Ronald Gurner
Encyclopedia
Stanley Ronald Kershaw Gurner M.C. M.A. (1890-1939) was a headmaster
and writer
who was born in London
.
, Gurner went to Oxford University
, where he was a classics
scholar at St. Johns
. He gained a First in honour moderations and won a university Latin
prize. After illness in his final year he was awarded an aegrotat
degree.
He took up part time teaching positions at Haileybury College
in 1912, before moving to Clifton College
in 1913, and to a permanent post at Marlborough College
in September 1913. In 1914 he was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade and served two years in the trenches before being wounded at Arras (where he won the Military Cross
) in 1917 by a sniper
.
, Brixton
, in 1920 at the age of thirty, and was appointed Headmaster of King Edward VII School (Sheffield)
in spring 1926.
In the summer of 1927, he resigned to take up the vacant Headship at Whitgift School
in Croydon
.
(including war poems) and several novels. These include:
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
who was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Early years
Educated at Merchant Taylors' School, LondonMerchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
, Gurner went to Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he was a classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
scholar at St. Johns
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
. He gained a First in honour moderations and won a university Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
prize. After illness in his final year he was awarded an aegrotat
Aegrotat
Aegrotat ,pronounced eegrohtat, is a medical certificate of illness excusing student's sickness. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, in the context of degrees and courses considered as passed by a student too ill to finish the appropriate material...
degree.
He took up part time teaching positions at Haileybury College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College, , is a prestigious British independent school founded in 1862. The school is located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford, from central London, on of parkland occupied until 1858 by the East India College...
in 1912, before moving to Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
in 1913, and to a permanent post at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
in September 1913. In 1914 he was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade and served two years in the trenches before being wounded at Arras (where he won the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
) in 1917 by a sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
.
Headships
He became Headmaster of Strand SchoolStrand School
Strand School was a boys' grammar school in the Tulse Hill area of South London. It moved there in 1913 from its original location in the Strand...
, Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, in 1920 at the age of thirty, and was appointed Headmaster of King Edward VII School (Sheffield)
King Edward VII School (Sheffield)
King Edward VII School is a secondary school and language college located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. KES, named after the reigning monarch, was formed in 1905 when Wesley College was merged with Sheffield Royal Grammar School on the site of the former on Glossop Road...
in spring 1926.
In the summer of 1927, he resigned to take up the vacant Headship at Whitgift School
Whitgift School
Whitgift School is an independent day school educating approximately 1,400 boys aged 10 to 18 in South Croydon, London in a parkland site.- History and grounds :...
in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
.
Writings
He published poemsPoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
(including war poems) and several novels. These include:
- "Pass Guard at Ypres", a thinly disguised autobiographyAutobiographyAn autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
of his time as a junior officer in the Salient; - "The Riven Pall", about a working classWorking classWorking class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
scholarshipScholarshipA scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
boy in a northern steel city called "Orechester", who went to a high-performing day school, then to Oxford, and ultimately gained success by inventing a new process that benefited the local steel and engineering industry; - "The Day Boy" based on Strand School;
- "For the Sons of Gentlemen" (written under the pseudonym of Kerr-Shaw);
- "Reconstruction" written in 1937.