the war and on the following Sunday (13 October), the Chaplain, Alban Charles Theodore Purchas (1950), wrote “influenza epidemic” in the margin. On 20 October, there is further information – “many still away
from influenza” – and four Sundays later on 17 November, he wrote ”school closed on account of influenza epidemic – one open air service at 11am – 17 present”. 20 Given the close proximity of boarders, the daily influx of dayboys from throughout the city, the gathering of parents on Sports Day (10 October) and the 150 Cadets who were collecting, and carrying banners in the city for the Red Cross Appeal (16 October), it would have been unlikely that College avoided this influenza appearance. It would seem that this mild infection provided immunity, but there was more to come. Following the exeat that had been granted in recognition of the surrender of Bulgaria and Turkey and to acknowledge the many and varied military decorations that had been conferred on Old Boys, on 11 November, Dr Chesson, the District Health Officer and father of Ivor Tulk Chesson Larnder (2433), closed all schools and theatres. 21 Boys still attended the Armistice Day procession on 12 November. On 18 November, the boarding Houses were closed and fumigated. 22 No College boys lost their lives, although Alexander Anson (Sandy) Hutchinson (2865) reminisced: “Everyone got it. Boarding Houses became hospitals and nursed others when recovered.” 23 There was one loss of life, that of William Vagg, the College caretaker. It appears he contracted a mild form of the influenza in October, but succumbed in November. Above: College caretaker William Vagg. Right: Press 16 November 1918.
20 Christ’s College Chapel Service Register , Term 3 1918, Christ’s College Archives. 21 Sun 11 November 1918.
22 See Teal, F.J. 2013. The Influenza Epidemic. In Black & White No 60; Teal, F.J. 2020. 1918. In Black & White No 174. 23 Hutchinson, A.A. to D. G. Hamilton. Reminiscences recorded at the time of writing College! Christ’s College Archives.
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