren-Smith - Lyster Warren-Smith, who was posted: as
missing as the result of air operations, has since been presumed killed in
action. He was born on January 19th, 1914, and entered Gaul House in January
1928. He was appointed a House Prefect in 1932; School Athletic Team, 1932;
School 1st Tennis VI, 1931; he took an interest in Rugger and Boxing, and was a
lance-corporal in the Cadet Corps. After Matriculating he left Plumtree in
December, 1932.
Squadron Leader R. G. Watson - Robert Grant Watson is now officially
presumed to have been killed as the result of air operations on September 3rd,
1943. He was born on February 10th, 1912, and entered Grey House in 1918. After
leaving Plumtree School in 1931 he obtained a Cadetship to the R.A.F. Cranwell.
Between 1935 and 1937 he was in the Quetta earthquake and two North-West
Frontier campaigns. On September 3rd, 1943, he took part in the raid over Berlin
as leader of the Rhodesian Squadron No. 44 of Bomber Command, and was reported
missing. Later it was ascertained by the International Red Cross that the plane was shot down at Velber Lenthe in Hanover. School Records : Matriculated, 1930; School Prefect, 1931; lance-corporal in Cadets, 1931; 1st Class Scout, 1929; School Swimming Team, 1931.
Sgt.-Pilot E. H. E. Welby - Edward Hugh Earle Welby was killed as the
result of an aircraft accident in England on June 13th, 1942. He was born on 2nd
August, 1915, and entered Lloyd House in September 1927. On leaving school in
August 1934, he went mining and was at the Bushtick Mine when he joined the
R.A.F. in July 1940. School Record : House- Prefect, 1933; school Prefect, 1934;
Sergeant in Cadet ,corps, 1934; Rugger 1st XV, 1932-34 (Captain and Colours,
1934); Cricket 1st XI, 1934. Took an active and prominent part in athletics,
swimming, boxing and Dramatic Society: Junior Certificate, 1932.
Flying-Officer B. D. White - Brian Dowley White was killed as the result
of air operations in the Middle East on December 7th, 1941. He was born on
October 24th, 1919, and entered Milner House in January 1933. He obtained his
School Leaving Certificate in 1936 and then entered the clerical side of the
Rhodesia Railways. He was called up for service in August 1939, and proceeded to
East Africa in November of that year. School Record : Cricket 1st XI, 1934;
Under 15 Rugby team; Dramatics, in chorus of “Patience” 1933, and “H.M.S.
Pinafore" 1934.
Sgt. C. J. Whiteford - Cyril John Whiteford, who was reported missing as
the result of air operations on October 13th, 1941, has now been reported
killed. He was born on May 12th, 1919, and entered Milner House in 1932.School
Record :lance-corporal in Cadets, 1936; Marksman, 1933-36; Shooting VII, 1936 (Colours);
Rugger 2nd XV, 1934-35; Cricket Under 15, 1932; Inter-School Boxing Team,
1932-1933; Hockey 1st XI, 1935.
Flying-Officer I. R. Willis - Ivan Reginald Willis, who was reported
missing as the result of air operations over the Frisian Islands area on January
21st, 1943, is now presumed to have been killed on that date. He was born on
July 25th, 1916, and entered Grey House in February 1929. In 1931 he passed his
Junior Certificate 1st Class, and won a Senior Beit Scholarship. He left
Plumtree in December 1933, having passed his Matriculation 1st Class
that year. Corporal J. B. Williams - John Bernard Williams died on service in Southern Rhodesia on December 3rd, 1944. He was born on December 29th, 1912, and entered Grey House in January 1924. He was a house prefect in 1930, corporal in the Cadet Corps, played for the School 1st XV, and he was interested in Scouting. Before the war he was employed by the Rhodesian Paint Mills, Salisbury. He attested in September 1939, and proceeded on commitment in April 1940.
Sgt.-Pilot J. W. Woodall - Jack Wllliam Woodall, who was reported missing
as the result of air operations on December 28th, 1941, is now presumed to have
been killed. He was born on June 29th, 1922, and entered Lloyd House in January
1937, leaving in December, 1938, to join the Nyasaland Railways. He represented
the School at athletics in 1937, and in Boxing in 1938, and took an active part
in dramatics.
Pilot-Officer C. Worral – Charles Worral, who was reported missing as the
result of air operations on February 2nd-3rd, 1945, is now believed to have been
killed on that date. He was born on August 29th, 1923, and entered Grey House in
January 1936. After leaving Plumtree School in December, 1939 he was employed by
the Rhodesia Railways. He received preliminary training outside the Colony, and
proceeded overseas in July 1943.Flying-Officer P. Yorke - Peter Yorke was reported missing as the result of air operations on October 6th, 1944, and nothing further has since been heard of him. He was born-on November 11th, 1910, and entered the Preparatory School in January 1919. Before the war he was farming on the Charter Estate. He attested in August 1942, received preliminary training in Rhodesia, and went overseas in May 1943.