Sir William Lennox Napier, Major, South Wales Borderers
Sir William Lennox Napier came up to Cambridge in Michaelmas term 1886, from Uppingham School.
Born: 12 October 1867
Fell in action: Gallipoli, 13 August 1915
3rd Baronet of Raglan
He succeeded his father as 3rd Baronet of Raglan in 1884. Sir William was part of the largest entry of freshmen that had ever joined the College, something noted by the editors of Chanticlere who suggested that: 鈥淭rinity and John鈥檚 will have to look to their laurels鈥 as Jesus would soon catch them up.
Although they also noted that 鈥淧rophecy, is the most gratuitous form of error鈥 they ventured 鈥渢o predict that before many years are over, Jesus will head the list, even though the attractions of the blood royal may be wanting to us鈥 (Chanticlere, October Term 1886, p8).
The Common Room debates
It appears that Sir William took an active part in College life, he dabbled with rowing and we see him taking an active part in the Common Room debates which were established during his first year and are recorded in quite some detail in the editions of Chanticlere.
He gave a 鈥渟ound practical speech鈥 about the difficulties of federation schemes 鈥渋n the matter of smuggling, protection, tariffs, and the like. Federation was a beautiful idea, but it was so impracticable鈥 (Chanticlere, Easter Term, p29).
Women should be educated to be more than a 鈥渨alking dressmaker鈥檚 pattern.鈥
In another debate later that term under the motion that 鈥渕atrimonial engagement shared by the undergraduate is not generally conducive to his greater academical success鈥. Sir William's contribution to the debate was to say that he 鈥渓ooked forward to the time when women would be educated to be more than a 鈥渨alking dressmaker鈥檚 pattern.鈥 The motion was defeated - For: 19, Against 27.
Napier鈥檚 last contribution to these debates come in his final year, Lent Term, 1889. His motion was that the Army needed to be reformed, Chanticleer reports that 鈥淗e was literally bursting with information, and made a violent and ill-directed attack on the whole army system.鈥
Student critic of the army
Although the reporter found it difficult to follow all of Sir William鈥檚 points, all aspects of the army - 鈥渄rills, barracks, rations, horses, officers鈥︹ were 鈥渁ttacked with vigour鈥.
After some considerable, possibly acrimonious debate Sir William concluded by saying that the army always managed to win somehow. 鈥淲e have fought the bear before, boys鈥. The motion was carried - For: 19, Against: 14.
Out of retirement
After leaving university Sir William was called to the bar at Inner Temple in 1894 and was at one time the Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers from which he retired in 1912.
At the outbreak of war he joined the 4th South Wales Borderers as Major. Somewhat astonishingly one of his sons (also a Jesuan and in the same regiment) was also in Gallipoli in 1915 and was a short distance away when his father died.
His son, Sir Joseph William Napier (1913), describes the moment that he was called to see his injured father in an interview given in 1984 and available on the
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