wilson's school
London
IN THE GREAT WAR, 730 Old Wilsonians and staff went to fight. 120 never came
back. To this day they are commemorated on the school’s War Memorial, which was
opened in the old school (Camberwell) in 1921 following donations from the OW
community. It was one of the few items brought from the old school to Sutton,
demonstrating its spiritual and moral importance to our community. This week,
assemblies led by the Head allowed the school to remember the fallen. The
Headmaster’s talk focused on the significant (but often overlooked) contribution
of troops and labourers from all over the world during both World Wars. India
(modern day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) contributed 1.4 million
troops up to 1919 and saw action at Ypres, Neuve La Chapelle, Gallipoli and
Mesopotamia. Fighting on both sides, two million men from the African continent
were involved, with ten percent being killed or dying of disease. Mr Cole has
spoken in the past of the cultural sensitivities shown to Muslim, Hindu and Sikh
soldiers who were treated in a military hospital based in George IV’s
extravagant pavilion in Brighton, but this year’s assembly focussed on the
Double V Campaign to ensure civil rights for those who were returning from
battle. Mr Cole emphasised the importance of commemorating all who fought in
this and subsequent conflicts and reminded all present of the need not just for
respect, but for gratitude to those who enable us to live in a free and tolerant
society. We are reminded that many men and women from around the world gave
their tomorrow for our today. At the end of the assembly the Head read out a
selection of names of those who fell from our community, a wreath was placed by
the School Captain (accompanied by members of the CCF) at the school’s War
Memorial and silence observed after the sounding of the Last Post.
