This morning at our Remembrance Assembly we held an act of remembrance, which included laying a wreath by our memorial board, which commemorates the lives of three former students who lost their life in World War I.
Although it may seem odd to think of boys being former students, it used to be the case that boys could be registered at the school, but only to the age of eight. The maximum number of boys at the school at any one time seems to have been limited to 24 and the last boy to attend the school left in 1944. John, Hubert and George were all born at the very end of the 19th century and attended the school between 1903 and 1907.
John Belmont Jewell was born in 1899 and he attended our school from the summer term of 1905 to Easter 1906. He became a 2nd Lieutenant of the Royal Flying Corps in 1917, having signed up shortly after his 18th birthday. He was said to have been ‘killed in action’ when he lost control of his plane, a common occurrence for inexperienced flyers.
Hubert Victor Pullin was born in 1897 and was a Private in the Queens Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment. He went to France in May 1917 was reported missing on 21 March 1918. He is buried in the Ham British Cemetery at Muille-Villette.
George Frederick Hodson was born in 1899 and was educated at this school from 1904 to 1907. He joined the Royal National Air Service and was said to be a very able pilot. However, on 7 August 1918 the Air Council announced that he had been reported missing and it was his older brother, who was also his commanding officer, who had to inform their parents that he was missing, presumed dead.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
