History (10)

Many of the 8,000 odd 'Worcester' cadets served with distinction at sea and under many flags. The Japanese Admiral Togo became one of his country's great nautical heroes and H.R.Bowers sadly died with Captain Scott's South Pole expedition in 1912. There were two other OWs on this expedition and, as a lasting memorial to them all, every modern atlas shows the range of 'Worcester' mountains they named. Lord Mountevans of the Broke was probably one of the most decorated officers of the Royal Navy in the First World War.

Commander Gordon C Steele, VC, RN
Cadet 1907/9;
Captain-Superintendent 1929/57

Many OWs were decorated in the two World Wars, including awards of the Victoria and George Cross. Inevitably, many paid the supreme sacrifice and are commemorated on the two war memorials now on display at All Hallows-by-the-Tower church in London. Many OWs served in the other armed forces and achieved distinction and/or high rank.One OW, Dennis Wheatley - who later became one of the best selling authors of all time - served in the Army in the First World War and the RAF in the Second where he was on the Joint Planning Staff thereby somewhat unusually having served in all three of HM Forces; his fictional hero Gregory Sallust (a James Bond prototype) is cast as an OW! Many others reached Field, Flag or Air Rank in both World Wars.

Reverend Charles Strong - Vicar of Greenhithe and
the ship's Padre in the 1950s - conducting an informal service for OWs.

The majority of OWs went to sea in the Merchant Service and many went on to achieve high rank with the leading shipping companies - for example, in 1998 all four liners operated by the P&O Company were commanded by OWs! Sadly, the decline of the British merchant fleet post-war meant that many had to seek alternative employment ashore; some within the shipping industry but happily others have distinguished themselves in other fields such as the law, commerce, computers, engineering, surveying, publishing, travel, and the arts.