ALUMNI

William Bragg arrived at KWC aged 13.  He was quickly recognised by Principal J Hughes-Games as “the most promising pupil for his age in mathematics I think I have ever had” and moved to the Sixth Form mathematics class. He won a scholarship to Trinity College Cambridge in 1880, but stayed on at College as Head of School for a year before taking up his place, graduating in 1884 as third wrangler in the mathematical tripos.

He was appointed a professorship at the University of Adelaide, teaching pure and applied mathematics and developing his interest in physics.  In 1896, only a year after the discovery of X-rays, Bragg created his own X-ray machine to examine his son’s broken elbow. This is believed to have been the first use of X-rays as a diagnostic tool in Australia.

In 1908 Bragg left Adelaide to take up the Cavendish Chair of Physics at Leeds University.  He began to further his studies into the particle nature of X-rays and with his son Lawrence established a new science of X-ray analysis of crystal structure.  In 1915 they were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics or their services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays.

During WWI Bragg worked for the British Government, predominantly looking at methods of submarine detection.  After the war he became Quain professor of physics at UCL, and then Fullerian professor of chemistry at the Royal Institution and director of the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory.

After leaving College, Robert Henry Cain began working for Shell in Thailand.  With the outbreak of WWII, Cain was given a commission into the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers before being seconded to 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, part of the 1st Airlanding Brigade.  Cain, with the Staffords, was part of the lift to Arnhem as part of Operation Market Garden where he led B Company.  His actions in the battle earnt him the Victoria Cross.  Part of the citation reads “Major Cain, by his outstanding devotion to duty and remarkable powers of leadership, was to a large extent personally responsible for saving a vital sector from falling into the hands of the enemy. Throughout the whole course of the Battle of Arnhem, Major Cain showed superb gallantry. His powers of endurance and leadership were the admiration of all his fellow officers and stories of his valour were being constantly exchanged amongst the troops. His coolness and courage under incessant fire could not be surpassed.” 

Cain relinquished his wartime commission in December 1945 and returned to Shell, living in East Asia and then West Africa, where in the 1950s he was elected to the Nigerian House of representatives.  

Sir Peter started in Junior House in January 1936.  Although 18 years after the end of the First World War, it’s legacy would still have been very fresh.  In his memoirs he recalls passing each day the field gun awarded to the College for the OTC’s service and during Chapel on evening in 1938, with clouds gathering in Europe, seeing the War Memorial and realising there could be another memorial and his name could be on it.  At KWC he was involved in a whole range of activities – scouts, boxing, fencing, field athletics, rugby, swimming, shooting (as a member of the Bisley Eight) and the OTC.

Sir Peter’s father had been a radio officer in the Royal Navy and there was an expectation that Sir Peter would follow his footsteps and go on to Dartmouth.  However the outbreak of WWII and the changes it brought to the Island, College and the OTC, as well as Sir Peters fondness and aptitude for shooting, cemented his decision that he would go into the Army instead.  When he left College he was only 17½, too young to enlist, but he joined the Home Guard and served as a dispatch rider.  Shortly after his 18^th birthday he was accepted for the Rifle Brigade, his service beginning in September 1942.

Once commissioned Sir Peter volunteered for the Airbourne Forces and saw service in Belgium, Holland and Germany. After the War he served in South East Asia, Java Greece and Palestine,  and before transferring to the Glider Pilot Regiment.  After pilot training he was involved with the Berlin Airlift in 1948 was later awarded the DFC for his reconnaissance in Korea.  He took command of the Lancashire Regiment in 1966 and was awarded the DSO after his tour in Aden.  Later appointments included a NATO posting in Norway, Commander of the Berlin Infantry Brigade and GOC West Midland District at Shrewsbury.  He retired from the Active List in 1979 after 37 years of service.

But he was to be kept busy in his retirement. He was Lieutenant Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1979-1984, Governor of the Knights of Windsor from 1989-2000 and President of the British Korean Veterans’ Association from 1986-1998.

After his death in 2014, Sir Peter’s family added to a generous legacy that he had left the College. The donation funds an annual sixth form lecture, delivered by leading speakers from around the world, in subjects related to Sir Peter’s interests.  A marble bust, a plaque in Chapel and a bench have also been installed in Sir Peter’s memory to ensure his presence remains at KWC.