In the lead up to Remembrance Day on Sunday, All Saints’ College acknowledged its former students who made significant contributions to the Great War.
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On Friday morning, at the site of the new Bean and Long Memorial, a special Armistice Day ceremony was held, attended by the college’s students, with Old Bathurstians Union president John Cranfield, Father Paul Woodhart and Member for Calare Andrew Gee all speaking.
Fr Paul said there were 282 past All Saints’ College students who enlisted for World War One and 34 did not return.
“As we commemorate 100 years since the end of the Great War, we remember those who suffered in all wars and conflicts and remember our veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
“We express our gratitude for the peace and prosperity we enjoy today.”
While still being developed, the new Bean and Long Memorial commemorates the contribution of former students, including those who served their country in the war efforts.
Named after former students C. E. W. Bean and Gavin Long, the memorial acknowledges their contributions in helping to shape Australian history during the war and acknowledges their significant role in shaping the college’s history.
Tim Sargeant, a member of the Old Bathurstians Union and one of the driving forces for the memorial, said the process of having the memorial installed has taken about nine months.
“The primary person this memorial acknowledges is C. E. W. Bean. He was an official war historian for World War One and a founder of the Australia War Memorial,” he said.
“He was also a former student and born at the school while his father was headmaster.
“The other person the memorial acknowledges is Gavin Long. He was an old boy and a official war historian for World War Two.
“We will also a plaque installed on a plinth to commemorate the life of Arthur Charles Hall. It was an old boy of the school and was awarded the Victorian Cross. That unveiling will take place on Anzac Day.”
Mr Sargeant said All Saints’ College had one of the greatest contributions out of all schools in the British Commonwealth during the First World War.
“In terms of number of students who enlisted in the war, All Saints’ College had one of the great contributions in the Commonwealth,” he said.
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