Owen was sent to Westward House, a boarding school fororphaned sons of teachers. These pieces from the schoolmagazine were extracted by Mr Alan East for Owen's daughter,Laura, who presented him with a book on his life in 1995. Owen was still alive then and I think living in Silverton.
A YEO Stray
Westwood House, 7 West Hill, Sydenham, SE26 was a boarding school for orphan Sons of the National Union of Teachers. It was opened in September 1899 and, after the boys having been evacuated during WW2, it never recovered as an orphanage. Attempts to sell the building failed and finally it was demolished in 1957. The site is now occupied by Sherwood Court.
A newsletter entitled West wood Ho! was published for present and Old Boys. Issue No 1 was dated December, 1924 and it appeared once or twice per year, even a short bulletin through the war, until the final No 41 dated January, 1950.
There are several references to Owen C. YEO, including details of his wartime service. Although the given name varies (Owen, John and Dick), there is little doubt that it is the same individual who is mentioned each time.
No.15, Dec '31.
220 yds. (10-12): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
High Jump (10-12): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
100 yds. (12-14): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
220 yds. (12-14): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
440 yds. (12-14): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
High Jump (12-14): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
Long Jump (12-14): 3rd, 0 Yeo.
No.17,Dec' 32. Again the June Sports Day results are listed in detail, but the only mention of 0 Yeo this year is as the winner of the Consolation Prize.
No.19, Dec '33.
The Evan Davies Prize (Helpfulness in Westwood), 0 Yeo.
100 yds. (14-16): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
220 yds. (14-16): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
No.21, Dec 34.
100 yds. (14-16): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
220 yds. (14-16): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
440 yds. (14-16): 2nd, 0 Yeo.
This June '34 Sports Day was his last. C Yeo is now listed as a paid-up Old Boy of under 18. Under the heading Jottings, the newsletters carried news of Old Boys. With typical school humour, his entry reads: "JOHN YEO has obtained a position in the offices of a well-known paper firm in Exeter and likes his work very much. We wish John all the very best in his new work, and trust that he will soon a quire a ream of bank notes to show for his labour. We would remind John that it is well established that it is a simple matter to succeed - on paper."
No.22, Jun '35. OWEN YEO, who is in the paper manufacturing business in Exeter, tells us that he is very fond of aquatic sports such as swimming and rowing. The ]atter seems to be a case of Yeo-heave-Ho! [His name never featured in the school swimming results.]
No.24, Jun '36. In a list of boys who have left to date:
No.424, 1928-34, YEO, Owen C., Fore Street, Silverton, nr. Exeter.
No.25, Dec '36. DICK YEO (1928-1934), who was working at a paper mill in Silveston(sic), Devon, has changed his ,job and is now at another paper mill at Cullumpton. Turned over a new leaf, in fact!
No.27, Dec '37. Dick YEO (1928-34) says that he will make a great effort to be with us on July 9th. Dick is still working hard for the same firm, and is now back at Silverton, but he finds it somewhat lonely in winter.
No.29, Dec '38. Yeo, O.C. listed as a paid-up member. Now 18+
During the war the boys and staff were evacuated to various places. A slim Bulletin continued to be produced, containing mainly news of present boys' whereabouts and Old Boys' war experiences.
No.32, Jan '41. OWEN YEO, 1928-1934, has let us have little information. We believe he was at Dunkirk.
No.33, Jan '42. OWEN C. YEO, 1928-1934, wrote to us in July. He was then Cpl. 0 C Yeo, 5622038, 1/6th Btn., The Queen's Royal Regiment.
He tells us that he has been posted back to tank work and appointed a Section Leader to teach the newcomers something of what he learnt in
Belgium. He was with the Black Watch and fought a rear-guard action at Ahbeville and Mount Cassel, finally getting away from Dunkirk after a few nights on the beaches. He stated that he was shortly going into the Commando force, so probably his address has changed by now.
He would like news of James and Hughes.
No.34, Dec '42 No.34, Dec '42. OWEN C. YEO, 1928-1934,
sent us an air-mail letter in September from the Middle East, where his only complaint seems to be sand in his shoes and somewhere else, too. He seems to be getting very good at cooking for himself, and mentions the meal he had just eaten: steak, chips and onions. He says that letters from home are arriving regularly, so we hope he gets this Bulletin in good order. He concludes by saying, "All we want now is to get cracking and go and have a trip up through Tripoli". He is in the same unit as Ron Herbert and met the Hart brothers [Herbert and Tom] on the boat going out to the Middle East.
He sees them quite often and they are both very well.
No.35, Jan '44. OWEN YEO, 1928-1934, is still in the Middle East.
In our last Bulletin we reported his remark, "All we want now is to get cracking and go and have a trip up through Tripoli." Well, he's had it. He wrote to us from Tunisia, which he finds much more pleasant than the desert. He suffered a small wound some time ago but is fully recovered now. He says that the trip from Alamein to Tunisia is only a stage in the trip from Exeter to Westwood. He is now Battalion Orderly Room Sergeant. He is still with Ron Herbert and, when we last heard, camped conveniently close to the sea.
No.36,Jan '45. OWEN YEO, 1928-1934, was reported in our last issue in the Middle East, but he wrote in September and told us that he had returned to England and had then gone to Belgium. He told us that he had just passed through a place where he had made a big stand in 1940, before retreating to Dunkirk. He says it looked just the same, even the trenches they dug in 1940 still being present. He is looking forward to knocking on Hitler's front door and then running round the back to grab him. He gave us the news of Ron Herbert. [He received a nasty wound and was evacuated to England. Owen saw him into the ambulance before moving on himself.] A letter just received tells us that Owen is in Holland. He has now fought in eight countries and thinks it is time to return to England and "make some wedding plans".
No.37,Jan '46. OWEN YEO, 1928-1934, was present at the Reunion. [Held in Sydenham on the second Saturday in July, at which Owen signed the Visitors' Book "Dick Yeo".] He wrote in April telling us that he was back in England, having returned from the Dutch/German frontier in the previous December. For three years he was with the famous Desert Rats, 7th Armoured Division. We were very glad to see one who had been such a good correspondent throughout the years of the war.
No.38,Jan '47. OWEN YEO, 1928-1934, has returned to his former occupation in the paper trade, and suggests that he may be able to help us with paper for the magazine. We hope the day is not too far distant when West wood Ho! will be so large that we shall need to take advantage of your kind offer, Owen. [Sadly, that was never to be.]
No.39, Feb '48. Owen is listed as a paid-up member and his address was:
The Spragues, Fore Street, Silverton, nr. Exeter. There is no further mention of him in the two subsequent issues, but in No.40 there is an un- captioned photo of those attending the Final Reunion on 10th April, 1948.
Extracted by Alan East, Carmarthen. July 1995.
