On Thursday 9th November, the OB community was fortunate to have Simon Batten and Matthew Dixon (Cr 89-94) give a virtual talk about their book ‘Remember Him at the Altar: Bloxham School and the Great War’.
Simon opened the talk with an explanation of the book’s title:
“On 22 July 2016 Lieutenant Arthur Stevens of the 9th Battalion, Royal Fusilier, sat down to write a letter to the chaplain of his old school, Bloxham School. Informing him of the death of Gordon Peecock, an officer in the same battalion as well as a contemporary at Bloxham, he had a favour to ask of the Rev. Hugh Willimott: ‘As his closest friend out here, I would like to ask you to remember him at the altar.’ Peecock was killed by machine gun fire coming from Prussian positions to the North of Ovillers of 7 July, a week into the Battle of the Somme. By the time the school received Stevens’ letter, the summer holidays had begun and so it was not until the first Saturday of term in September that Gordon Peecock’s name was remembered in the school chapel, and by this time Arthur Stevens too was dead, killed in early August at Pozières, a couple of miles away from where Gordon was killed. Arthur Stevens was 19 years of age.”
Matt and Simon set the scene describing Bloxham School just before the outbreak of war and also what the Bloxhamists were doing when war was declared. Over 400 Old Bloxhamists fought in the Great War and we lost 80. Five of those who lost their lives were then the focus of the talk. Each soldier had a powerful and poignant story, and the authors’ dedication to such detailed research into each of them from their time at school to the grave, and also how those who were left at home were affected, was evident throughout the talk, leaving a lasting impression on all who were listening.
A number of OBs have passed on their thanks to Matt and Simon and shared memories of the Last Post being played each evening under the School arch as mentioned in the talk. It seems to be one of the most powerful memories of their time at school.
One OB also wrote: ‘Simon and Matt’s talk was a fitting tribute for the Old Bloxhamists who died. Thank you both for enabling us to see into this period of history in the most human way.’
Our sincere thanks to Simon and Matt for taking the time to speak to the OB community. Although the book is now written and the research complete, the 80 men will always be known and commemorated by current and future generations at Bloxham School.
If you would like a recording of talk, please email: [email protected]
Lest we forget.