CLIFTON College held its inaugural Remembrance Day ceremony at the school last Wednesday.
Brian Mitchell, executive headmaster, spoke of ‘Armistice Day’ and the fact the First World War was not a war to end all wars and was followed by the Second World War 21 years later.
“Among those who died in that conflict to halt the tyranny of Nazism were boys who had attended Clifton. They were boys who learnt in our classrooms and played on our grounds; they were boys who were as much a part of this Clifton Family as we. Our School Song speaks of them – they were the boys who have gone before us; they were a part of our community, vast and proud. They went to war as young men, some boys about the age of our Grade 11s and Matrics – and they did not return. The
reason we hold this ceremony is to remember them and to remember all who have died in war,” he said.
A lesson was given by Rev Chris Meyer, after which the last post was played and a two minute silence was observed.
“In the period of silence that we shall observe, think of those who followed orders even unto death, remember those Clifton men who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and remember all others who have died that we might have the freedom of our own tomorrows,” said Mitchell.
The lament was played while Mitchell, a representative from the board of directors, chairman of the Clifton Old Boys’ Association, headboy and regimental guests laid wreaths to honour the fallen.
According to Capt John Johnston-Webber, old boy and member of the Natal Field Artillery, the school has an air raid shelter which was built at the insistence of the parents in 1941 to protect the boys when there was fear of Durban being attacked during the Second World War.
