Major Richard Raymond Willis V.C. was born in Surrey on Friday the 13th of October 1876 and died in Cheltenham on the 9th February in 1966. He played a significant part in maintaining order in the British Empire and in action during the First World War. This was a war which created the decisive break with the old world order that had emerged after the Napoleonic Wars and which was modified by the mid-19th century’s nationalistic revolutions, shaping the world as we know it. A war too that left ten million dead and caused the disintegration of four empires: the Austro-Hungarian, the German, the Ottoman, and the Russian and the results of which would be important factors in the development of a Second World War, 20 years later, leading to the demise of the very Empire Willis had served so loyally.
Dick Willis was a pupil of Totnes Grammar School for two years from 1888 to 1890 when the very small School was based at the Georgian house in Fore Street, Totnes known as “The Mansion” which had been acquired by the School Governors only the year before in 1887 at a cost of £1,700.
In 1888 Dick was living in a cottage in Dartington with his mother Marion Willis herself a Devon woman born in Cheriton Bishop. His father Richard Willis was working at the time in Bombay, now Mumbai, India. The household in addition to his mother comprised Dick’s older sister Marion, his younger brother Rory, whose career path was similar to that of Dick in that he later became a soldier serving with some distinction in the Devonshire Regiment during the Boer war, and as a Staff Officer in World War I, and a younger sister Vera. Both his parents came from families with strong India associations and all its members lived lengthy and eventful lives.
Dick and Rory would, when possible, get a lift to school on the horse-drawn coal cart. There is also a tale that a friend of Dick’s had heard of the famous ‘ghost in residence’, the White Lady of Pomeroy castle, that is supposed to appear at midnight on the battlements on a certain date. The story goes that Dick and his friend set out to walk the 8 miles to the castle one night but the friend decided the adventure wasn’t for him and turned back. Dick determined to see the ghost continued but the ghost did not appear!
School photo with Dick Willis
bottom left.
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picture
In 1874 the School had been transferred from the control of the Mayor and Corporation to that of the Endowed School Govenors. It was arranged that, ‘the School Governors should administer the whole of the moneys derived from the ancient Charities, paying £200 annually to serve the original purposes of the Charities. These governors were 7 in number, 3 being appointed by the Town Council, 2 by the School Board of Totnes and 2 by the Justices of the Peace in Petty Session. It was then ‘The Totnes Endowed Grammar School’, under The Endowed Schools Act of 1869, that in1887 moved into the “The Mansion”. The Rev. Henry Arthur Hall succeeded Tracey but the name of the school was not changed to ‘The King Edward VI Grammar School’ until 1896 when Charles Frederick Rea became headmaster.
The newly appointed Principal of the ‘Totnes Endowed Grammar School’ when Dick and Rory attended was the Rev. F. W. Tracy M.A. who remained for only four years, from 1887 until 1891. This then was at a time of considerable change for the school newly esconced in the large premises provided at The Mansion in May, 1887 with only 30 or so boys. There is a school photograph, above right, taken in 1889 in which Dick appears; the only boy looking away.
Tracy also appears in the picture above. It was during his brief headship that he a made a number of important changes. His prospectus shows to what an extent he modernised the School and how it came that Dick moved on to one of the large Public Schools.
The prospectus reads that, “The work of the School falls into two main divisions”,
1. A course from which boys, if leaving early, may pass into large Public Schools; if remaining long, may be prepared for an Honours Course at any University.
2. A ‘Modern Side’ course, which is the same for all up to a certain stage; after this a course may be taken qualifying for a professional life, or ordinary University work, or one which is specially preparatory for mercantile pursuits. In the latter case special teaching is given in French and other business correspondence, and in Book Keeping. In connection with this Course a Shorthand Class is privately taught.
All boys above 12 work French throughout their course, and English subjects are taught to a high point in all cases.
Freehand drawing is taught generally, and classes are periodically under instruction in Perspective and Model Drawing for all boys to whom these subjects may be of importance.”
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