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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 270

The fascinating campaign group of three awarded to Major G. W. Kinman, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, the long-served Head Master of Hertford Grammar School, who inspired W. E. Johns, author of the Biggles books besides many others

British War Medal 1914-20 (Major G. W. Kinman.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Major G. W. Kinman.); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1919, unnamed, complete with brooch bar, nearly extremely fine (3)

George William Kinman was born on 25 December 1862 in Sheffield, the son of a silversmith. He was educated at Sheffield Collegiate School and at St John's College, Cambridge. A Goldsmith's Exhibitioner, he graduated BA in 1887 with a Second Class in the Classical Tripos, and MA in 1895. From 1894-1903 Kinman he was Head Master of Dolgelley Grammar School in North-West Wales, which slowly dwindled due to a lack of funding which stopped it competing with the County School, until its closure.

He thence went to take the position of Head Master at Hertford Grammar in 1903, a position he would hold until his death on 27 July 1927. Of his educational philosophy, Rev. W.D. Penning, writing in the Hertfordshire Mercury refers:

'The Major was devoted to the School and to the boys that came to it. He had his own views as to the work the School was meant to do for the boys, and he held those views strongly, and perhaps with too little tolerance for other views. So he was often in collision with one set or another of those interested in education (notably inspectors, officials, and theorists). Major Kinman held that the true object is to bring up boys to be good men and useful citizens. He trusted more to the outdoor work of his beloved Officer Training Corps, and to drawing and music and handicraft, than to the orthodox book lessons in the classrooms. Discipline and effort in learning, courage in facing difficulties, and the use of knowledge and brain power, however small, that each boy possesses, that was his real curriculum. He believed in men more than the system, and really rather enjoyed the cold looks of inspectors who expected conventional patterns and did not find them.'

Commanding the OTC whilst at Hertford, he also gave service during the Great War. Initially with the 10th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, he went to France with the IBD Depot (British War Medal only). Latterly Kinman was with the 22nd Training Reserve Battalion, and in 1918 with the 25th Officers' Cadet Battalion. He further served as Military and Appeal representative for Hertfordshire from 1916–18 and was with the Department to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1919.

During the course of the Great War, he annotated the Registers of his Old Boys killed, wounded and distinguished during the conflict in red ink. William Earl Johns, author of The Biggles stories was a student at the school from 1905. After the Great War he returned to the school for a visit:

'I sat with the Head (that stern man) in his study, that same awful room into which ten years earlier, as a trembling schoolboy, I had more than once gone to take my ‘medicine’. The big bundle of canes no longer stood in the corner. With tears in his eyes he told me of the names of the boys of my time who had gone to the war and would not be coming back. I never saw him again: but I know now how much I owe him.'

The Latin words on the School War Memorial are taken from a hymn composed by Major Kinman in the honour of the boys who lost their lives in that War and Johns was the inspiration for Colonel Horace Chase, head of Malton House School in Biggles Goes to School.

Further details of the affection in which he was held was published in the School Editorial:

'The School had lost a Head Master of outstanding character and ability, and we, scholars and old boys, a self-sacrificing manly friend. Major Kinman had ruled and directed the School for the past 21 years, and had eagerly and hopefully looked forward to being still active Head Master when the School moved to its new buildings [finished in 1930]; the members of this Association, most of whom are probably " K's " boys, were ready to share his joy at that event. That cannot now be realised. We are left, nevertheless, with the duty of ensuring that the future life of the School be enriched with all the splendid ideals implanted and fostered by the Major during his 21 years of hard conscientious work.'

His memory was further secured in 2007, by the naming of a new boarding House; The Kinman House.

Sold together with a signed letter from Lord Roberts, regarding 'The Territorial Force' and copied research.

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Sold for
£580

Starting price
£450