Name

Lt Colonel F S Brereton (East 1893)

CLAIM TO FAME

He is best remembered for his writing under the name Captain FS Brereton, between 1899 and 1925 he published almost 40 books for boys, formulaic stories of derring-do, set, often against the background of famous conflicts where the hero overcame all the odds to triumph

PROFILE

Frederick Brereton studied medicine at Guy’s and in 1896 was gazetted into the Army Medical Staff, serving with the Scots Guards during the Boer War. He retired in 1902 but was recalled in 1914 and served with the Royal Army Medical Corp, seeing action at Mons, the Marne and the Aisne.  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1919, setting up a successful business building anatomical models for students.

However, he is best remembered for his writing. Under the name Captain FS Brereton, between 1899 and 1925 he published almost 40 books for boys, formulaic stories of derring-do, set, often against the background of famous conflicts where the hero overcame all the odds to triumph.  They were not literary masterpieces and have not survived the passage of time, but they sold well.

He remained close to Cranleigh throughout his life, serving on the Council and acting as chairman of the OC Society.   He also based his 1912 novel King of Raneleigh on his experiences at the School, with almost undisguised descriptions of the buildings and masters who were there during his time.