Every year, we hear the names of Suttonians who fell in the world wars. But rather than just faceless names solemnly and respectfully read, it’s important to remember that these were schoolboys just like you. It’s not easy to imagine what that might be like, leaving school and heading straight off to war, but many of our former pupils did just that. Many of them also lost their lives fighting for their country. This morning, I’m going to tell you a little bit about Walter Vincent Jaggs.

Walter Vincent Jaggs was born just after the end of the First World War in December 1918 and joined our school on 16th September 1930. Walter initially had a short walk to school when he lived at 186 Benhill Road, but later he had a slightly longer commute when his family moved to Carshalton. He lived there with his father, also called Walter and his mother Mabel. Walter was at school for five years, before his departure in the summer of 1935.

It seems that Walter was not the most studious of pupils during his time at Sutton Grammar School. Throughout his school reports there are frequent references to laziness, a lack of effort or being easily distracted. The Headmaster, J A Cockshutt rather ominously wrote on his school report in the summer of 1931 that “trouble is in store for him, unless there is big improvement”. A year later, the comments had not improved and the Headmaster wrote that “Walter is not justifying a place in the school”.

However, amidst many comments about a lack of application in academic disciplines, Walter was consistently praised for his swimming prowess. He was in Blue House and was the House Swimming Captain for much of his time here. His House master wrote that Walter’s swimming was “of value to both his House and the school.” He represented the school at swimming in many competitions and lifted many swimming trophies.

Upon leaving in 1935, Mr Cockshutt appeared to have been finally won over by Walter and described him as “a boy of high character, gentlemanly and honourable” and once again made reference to his “valuable work for the school in swimming.”

Walter joined Surrey County Council to work in their Weights and Measures department but six months before the outbreak of war in 1939, Walter joined the RAF. He made a much more positive impression upon his superiors, with his instructor commenting that “without any doubt, he’s the best pupil I have ever had.”.

A “keen and clever pilot”, Walter took part in many many operations over Germany during the early months of the second world war, one of which earned his squadron a special congratulatory message from the War Cabinet.

In the summer of 1940, the Battle of Britain was in full in full flow. After Hitler swept through France and drove the British army out of the European mainland – the people of Britain made ready for a Nazi invasion. But before Hitler could conquer the country he needed to gain air superiority.

The Luftwaffe launched a large scale attack, intent on wiping out Britain's air defences. The pilots of the RAF, who became known as "The Few", stood up to wave after wave of German fighters and bombers sending a clear message to Hitler that Britain would never surrender.

By October 1940 the RAF was victorious. Hitler called off his invasion plans and the Luftwaffe switched to bombing British cities. Britain now stood as the last bastion of resistance against Nazi Germany.

The Battle of Britain was one of the most pivotal moments in the country's history. It marked a turning point when Britain stood alone against Hitler's seemingly unstoppable military power.

Walter was one of “The Few” who valiantly defended Great Britain that summer. He gave his life for this cause: Walter was killed in action on 30th October 1940. He was just 21 years old. He is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery in Woking.

After the war, in October 1947, Walter’s parents and his widow, wrote to the school with a proposal. It was one of Walter’s wishes to present a cup back to the school and sadly he never had the opportunity to do so. With the war now over, the Jaggs offered to buy the school a swimming trophy rather fittingly, in Walter’s memory, to be handed out to the winners of the House Swimming Championships every year. 

The Sergeant Walter Vincent Jaggs trophy was handed out for decades at Swimming Galas and School Prizegiving. Walter, of course, never saw it held aloft.