"2ND LIEUT. GEORGE ERNEST LISTER CRESSEY, 2ND BATTN. THE YORKSHIRE REGT. KILLED IN ACTION NEAR VERMELLES, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 1915. AGED 20. At the School 1908—14 (School House). CAPTAIN OF THE SCHOOL 1913—14. Second Lieut. G. E. L. Cressey was the only son of a well-known O.T., Dr. George Henry Cressey, M.R.C.S.E., L.E.C.P., F.E.Col.Inst. (School House 1868—70), and of Mrs. Cressey, formerly of Oak Manor, Tonbridge. His father died in 1919, and his mother is now living at Fairoak, Gerrards Cross, Bucks. He entered the School in September, 1908, from Mr. Bickmore's, Yardley Court, Tonbridge, as winner of the first New Judd Scholarship of £100 in the first year that these scholarships were offered. It was soon evident that he was a boy of great vigour and exceptional promise, and he played a great part in the life of the School as he grew up. He was in the XV. 1913—14 and captained the side in the Easter Term of 1914, W. P. Gipps having left at Christmas. He was in the School IV. in 1913 and 1914 and Captain of the B.C. in 1914. In the O.T.C. he was promoted to be Sergeant in January, 1912, Colour-Sergeant in September, 1912, and Cadet Officer September, 1913. He became a School Praepostor in September, 1912, and was Captain of the School for his last year. As Captain of the School he made a remarkably able speech at the Old Tonbridgian Dinner in London, in which, besides reviewing the events of the year, he spoke with great power and feeling of the duty of Old Tonbridgians towards the School Mission at Holy Cross, St. Pancras. In 1911 he won the Upper Sixth Form Prize and was awarded the Gold Pen for Classics and the Greek Prose Prize. In 1912 his illness and operation kept him out of the examination. In July, 1918, he was awarded the first of the Judd Leaving Exhibitions of £75 for Classics, and the Gold Pen once more, and also won the Upper Sixth Form Prize and the Headmaster's Divinity Prize. In the autumn of 1913 he won the First Open Scholarship at Christ's College, Cambridge, and having obtained permission from the College authorities to read Science instead of Classics at the University, with a view to following in his father's steps and entering the medical profession, he made a most intelligent and promising start with his new work during the remaining two terms of his School life. On the outbreak of war he applied to the War Office for a commission in an Infantry Battalion; but, as there was some delay, he accepted a commission in the Kent Cyclists Battn. (T.F.), though much better qualified for a commission in the Infantry or the R.A. He remained with the Kent Cyclists till January, 1915, and the officers of the Battalion testify to his great popularity and value. " He was," says the Adjutant, " a most efficient officer and the life and soul of the mess." In January he decided to adopt the Army as his profession, was nominated for Sandhurst by the Headmaster, and, having obtained permission to relinquish his commission in the Kent Cyclists Battn., went to Sandhurst to go through the special war emergency course. At Sandhurst he was appointed Senior Under Officer within a few weeks of joining, a very remarkable evidence of the prompt recognition of his worth. On May 18th he left Sandhurst, having been gazetted to the Yorkshire Regiment, and joined a Battalion at Hartlepool for training. His Company Commander there, writing to Lieut. Cressey's mother before he went out, said: " Your son is, I consider, one of the most exceptional young officers—in fact, the most exceptional young officer I have ever met. He had imbibed at Sandhurst in four months a great deal more than I did there in eighteen months; I mean of course in knowledge of military matters. He has a most exceptional capability for dealing with men and exceptional keenness and great application, and besides is about the cheeriest, best youth to live with that I know." [Source: Tonbridge School, Reference: https://www.tonbridgeschoolheritage.co.uk/authenticated/Browse.aspx?Brow... Accessed: 7/06/2026]
