A special ceremony was held in the College Cloisters on Remembrance Day, honouring the Australian men and women who fought in the armed services.
A special ceremony was held in the College Cloisters on Remembrance Day, honouring the Australian men and women who fought in the armed services.Respectful students participated in the outdoor commemoration, with each boy laying a simple cross at the base of the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags fluttering at half-mast in the silent Cloisters.
The crosses bore the name of a serviceman or woman and the ceremony has become part of the College's Remembrance Day tradition for several years, providing the boys with a personal insight into people who gave their lives in war.
Noah Preston (Year 10) shared the story of his great-grandparents who enlisted in the Royal Australian Airforce during World War 2. Noah's great-grandmother, Mia Douglas, joined the RAF in June 1942 as a Trainee Radar operator, and in August was the main Radar operator at Rottnest Island and played a major role in keeping the port of Fremantle safe. His great-grandad, Alex, enlisted in 1943 when he was 18 years old and over five years flew 1,966 hours and was involved in campaigns in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Borneo, the Philippines and Japan.
Mr Gary Bailey told the story of his great-uncle who survived the Burma-Thailand Railway only to be on the ill-fated Japanese transport ship Rakuyō Maru that was bombed by the allies. He clung to wreckage in open water for days before being rescued by a passing Japanese ship.
In the wake of these incredible stories of hardship and trauma, The Last Post echoed around the College's historical limestone buildings, before the flags were raised and the Australian national anthem closed the event.
Click here to view the extended gallery for the special event.
