On 11 November, King Edward’s School held its annual Remembrance Day Ceremony, bringing together pupils, staff and former governor, George Marsh, in a moving tribute to Old Edwardians and staff members who gave their lives in service to the country.
Chief Master & Principal, Mrs Kirsty von Malaisé, opened the ceremony, reminding attendees of the courage and sacrifices made by those whose names are inscribed on the War Memorials in the School Chapel. She spoke of the shared humanity and unity in honouring the fallen, regardless of rank, background, or class.
Special tribute was paid to Old Edwardians who served in both world wars, as well as to Rakesh Chauhan, an alumnus who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2014, and to the countless civilians who suffer the impacts of war.
The School Captain read an excerpt from a letter written by Reverend K Swallow to the father of Second Lieutenant Edward Malins, who died in action in 1918.
This poignant message highlighted Lieutenant Malins’ bravery and dedication to those under his command, even in his final moments.
"The Commanding Officer asks me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter to him, and to convey to you his, and indeed, all our deepest sympathy in the loss of a beloved Son and a very gallant Officer. Your son's conduct during this action was what you would wish it to be - entire disregard for himself. When the enemy were upon us, his one thought was for the men under his command. It was while crossing the open from post to post that he was hit by a sniper in the stomach. During the very short time that he lay there he kept on encouraging them, saying over and over again 'It's up to you now to carry on".
The Contingent Commander led an Act of Remembrance, calling for reflection on those who have given their lives, including those in more recent conflicts. A recital of Rupert Brooke’s famous war poem, The Soldier, followed:
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
Rupert Brooke
As the ceremony drew to a close, Chief Master & Principal shared a final dedication, urging the school community to honour the memory of those lost by embodying their ideals of service and working towards a better world. This solemn and reverent event served as a reminder of the legacy of sacrifice and the importance of remembrance within the KES community.
