James Beresford Lever
Person details
| Forename(s) | James Beresford |
|---|---|
| Surname | Lever |
| Rank | Captain |
| Regiment | Manchester Regiment |
| Age | 34 |
| Death | Accident |
| Place of Death | UK > Salisbury |
| Date of Death | 26/05/1943 |
| Year of Entry | 1923 |
| House Letter | D |
| School Notes | Junior Scholar; Richards Gold Medal; James Scholar |
| Comments | His death was recorded as an open verdict, following an inquiry into suicide. He was a close friend of WR Smale, Tutor of H Social, who had committed suicide at Radley a month previously. Smale left Beresford a legacy of his collection of Loeb Classical Texts. Beresford's father returned the books to Radley, with a request that a bookplate be made commemorating the gift. |
| Commonwealth War Graves Commission Link | https://www.cwgc.org/find-record... |
| Unit | |
| Prefect | - |
| Military Decorations | |
| Album Number | 22 |
| Battle | |
| Previous Regiment | |
| Burial or Cemetery | UK > Hornby |
| Citations | |
| Archives | Correspondence file in OR files in Radley Archives |
| Post School | New College, Oxford - Chancellor's Prize for Latin Prose; Solicitor |
| Prep School | |
| Prisoner of War | |
| Radlein Obituary |
June 13 1943. Recorded on the Roll of Honour November 21 1943. On 20th May, 1943, at Longford Castle, Alderbury, near Salisbury, as the result of an accident, John Beresford Lever, Captain, Manchester Regiment. Lever came to Radley (Stevenson 's, D) with a Classical Scholarship in September, I923. He was soon recognised as a boy of marked personality. A high sense of duty, tenacity of purpose, unwearied industry, moral integrity - these were, from first to last, prominent features in a fine character. He made no pretence to enthusiasm for athletics; his interests were mainly intellectual, and during his career he secured nearly all the prizes that were open to a Classical Scholar. In his first year at Oxford he achieved wider distinction by winning the Chancellor's Prize for Latin Prose. To the many friends who mourn his loss he has left an inspiring example of courage, determination, and modesty. A contemporary writes : Jim Lever's circle of friends at Radley was not a large one and he will probably he best remembered by the majority of his contemporaries for his academic successes. These indeed were formidable as his name on the school prize boards and his winning of the Chancellor 's Greek Prose Prize at Oxford go to show. They were, however, attained by that dogged hard work which showed itself in all his activities. He had a very good brain without the creative imagination that might have made him a first class scholar but he made up for this deficiency with a craftsman's conscience that was dissatisfied with anything into which he had not put his best. Perhaps it was this attribute that made him such a good friend. He put a great deal into his friendships without making either demands or display. In fact it was typical of him that while always thoughtful of others he went to great pains to conceal his many acts of kindness in a dread of exposing his real tenderness of heart. It would have shocked him, I think, to know that he deceived no-one but many people asked his assistance in various troubles and none was ever disappointed. To his close friends he was an ideal companion with whom one could alike discuss one's troubles, thrash out one's ideas or enjoy a common relaxation. His capabilities of mind, his sincerity and his conscientious thoroughness would have been of the highest value in his profession as a solicitor. The legal profession will be the poorer for his loss. His friends though they miss him will always be so much the richer for his friendship, for this was not the transient good -fellowship of a chance companion but a lasting thing, independent of proximity. |
| Service Number | 145625 |
| Place of Birth |
