Roll of Honour 2023

F OREWORD (5)

C OMMEMORATING THE F IRST OSE LOST IN ANY WAR AND THE G REAT W AR Plans on how best to commemorate the WW1 Roll of Honour had occupied the School Governors, Warden, and OSE for some time, even before the war officially ended. Some of these plans had to be put on hold as the School, like the rest of the world, had to cope with the “Spanish Flu epidemic” of 1918/19, which laid low practically the whole School population. Fortunately, there were no School deaths resulting. As early as 1903 the Chapel walls were panelled in oak on which the first OSE losses in the Boer War and elsewhere were commemorated by an individual copper plate, on the north wall nearest the door. This work was paid for by donations. The then Prince of Wales had suggested in 1917 the initiation of War Memorial Funds by all educational establishments, and the St. Edward’s Council wasted no time in an appeal aimed at a figure of £10,000 (£924,000 today) to: - • Erect a Calvary in the cloisters facing southwards from Big School, standing in a deep bay round which would be the names of the fallen. This would be the priority charge on available funds. • The setting aside a sufficient sum to enable the education, at reduced rates fees, for the sons of fallen OSE.

D EDICATION OF THE C ALVARY 1919 WITH OTC IN ATTENDANCE