On Tuesday 11th November 2025, the Downside community gathered at the Old Gregorian War Memorial for a solemn Service of Remembrance.
Wreaths were laid by Mr Ken Beedle, President of St Gregory’s Society; Mr Randall, Interim Head; Heads of School, Juan and Maida, and Cadet Under Officer, Emma. In particular, we remembered the five Old Gregorians who lost their lives on land in 1945, eighty years ago: Lieutenant Peter Aloysius Cuffe, Officer Cadet Edward William Joseph Goode, Lieutenant Francis Charles William Mason, Lieutenant Michael Campbell Shawcross, and Lieutenant Ronald Mervyn Sheehan.
Lieutenant Peter Aloysius Cuffe Irish Guards Killed in Action 2nd April 1945
Peter was at Downside in Roberts House from September 1937 until July 1942. He won an Exhibition to Exeter College, Oxford, and completed a short wartime degree course. He then went to Sandhurst and was awarded the Belt of honour.
In October 1944 he joined the Irish Guards and was posted to the 2nd Armoured Battalion in Holland and was soon in action as Troop Leader in No 2 Squadron, supporting troops of the 82nd Airborne Division. On the 2nd of April 1945, at Gildenhaus in Germany, both the 2nd and 3rd Battalions lost many fine men, among them Peter, one of the youngest officers in the 2nd Battalion. This was a particularly difficult action; the inhabitants of the town, which stood on a hill just 2 miles from the boarder with Holland, had hung sheets, signifying surrender, from the upper windows of their houses. The German Paratroopers, who had withdrawn to the area, had very different ideas, and the No2 Squadron/No4 Company group were involved in very hard fighting on the outskirts of the town, in the course of which Peter’s tank, leading the troop, was hit by a panzerfaust, and he was killed. Peter was 20 years old.
Officer Cadet Edward William Joseph Goode Killed on the 16th of June 1945
Edward was at Downside in Caverel House from September 1939 until July 1943. He joined the Royal Armoured Corps, and at the aged of 19, and was killed in an accident, during training.
Lieutenant Francis Charles William Mason The Rifle Brigade Killed in Action 2nd April 1945
Francis was first in the Junior School in January 1933, but transferred to Worth later that year, and was back at Downside, in Barlow House, from September 1937 until December 1942. He was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade, and joined the 8th Battalion (2nd London Rifle Brigade) on the 23rd of October 1943. He was killed during some hard fighting in North-West Europe, at the age of 20, whilst controlling fire, standing on the back of his tank.
Lieutenant Michael Campbell Shawcross The Devonshire Regiment Killed in Action 27th of March 1945
Michael was at Downside, in Caverel House, from September 1929 until July 1934. He was killed whilst serving with the 7th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment, as they advance into Germany, towards the end of the war. He died 4 days shy of his 29th Birthday.
Lieutenant Ronald Mervyn Sheehan 4th/7th Dragoon Guards Killed in Action 30th March 1945
Ronald was educated at Downside, in Roberts House, from 1937 until December 1942. He joined the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards on the 18th of June 1944 in the Normandy bridgehead as a replacement for casualties sustained during the landings. He joined the reconnaissance troop which led the advance through France and Belgium. On crossing into Holland the leading troops met with stiff opposition from within the village of Sinderen where Sheehan’s Honey Tank was knocked out and he was killed instantly. His crew of three were taken prisoner. Sheehan was 20 years old.
We also paid tribute to the 260 Old Gregorians whose names are inscribed on our War Memorial, who died in the First and Second World Wars, many of whom were as young as, or younger than some pupils in the School now.
Address at the Remembrance Service 2025
We are here today to not only remember the 5 Old Gregorian’s that lost their lives, on Land, in 1945, but also the other 260 names inscribed on our War Memorial, who died in the First and Second World Wars, many of whom were as young as, or younger than some pupils in the school now.
Just over 110 years ago, the First World War began.
80 Years ago, the Second World War ended.
Almost nine million soldiers fell in the First World War.
In the Second World War, almost 60 million people fell victim to war, hatred, violence and ideological blindness.
These are the facts: these are the bare figures.
But those who died were, each and every one of them, a unique human being, with their own history. They loved and were loved: they felt joy, tenderness, longing, compassion, and hope. They were, each and every one of infinite value.
They are gone. But we must never forget.
Though the year’s pass, and new generations rise, and the world changes; we must never forget.
Today we remember not only the soldiers who lost their lives in both world wars. We remember also all the civilians, children, women, and men who lost their lives.
We remember all those who were persecuted and killed because they belonged to a certain people, race or religion, or because they were considered “unfit to live”.
We remember all those who stood up against tyranny, and who died or suffered for human dignity, the freedom of spirit and a free conscience.
We remember the victims of terrorism.
And we remember the victims of wars, and civil wars of our time. In many places throughout the world, people today are still dying through war, hatred and violence.
Many of those who had personally to suffer injustice, violence, and suffering, have shown, through the extraordinary generosity of their spirit, that out of sorrow can grow strength for reconciliation, strength to shape a better future in freedom, without war and violence.