The sacrifice of those who gave their lives in war was commemorated by students and staff at a special Remembrance Day service at The Armidale School (TAS) today.
An international observation commemorating the sacrifice of all who have died in wars, Remembrance Day at TAS particularly paid tribute to the 103 Old Boys and staff who have given their lives in various conflicts, from 1901 in the Boer War to Afghanistan in 2008.
Junior School student Kieran Sutton read the Ode of Remembrance, Reveille was played by Sam Wright of Year 12, and Deputy Senior Prefect Georgiana O’Brien laid a wreath at the World War One Honour Board in the main foyer at TAS.
“We remember all of them, and their sacrifice, here today. Lest we forget,” said Senior Prefect Ben Louis, who also read a poem Requiescant Armidaliensis written by Old Boy ‘R.B.’ – possibly Lieutenant RV Blomfield – and published in the school magazine The Armidalian in December 1918:
“Those men who from this school of ours have gone
Are not they all the very living fount
Where those of us whose lives have just begun
May learn the sacrifice of love? We count
Them sleeping – Nay! Not sleeping e’en,
While memory shows the present what hath been.”
Guard Commander Harry Graham led the catafalque party
Georgiana O’Brien lays a Remembrance Day wreath at The Great War Honour Board at TAS
Jack Sewell was a member of the catafalque party at this year’s Remembrance Day service
