FROM THE ARCHIVES “We will remember them” *
2017 marks the fourth year of our World War 1 commemorations. Over these four years, we have remembered Christ’s College Old Boys and staff who were involved in the many theatres of war 100 years ago. Place names like Gallipoli, Messines, Cairo, Samoa, Arras, the Somme, Palestine, Passchendale, Jutland and Jerusalem will be as familiar to us now as they were to those who read the newspapers then, each day searching for information about their loved ones at the Front.
Deaths were recognised throughout the war by the regular gathering of the school on the Quad when the Last Post was played. In addition, the Christ’s College Register regularly included obituaries and news of Old Boys, and Service Supplements appeared from time to time. In 1922, the Board of Governors decided Christ’s College should have a tangible memorial and, in conjunction with the Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association, set up a subcommittee to decide whose names would be included. This involved considerable investigation, and the result is a detailed account of war service, regiments and decorations, which is housed in the College Archives. Old Boys and staff who had died on active service in various ways – killed in action, died of wounds, died of sickness and disease – were, of course, to be included on any memorial, but what of those who had died after discharge and whose death could be proved to be due to war service? After research, it was decided an additional 10 names would be included, bringing the total to 151. Meanwhile, the committee was investigating the memorial itself. Frederick Guernsey submitted three designs in November 1921 and, following a decision by the same committee that it should consist of an oak panel with names on separate brass plates, submitted a further design in May 1922 which was accepted. The memorial was dedicated with due ceremony on 22 April 1923 by Archbishop Julius, Warden of the College. Rudyard Kipling’s Recessional (God of Our Fathers) was sung before Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Dobson DSO, a member of the Board of Governors, spoke of the “sterling service of the Old Boys and masters of the College during the war” and stated that “in reality no tangible memorial was necessary to commemorate those who had paid the supreme sacrifice”. The Last Post followed the dedication and senior members of the Cadet Corps then walked past the memorial, saluted, and the rest of the congregation moved outside onto the Quad. A lesson, prayers, a hymn, the Blessing and the
First War Memorial
national anthem concluded the service.
However this is not the memorial that is on the south west wall of the Chapel today. Once the extensions to the Chapel had begun in 1955, the Joint Chapel Building Committee considered whether another form of memorial for World War 1 was appropriate. By August 1957, they had decided that it would be in Oamaru stone with the names in black lettering. The Warden (Bishop Alwyn Warren) and the architect (Paul Pascoe) were to investigate the type of lettering. In the end, grey lettering was decided upon and the memorial completed in time for the re- dedication of the Chapel on 8 December 1957.
Christ’s College Canterbury
78
Made with FlippingBook HTML5