This week the staff and pupils have been learning about ANZAC Day, its origins and significance. ANZAC Day is the national day of commemoration of Australia and New Zealand for victims of war and for recognition of the role of their armed forces.
The school’s Academic Lead, Dr Earl, who lived in New Zealand for 21 years and is a dual national, put together a school assembly which explained the historical context behind ANZAC Day, played the National Anthems of Australia and New Zealand, recounted a moving personal remembrance of attending the Dawn Service in Gallipoli and ended with the poem attributed to Ataturk of the Unknown Soldier.
The stories of three former pupils of the school who perished in the Great War, including one at Gallipoli, were delivered by the School Archivist, Simon Batten, a member of the Gallipoli Association, and two current pupils of New Zealand descent, Toby R and Lewis R.
Captain John Carandini Wilson of the 1st Australian Imperial Force died on 21 May 1915 of wounds suffered at Gallipoli, while Driver Maurice (Bill) Adams of the 5th New Zealand Artillery was killed in action at Messines on 25 May 1917 and Private Charles Hammill of the 1st/4th Australian Infantry was killed in action on 18 September 1918 at Hargicourt.
On ANZAC Day itself, prayers were said in the School Chapel for the three Old Bloxhamists and the Last Post was played.
Dr Earl said she felt very proud of the school embracing the ANZAC story and the part played by present day students to commemorate their fellow Bloxham pupils. Simon Batten commented that this was a great opportunity to explain to pupils of a school in the UK the historic significance of ANZAC Day and to remind them of the contribution of British Empire troops to the allied war effort. Toby and Lewis agreed that taking part reinforced their pride in their New Zealand heritage. [SJB]