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Thomas B. Colley began teaching at Appleby School in 1914. He earlier studied classics in Britain and at the University of Toronto, and his career in teaching at Upper Canada College from 1903 meant he was an experienced Master. During World War 1, he served overseas. He was also known as a strict disciplinarian. At Appleby he taught Classics and Ancient History and was the housemaster of School House, which later became known as Colley House. During the 1920s and 1930s, he was involved with the Appleby College Cadet Corps. Thomas Colley died on Sept. 2, 1949.

Harward Chaffey, was born in Winnipeg in 1899, and came to Appleby in September 1913 and stayed until June 1914. After leaving Appleby, he worked for the Dominion Bank in Winnipeg before receiving a commission in the RAF in the spring of 1918. His Commanding Officer, Maj. H. J. Hunter, reported the details of Chaffey’s death in a letter: “He was up with Turnbull, as observer, and they were observing for the artillery. Everything was going well when they were attacked by eight German scouts. In spite of being eight to one, they put up a wonderfully gallant fight and I believe could have got away, but they kept turning around on the Huns and attacking them.” Chaffey was killed barely two weeks before the Armistice was signed. His remains are buried in the Ascq Communal Cemetery near Lille, France.

42 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Killed in action 27 October 1918, at 20 years of age.

Osbert Calverley was born in 1899 in England, and entered Appleby in September 1912. He played on the First Rugby (Football) Team, and graduated to the Royal Military College in 1916. Having joined the Royal Flying Corps at the end of 1917, he was sent to Texas for part of his training, and was the first in his class to earn his wings. He was sent to England in May, 1918, to complete his training, and was expected to go to France, but he met his death in an airplane accident. He is buried in the Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, UK.

124 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Died 12 July 1918, at 19 years of age.

John Laird was born in Quebec City in 1897, and entered Appleby in September 1913 and stayed for one year. He played for the First Rugby (Football), Hockey and Cricket teams. He joined the army in 1916, and received a commission in the Eighth Royal Rifles. In June 1917, after training in England, he left for France. George L. Thompson, a machine-gunner in his platoon, said in a letter to Laird’s father, “Perhaps you heard he was wounded in the cheek, and I advised him to return to the dressing station, but was of no avail…we went along together until he made the supreme sacrifice.” Laird was killed in the attack on Hill 70. His body is buried in the Aix- Noulette Communal Cemetery in France.

24th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) Killed in action 15 August 1917, at 19 years of age.

H.P. Rossiter was an original Master at Appleby School from 1911 to 1915.

Aubrey Turquand was the first Appleby man to make the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. He was born 1896, and was one of Appleby’s original students and attended from Sept. 1911 to Dec. 1914. A noted athlete, he played on the First Rugby (Football), Hockey and Cricket teams, and was captain of all three in 1914. He twice won both the Senior Cross-Country Cup and the Victor Ludorum Trophy. In 1914, he left Appleby to enlist in the infantry where he rose to the rank of Sergeant; however, he reverted to a private soldier in order to get to France. He was wounded twice when he returned to the trenches as Lance-Corporal in a grenade platoon and was killed at Ypres. His name is inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium.
3rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry Killed in action 13 June 1916, at 19 years of age.

Alexander Hamilton Gillespie was born on June 5, 1898 to A.G. Gillespie and his wife. Alex was one of the original students at Appleby and attended from September 1911 until June 1915. During his time at Appleby, he played hockey, cricket and rugby, particpated in Hurdles on Sports Day and was involved with the school plays performed by the Dramatic Club. He was also Prefect. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on Aug. 17, 1916. He died in 1941.

Vernon Powell was the one Master who was killed during World War I. He was one of the small cadre of teachers who joined founding Headmaster John Guest in opening Appleby College in September 1911, and proved to be an extraordinarily popular and respected presence. During his three-year tenure he was the first Housemaster in the McCraney House, which came to be known as "Powell's", and the originator of the Appleby Dramatic Club. He was described as a man with "resourcefulness, quick sympathy, unquenchable humour, and a wonderful faculty for 'making things go' ". The scion of a family of soldiers, he left Appleby in 1914 to join a cavalry regiment, but soon transferred to the Canadian Field Artillery. He served in the 53rd Battery. He subsequently proved himself to be among the finest officers, earning the enthusiastic devotion of his men. He was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at the Battle of the Somme, where he was wounded. In October 1917, he burnt his hands badly in extinguishing a fire among live shells in a gun-pit, his quick action saving many lives. In December of that year, he was severely wounded by an explosion. He was evacuated to England, where he died on January 2, 1918 at age 31. His body is buried in the churchyard of All Saints Church, Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

53rd Battery, Canadian Field Artillery Died 2 January 1918, at 31 years of age.

Ford Stuart Strathy was one of Appleby’s original students, having followed founding Headmaster John Guest from Upper Canada College. During his two-year Appleby career, he played on the First Rugby (Football) team and on the First Hockey team. During World War One (WWI) He enlisted for training at the Curtiss School of Aviation in west Toronto, and after a period of further training in England, became attached to the Royal Naval Air Service in about February, 1917. On August 17th, Strathy, flying a Sopwith Camel, came to the aid of a Bristol fighter that was under heavy attack. Strathy himself was being pursued by two German aircraft, and in the fierce and rapid battle, his plane was shot down. He was reported missing, and it was later confirmed that he was killed in action. His body is interred in the Ramscapelle Road Military Cemetery, near Nieuwpoort, Belgium.

6 Sqdn., Royal Naval Air Service Killed in action 17 August 1917, at 19 years of age.

Ford's niece, Elizabeth Mary Tidy, married Alastair Walker in 1938.

Gordon A. King was born on December 4, 1897 and was a student at Appleby School from September 192 to February 1915. He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on November 8, 1916 but was discharged and enlisted with the Royal Air Force in February 1917. He died in 1935.

Sinclair M. Adams was a faculty member at Appleby School from 1915 to 1918 and taught Classics. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in June 1918, but was soon discharged in November 1918 due to the end of the War. He then became a teacher at Trinity College.

Donald MacDonald was born in Toronto on Feb. 9, 1898 (note that in his military records his birth year is either 1895 or 1896), and was one of Appleby’s original students. He played on the First Rugby (Football), Hockey and Cricket teams, and won the Victor Ludorum Trophy in 1915. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Thirty-fourth Regiment, Canadian Militia, but reverted to the ranks twice in an effort to reach France. In France he was private soldier in the Trench Mortar Battery of the Fourth Brigade, and after nine months in the trenches, was promoted Lieutenant in the field. He was killed by a grenade while making a reconnaissance of ground in front of a newly-won position in the outskirts of Lens. His remains are buried in the Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery in France.

18th Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Killed in action 16 August 1917, at 19 years of age.

William Wright was born in Ottawa, in 1898, and was one of Appleby’s original students. He played on the First Rugby (Football), Hockey and Cricket teams. Upon graduating from Appleby in 1916, he enlisted in the Fifth University Company, and on going overseas obtained a commission in the 35th Battalion. He was transferred to the 18th Battalion days before a high- explosive shell killed him as he was on a search mission. His body lies in the Ecoivres Military Cemetery, near Mont St. Eloi, France.

18th Battalion, Canadian Infantry Killed in action 13 May 1917, at 19 years of age.

Andrew D. MacLean was born on November 20, 1896 to Hugh C. MacLean and his wife. His father, Hugh, was the owner of Hugh C. MacLean Publications Ltd. Andrew was an original student and attended Appleby School from Sept. 1911 to March 1914. In December 1916, Andrew enlisted for commission in the Navy during World War 1. He married in 1925 to Frances Armstrong and had two children, Hugh and Jain. He died in Nassau, Bahamas on January 22, 1971.

William Crawley was one of Appleby’s original students when the school opened in September 1911. Born in England in 1897, he joined Appleby at age 14, and played for the First Rugby (Football) team for four years. He left Appleby in December 1915 to take up a commission with the 164th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He went to England in April 1917, but when his battalion was broken up, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He was in charge of a draft of the RFC proceeding to Egypt aboard H.M.S. Aragon when that ship was torpedoed in the Mediterranean near Alexandria on December 30. The sea never gave up his body, but his name is listed on the Chatby Memorial on the eastern side of the city of Alexandria, Egypt.

Royal Flying Corps Killed in action 30 December 1917, at 20 years of age.

Geoffrey Machell was born in Toronto on Jan. 1, 1895. He attended Appleby School from September 1911 to June 1912. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915 and was sent home in 1917 with Turberculosis. He also enlisted in World War II and served at Camp Borden. He died in October 1975.

Frank R. Griffin was born on Oct. 20, 1897 to F.M. Griffin and his wife. He attended Appleby School from Jan. to Dec. 1913. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in March 1917 and was discharged in April 1918 after catching the flu. Later on in life he became a doctor, married and had two children. He died in July 1961.