On the eve of Armistice Day 2022, the School hosted a truly moving book launch for Remember Him at the Altar: Bloxham School and the Great War, written by Simon Batten, School Archivist, and Matt Dixon, Old Bloxhamist (Cr 89-94).
Guests including current and former staff, Old Bloxhamists as well as historians, local groups and friends of the school, came together in the splendid setting of the School Chapel to celebrate the launch. The evening was made especially poignant with guests of honour being families of four of the fallen soldiers who were among the 80 Old Bloxhamists who died during the First World War.
After a welcome by Father Alex, the School Chaplain, Headmaster Paul Sanderson spoke about the extraordinary work of the authors in producing this book which will serve as a permanent record in the School‘s history about the role that pupils and staff played in the First World War. He also spoke about how the whole ethos of the School starts and ends in the Chapel; service, leadership and duty.
Authors Matt Dixon and Simon Batten then introduced the book, which was the product of 22 years of painstaking hard work and several thousand hours of research and thanked the many people who had supported them along their journey.
Matt explained: “Through the work, we came to know the soldiers’ personal dreams and aspirations. The more we learnt about each man, the more personal their stories became. We owe them a duty of care to keep each of their stories alive.”
In a deeply moving tribute, Simon spoke about each of the relatives who were able to attend the book launch: Helen Brooks, great niece of Basil Brooks, who was killed at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916, Joy Auld, great niece of Harry Ayres, who died of wounds on his 18th birthday in July 1915, Chris Jackson, whose great uncle Edward Boissier Board was killed at the Somme in September 1916, and Elaine Cottrell and Steph Lynch; whose great uncle Hilary Pullen Burry was the first Bloxham pupil to die in the Great War, killed at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915.
During the evening, Helen Brooks read a highly emotional excerpt from the entry in the book on her great uncle:
‘While on leave in June 1916, Basil married Germaine in London. The Brooks family believe that his father – a pillar of the Anglican Church – was horrified at his eldest son having married a Roman Catholic, and would have nothing to do with Basil’s young wife. One member of the family later recalled that Basil ‘went off and got married without the family’s knowledge to a French lady’. Three weeks after the wedding he was sent to France where he was killed in action on the Somme on 23 July 1916, at the age of 21. The account of Basil’s death in The Bloxhamist, written the following month, gave more details: “We hear that he led his men into action during a night attack on July 23rd. They took a first line trench and went on to the next one, Brooks arriving there first. He was lost sight of on the parapet, and must have been shot there, for he did not return with his company. He was reported missing and it was some days later that his body was found when our troops attacked and finally got possession of the same trench.” ’
Following the talks, the School Choir sang ‘The Dying Soldier’. Father Alex then led guests for the installation and dedication of the grave cross of Harry Ayres. Harry was employed at the school before the war and enlisted, aged 17, in August 1914. He was wounded at Ypres and died of his wounds in Norfolk War Hospital on 7 July 1915. He is buried in Bloxham churchyard. This prayer of dedication was offered:
“Almighty and eternal God of Peace and Justice, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life: hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The Last Post was played by James Ramm of the School’s Music Department, followed by a minute’s silence.
Afterwards, guests enjoyed rekindling old friendships, getting to know one another and having their copies of Remember Him at The Altar signed by the authors over drinks and canapés.
To buy a copy of ‘Remember Him at The Altar: Bloxham School and the Great War’, please click here.
For guests who were unable to attend, Simon and Matt will be discussing their book at the Old Bloxhamist Virtual Talk on Thursday 12th January. To register your interest in this online event, please email: [email protected]
