Sons of the Brave (The Times, Magazine Section, June 1956)

The Duke of York's Royal Military School at Dover will celebrate this year, on the annual Grand Day in July, the 150th anniversary of its opening as the Royal Military Asylum at Chelsea. As proper to a school for the sons of soldiers, boys, who in large numbers on leaving go into the Army, the celebration will include military ceremonies.

Towards the end of the eighteenth century Field Marshal Frederick, Duke of York, son of King George III and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, became concerned about the increasing number of neglected orphans of soldiers fallen in the wars. His desire to do something for them was shown in a proposal in the Royal Warrant for the foundation in 1800 of the Royal Military College, in which also he was greatly interested, that a legion of 400 boys, sons of private soldiers, should be educated and trained at the college and commanded on parade by the cadet branch of the college. That scheme was not carried out, but, instead, the Duke initiated the establishment of a new and separate Royal Military Asylum and himself laid the foundation stone of the building" in the country" off King's Road, Chelsea, in 1801.

THE FIRST BOY

The first boy to enter the institution, in 1803, was John Evans, son of Corporal Evans, of the 81st Regiment. There were at first on the establishment 150 boys and 50 girls, but soon the total number of children rose to 1,000, and then to 1,250. So many sought admittance that a branch establishment was opened at Southampton in 1817, and another for infants in the Isle of Wight.

The Duke frequently visited the asylum at Chelsea, particularly on Sundays for divine service. In 1840 the admittance of girls was stopped, and the Southampton and Isle of Wight establishments were closed, but the original at Chelsea was retained for the benefit of soldiers' sons, whether orphans or not.

Before 1850 tea, cocoa, and milk were virtually unknown at Chelsea; the staple liquid was a light dinner ale called small beer. The diet in general was carefully calculated on hygienic and on economic grounds, a cash amount of 6!d. a day being allowed for the feeding of each boy. Life there, though widely envied, was hard enough, and punishments were severe, including" three dozen" with a birch rod. On the other hand, the "Dukies," as they soon came to be known, were often given treats like visits to London shows and entertainments, to which they marched behind their own band.

They had the same uniform for over 60 years-red bob-tailed coat, white starched collar, blue knee breeches and stockings, low shoes with brass buckles, and leather caps. Sergeants wore a red coat with white waistcoat and breeches, black gaiters, and cockaded hat, and also a sword and a white wig with a queue. The uniform was changed in style, though not in colour, in 1865, and khaki was adopted in 1915.

EDUCATION RE-ORGANISED

The education given, until 1846, was based on Dr. Bell's system of reading, writing, and arithmetic, and the tutors were sergeant schoolmasters trained, in all probability, by Dr. Bell himself. The boys went to school on three days a week and practised certain trades on the other three working days. In 1846 Mr. Walter McLeod was appointed headmaster and, largely on account of the interest taken by the Chaplain-General, the system of education was re-organised. A Normal School for training Army schoolmasters was also established on the premises at Chelsea.

The reports of official commissions issued in 1870 and 1873 advocated moving the school out of London, the latter suggesting that the children's health would benefit from such a move. It was becoming evident that the building was no longer suitable for its purpose, but a new century had begun before a site at Dover was chosen and new buildings carefully designed to be laid out (on the general lines of Christ's Hospital at Horsham) and equipped as a predominantly military school. In 1909 it was re-opened at Dover, and its original home at Chelsea was adapted for use as the headquarters of various London units of the Territorial Force.

At Dover the classical character of the London building was not reproduced, but the preservation of the old traditions was ensured by the transference of memorials and trophies from Chelsea. In 1921 the curriculum was modified on secondary school lines, but the establishment continued to be run much as a boys' battalion, with the several boarding houses organised as military companies under pensioned warrant officers of the Regular Army.

In 1945 the organisation was completely changed, and to-day the school offers to the sons of soldiers, entirely free of cost to the parents, educational opportunities which entitle it to be regarded as the Army's own public school. Its motto is "Sons of the brave"; entry cannot be bought except by service. Boys, some at nine, some at 10, but most at 11 years of age, are selected with a preference for the sons of soldiers who have died in the service or of soldiers with long and honourable records.

BOARDING HOUSES

The educational side has become heavily predominant in the school's life, and there are a grammar school stream, a centre or technical stream, and a third stream of the secondary modem type. The separate boarding houses are now in the charge of house masters who are civilian teachers or officers of the R.A.E.C. In the General Certificate of Education 44 candidates last year obtained between them 127 passes. The School also gained its first State scholarship in 1952.

Yet the military background remains as a common bond between the boys, who at present number 426. Those choosing a service career seem to take the Civil Service Commissioners' Navy, Army, and Air Force examination in their stride, and the successful candidates have a record of acceptances by the Royal Commissions Board for entry to Sandhurst which compares well with that of any boarding school.

The premises and grounds cover about 170 acres, high on the South Downs. Apart from the separate boarding houses and classrooms, they include a chapel, an assembly hall, a dining hall, hospital, library, workshops for wood and metal, laboratories, a gymnasium, swimming bath, cinema, and listening and viewing rooms. On the walls of the chapel are tablets with the names and regiments of former" Dukies " killed in action, and on the walls of the assembly hall the names of those who have gained commissions and those who have won decorations. There are 20 clubs and societies for voluntary activities, and the fine playing fields have encouraged the pursuit of a full range of sports and games.

In 1825 the School was presented by King George IV with Colours, similar to those of infantry regiments, and they were carried by the head of the School on ceremonial occasions for over 70 years. New Colours have since been presented and the old laid up in the chapel. The School has always maintained excellent brass and drum and fife bands.