History

John Murray CULBERTSON

John Murray Culbertson (JMC) was born 13 June 1922. He attended St Edward's School from January 1936 to June 1941.

Most of the following are extracts from the archives of records of the school magazine, The Chronicle, at St Edward's School, Oxford.

On leaving St Edward's School JMC joined the Royal Navy and trained as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm. I am in possession of his flying log books from 15th October 1941 through to 12th July 1960. I have converted them into tables which can be accessed HERE

JMC's first son (me) was born in December 1951, and very shortly afterwards he left the UK for Korea, where he flew Fairey Fireflies off HMS Glory in the Korean War. He was 2nd in command of 812 Squadron. In 2017 I visited the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, Somerset, England and took the attached photographs there including photos of my father I had never seen before when he was in Korea. These can be accessed HERE




1936

June 1936 JMC arrives at SES
Extract from June 1936 Chronicle.
Salvete (Welcome in Latin) JMC starts at SES



1938

July 1938 JMC in Colts VIII
July 1938 JMC in Colts VIII
Extract from July 1938 Chronicle.
JMC in the newly innovated Colts VIII rowing crew

December 1938 XL Rugby colours to JMC
Extract from December 1938 Chronicle.
JMC awarded 2nd XV Rugby Colours

December 1938 rugby SES vs Martyrs
December 1938 rugby SES vs Martyrs
December 1938 rugby SES vs Martyrs
December 1938 rugby SES vs Martyrs
Extract from December 1938 Chronicle.
JMC in match School vs Martyrs



1939

February 1939 rugby SES vs Campbell College
Extract from February 1939 Chronicle.
JMC playing as hooker in 1st XV vs. Campbell College
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.
February 1939 rugby SES vs Brasenose College
Extract from February 1936 Chronicle.
JMC in 1st XV vs. Brasenose College
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.

February 1939 2nd XV report JMC
February 1939 2nd XV report JMC
Extract from February 1939 Chronicle.
2nd XV Rugby report, including JMC

February 1939 rugby SES vs St Edmund Hall JMC
Extract from February 1939 Chronicle.
JMC playing as hooker in 1st XV vs. St Edmund Hall
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.
February 1939 rugby SES vs Trinity College JMC
Extract from February 1939 Chronicle.
JMC in 1st XV vs. Trinity College
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.

February 1939 1st XV rugby report JMC
February 1939 1st XV rugby report JMC
Extract from February 1939 Chronicle.
1st XV Rugby Report. JMC an occasional player
Geoff Palau (my godfather) full player.

October 1939 JMC listed as prefect
Extract from October 1939 Chronicle.
JMC listed as Prefect

October 1939 rugby SES vs Northcote-Green XV
October 1939 rugby SES vs Northcote-Green XV
Extract from October 1939 Chronicle.
JMC in 1st XV vs R J Northcote-Green's XV
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.
October 1939 rugby SES vs St Thomas Exiles XV
October 1939 rugby SES vs St Thomas Exiles XV
October 1939 rugby SES vs St Thomas Exiles XV
Extract from October 1939 Chronicle.
JMC in 1st XV vs. St Thomas Exiles
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.

October 1939 Bumpers races
October 1939 Bumpers races
October 1939 Bumpers races
October 1939 Bumpers races
Extract from October 1939 Chronicle.
JMC in Field House IV - Head of the River

December 1939 rugby SES vs Greyhounds
Extract from December 1939 Chronicle.
28 October 1939 JMC in 1st XV vs Greyhounds XV
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.
December 1939 rugby SES vs Radley College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Radley College
Extract from December 1939 Chronicle.
4 November 1939 JMC in 1st XV vs Radley CollegeXV
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.

December 1939 rugby SES vs Marlborough College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Marlborough College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Marlborough College
Extract from December 1939 Chronicle.
11 November 1939 JMC in 1st XV vs Marlborough College XV
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.
December 1939 rugby SES vs Trinity College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Trinity College
Extract from December 1939 Chronicle.
21 November 1939 JMC in 1st XV vs Trinity College XV
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.

December 1939 rugby SES vs Wellington College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Wellington College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Wellington College
Extract from December 1939 Chronicle.
25 November 1939 JMC in 1st XV vs Wellington College XV
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.
December 1939 rugby SES vs Eastbourne College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Eastbourne College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Eastbourne College
Extract from December 1939 Chronicle.
2 December 1939 JMC in 1st XV vs Eastbourne CollegeXV
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.

December 1939 rugby SES vs Radley College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Radley College
December 1939 rugby SES vs Radley College
Extract from December 1939 Chronicle.
9 December 1939 JMC in 1st XV vs Radley College XV
Geoff Palau (my godfather) also playing.
December 1939 1st XV colours awarded to JMC
Extract from December 1939 Chronicle.
JMC awarded 1st XV colours

1939 1st XV Rugby Shield
1st XV Rugby team shield

1st XV Rugby - 1939

1939 1st XV Rugby team
Hover over faces to see names



1940

February 1939 JMC listed as Prefect
Extract from February 1940 Chronicle.
JMC listed as a Prefect
February 1940 JMC attains School Certificate
Extract from February 1940 Chronicle.
JMC passed School Certificate Examination with four credits

February 1940 rugby SES vs RASC Burford
February 1940 rugby SES vs RASC Burford
Extract from February 1940 Chronicle.
16 December 1939 JMC in 1st XV rugby vs RASC Burford

1939-40 1st XV rugby report
1939-40 1st XV rugby report
1939-40 1st XV rugby report
Extract from February 1940 Chronicle.
Report on 1st XV Rugby team

March 1940 SES rugby House matches
Extract from March 1940 Chronicle.
Rugby Senior House Matches
JMC playing for Field House lost against Apsley in final
JMC playing against GB Palau

June 1940 JMC listed a sPrefect at SES
Extract from June 1940 Chronicle.
JMC shown as a Prefect, GB Palau as a School Prefect
June 1940 OTC Field Day at SES
Extract from June 1940 Chronicle.
JMC promoted to Corporal
GB Palau promoted from CSM to Under-Officer

June 1940 Rowing Trial Eights
June 1940 Rowing Trial Eights
Extract from June 1940 Chronicle.
Rowing - Trial Eights
JMC in 'B' crew

June 1940 Gaudy at SES
Extract from June 1940 Chronicle.
Gaudy - Massed PT

PT DISPLAY IN THE QUAD

Gymnastics in the Quad at SES c. 1941

Gymnastics in the Quad at SES c. 1941

Gymnastics in the Quad at SES c. 1941
Gymnastics in the Quad at SES c. 1941

Gymnastics in the Quad at SES c. 1941

Gymnastics in the Quad at SES c. 1941


PT team - JMC centre front
Outside the School Shop - hover over face to see name

July 1940 JMC in 2nd VIII
Extract from July 1940 Chronicle.
JMC rowing at 5 in the 2nd VIII

October 1940 lumber camp at Dulverton, Somerset
Extract from October 1940 Chronicle.
Lumber Camp at Dulverton, Somerset
October 1940 JMC a School Prefect
Extract from October 1940 Chronicle.
JMC listed as a School Prefect

October 1940 Bumpers
Extract from October 1940 Chronicle.
Bumpers - JMC rowing at 3 in the Field House IV as Head of the River Hover over face to see two names
Interesting to note the apparent different length of blades?!

December 1940 Forestry Camp at Dulverton, Somerset
December 1940 Forestry Camp at Dulverton, Somerset
December 1940 Forestry Camp at Dulverton, Somerset
December 1940 Forestry Camp at Dulverton, Somerset
December 1940 Forestry Camp at Dulverton, Somerset
December 1940 Forestry Camp at Dulverton, Somerset
December 1940 Forestry Camp at Dulverton, Somerset
December 1940 Forestry Camp at Dulverton, Somerset
Extract from December 1940 Chronicle.
The Forestry Camp

December 1940 Junior Training Corps Field Day
December 1940 Junior Training Corps Field Day
Extract from December 1940 Chronicle.
Junior Training Corps
JMC promoted to Sergeant

December 1940 1st XV rugby SES vs Merchant Taylor's
Extract from December 1940 Chronicle.
JMC playing 1st XV rugby vs Merchant Taylor's

December 1940 1st XV rugby SES vs Landon's XV
Extract from December 1940 Chronicle.
JMC playing 1st XV rugby vs Mr PA Landon's XV
December 1940 1st XV rugby SES vs Old Dragons
Extract from December 1940 Chronicle.
JMC playing 1st XV rugby vs Old Dragons

December 1940 1st XV rugby SES vs Radley College
December 1940 1st XV rugby SES vs Radley College
Extract from December 1940 Chronicle.
JMC playing 1st XV rugby vs Radley College

December 1940 1st XV rugby SES vs Marlborough College
Extract from December 1940 Chronicle.
JMC playing 1st XV rugby vs Marlborough College

December 1940 1st XV rugby SES vs Felsted School
Extract from December 1940 Chronicle.
JMC playing 1st XV rugby vs Felsted School
December 1940 1st XV rugby SES vs Wellington College
December 1940 1st XV rugby SES vs Wellington College
Extract from December 1940 Chronicle.
JMC playing 1st XV rugby vs Wellington College

March 1940 1st XV rugby Shield
1940 1st XV Rugby shield

March 1941 JMC School Prefect
Extract from March 1941 Chronicle.
JMC listed as a School Prefect

March 1941 1st XV rugby SES vs Eastbourne
Extract from March 1941 Chronicle.
JMC playing 1st XV rugby vs Eastbourne

March 1941 1st XV rugby SES vs Greyhounds
Extract from March 1941 Chronicle.
JMC playing 1st XV rugby vs OU Greyhounds
March 1941 SES Rugby report
Extract from March 1941 Chronicle.
Report on Rugby Season for 1st and 2nd XVs
LM (Bim) Davies my godfather also listed

June 1941 SES Seven-a-side rugby
Extract from June 1941 Chronicle.
JMC playing Seven-a-Sides rugby
June 1941 JMC leaves SES
Extract from June 1941 Chronicle.
Valete (Farewell in Latin) to JMC
SC = School Certificate