The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forc... ... read more | Joined | May 16th 2017 | Trips | 0 |
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Mike Harper
non-member comment
OSH Staff.
OSH Staff. I was a student at OSH from I think about 1959 to 1967 and finished as Foley House Captain and Head Boy of the school. I loved reading your very true writings about the staff, the staff that I knew anyway. I especially loved your description of "Bruiser" Bradley Foster House Master, cricket coach (hopeless) and thorough bastard, he would stand on two steps higher than the student to cane your hands. He was also a hopeless drunk who would return to the school with a guy called George Heslop a rugby loving rotund chain-smoking useless teacher and my house master. Ison, Milner, Krukowski, Wood, Mansell, Prince, Johnstone were all easily playable but harmless enough, there were others. One was sadistic miserable guy called "Tex" Hunt he was house master of Prospect House where all the new intake of borders were housed. Hunt used a slipper and absolutely delighted in belting the new kids into submission he was the original sadistic sad guy, he must have been bullied mercilessly when he was at school. Headmaster was Sheppherd a decent enough ineffectual bloke who once had to "gate" me for drinking in a local pub. I remember him saying he had no idea what to do with me as. I was the Head Boy I then had to meet with the Feoffies which was a laugh and they "gated" me for a term which I totally ignored and was caught again in a local pub by Bradley and Heslop who threatened me with expulsion but myself and others had too much dirt on the pair of them. My absolute favourite and great all around guy was Spud Bartlett, who when he wasn't picking his nose and rolling snot was a good senior boarding house manager who in reality ran the school. Spud caught me many times returning to school late in the evening but was very decent in warning me every time. Ray Milner was a good drinking mate of Ken Ison and the pair of them loved getting into their cadet gear and play at being army officers. Mansell was also a decent guy who didn't really fit in with the rest of them. Prince, Wood and Johnstone were there but didn't really do a great deal. I have to say I enjoyed my time at OSH, loved the sport, I was fortunate enough to have some great guys in my years at the school, we all loved our cricket and rugby and did our fair share of hopping over the fence and going for a drink. I have always wondered if after I left the school my name was rubbed off the list of head boys in the Great Hall. I must go back one day and have a look. I have lived overseas in various places since I left the school in 1966/67.