School in Stratford honours former pupils who gave their lives in Great War
THERE was stillness, silence and remembrance as the lives of 31 former pupils at King Edward VI School who gave their lives in the Great War were commemorated at a re-dedication of the school memorial library last week.
One hundred years have passed since Saturday, 12th May, 1923 when the War Memorial Library at KES was formally opened.
It had been the wish of the headmaster, Rev Cecil Knight, to commemorate the boys who gave their lives in the First World War - there’s a stained-glass window inside the library showing Henry V praying before the Battle of Agincourt. It was presented by Mr and Mrs Howard Jennings in memory of their two sons who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Like so many of their school compatriots who fought for King and country but never returned to their homes, families and friends, the re-dedication honoured all of the fallen.
In total, 31 former pupils and one games master died during the war while during the Second World War the KES sacrifice was to rise to 52.
Having welcomed guests to the ceremony, which included the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire Tim Cox, the High Sheriff of Warwickshire Sophie Hilleray, and Lord Hertford, KES headmaster Bennet Carr reflected on what might have been going through the minds of the former pupils, miles away from home and heading off to some “distant battlefield”.
“There might have been laughter among them, perhaps mischief but also comfort too,” he said.
He added: “In May 1923, with the support from the families of the fallen and Old Edwardians Association, the school dedicated the memorial library. In that service they pledged that the 31 boys and one master would not be forgotten – 100 years on we honoured that pledge.”
Richard Pearson, KES archivist, spoke about the about the sacrifice pupils had made and how the memorial hall was a lasting tribute to all of them.
Old Edwardian, Jeremy Franklin (KES 2005-12) reprised his lead role from the 2013 centenary production of Henry V as he addressed the audience which included present day pupils.
Rev Dr Paul Edmondson read from The Book of Wisdom while the roll of honour was read by Callum Maughan, captain of school, and Rosie Swanwick, vice-captain of school, after which the Last Post sounded and two minutes’ silence was followed by Reveille.
After those gathered repeated the words “we will remember them” and the re-dedication moved towards its close, Mr Cox lay a wreath against the memorial library.
“On the 100th anniversary, it gives me great pleasure to re-dedicate the King Edward VI School Memorial Library, as a perpetual witness of the sacrifice of the Old Edwardians, who lay down their lives for King and country, during the First World War of 1914 to 1918,” the lord lieutenant said.
After the blessing, the afternoon concluded with the hymn Jerusalem.
It was a pleasantly warm, sunny afternoon in spring with tinges of grey here and there, but at one point somewhere between the two-minute silence and the playing of Jerusalem, brilliant rays of sunshine shone through the clouds and bathed the audience of students, teachers and guests below. The re-dedication was complete.
