A YEAR OF REFLECTIONS ON THE TWO WORLD WARS
Junior School boys remember two extraordinary Old Alleynians
Calista Lucy , Keeper of the College Archives
I n November, the boys of 4R chose ‘Remembrance’ as the theme for their class assembly. Their form tutors, Mrs Radford and Mrs Edwards, contacted the College archives to ask for information about Old Alleynians who had fought in the First World War. Coincidentally, Ed Walter OA (2004-2011) was working on the First World War website, so he was well-placed to provide a short list of interesting Old Alleynians the class could build their assembly around. Those chosen included AF Englebach (1894-98) who fought in the First World War and survived, and who was also notable for winning the Public Schools Gymnastics Competition in 1896, in which he represented Dulwich College. The assembly, attended by Junior School boys and 4R parents, gave those present a chance to see his First World War medals, which the Archive was lucky enough to purchase when they came up for sale, thanks to a generous grant from the Alleyn Club. Given that the paving stone commemorating the award of a Victoria Cross to Major Alexander Lafone was to be dedicated during the Act of Remembrance, the second Old Alleynian the boys chose was Major Lafone. The added bonus for the boys was that the College owns Lafone’s Victoria Cross medal. Major Lafone’s father was a governor of the Dulwich Estate and his cousin, also an Old Alleynian, had fought in and lost his life during the Boer War. He is one of nine OAs whose names are inscribed on the outside of the Old Library. The boys devised a brilliant assembly in which each boy took part in describing Alex Lafone’s life and death. This was particularly poignant as they linked him back to activities that they also enjoy at Dulwich College, such as rugby and cricket.
Both Lafone’s Victoria Cross and his bronze plaque were brought to the assembly for the visiting parents to see. The assembly ended with the boys reciting a poem they had written in class and each boy put a poppy they had made onto a wreath. Attached to each poppy was a note referring to an activity which they are able to enjoy because of the sacrifice people like Lafone have made. At the end of the Remembrance service the wreath was put on the War Memorial.
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