Major John Chester Gaye R.A. was in Army House from Sept 1928 to July 1933. While at school and particularly when he was Head of House, he showed himself to be a real leader, combined with an extraordinary gentleness and understanding of those younger than himself. Never seeking popularity, he was one of the most popular boys in the School, a Prefect and Hockey Captain.

From Bradfield he went on to Cambridge and later travelled widely before starting on a business career.

His obituary in the Bradfield Chronicle at the time notes his service during the Second World War. He was in France until the evacuation in 1940 and later joined the Eighth Army in time for the Sicily and Italian landings, returning to England in November 1943, to be trained for D-Day. He landed in Normandy on D-Day, as a battery captain: five days later he was wounded while trying to rescue a gun and its wounded crew. After being in hospital for 4 weeks, he returned to France as a Major in command of his battery with the Royal Artillery 102 Anti-tank Regiment (The Northumberland Hussars). On the first day in the front line, he was hit by a sniper and died instantly on 30 July 1944 at the age of 29 years.

A fine soldier and a most courteous gentleman, he always put his men first and many of those who have met him in the Army have spoken of his real soldierly qualities, his modesty and the real love which he inspired in all ranks.  He left behind a young widow Nancy Joan Gaye.

He is buried in the Calvados region of France at Hottot-Les-Bagues War Cemetery just outside Caen. His name is also recorded on the British Normandy Memorial overlooking Gold Beach. Pictured above the 'Standing with Giants' project with life-size figures representing 1475 British serviceman, their heads bowed, standing in the meadow below the memorial until September 2025.