On the 107th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice to end the First World War in 1918, the school paused once again for its annual Drumhead Service in honour of all those who have given their lives in service to their country, including the fallen from Kingham Hill.
Led by Head of Languages, Mr Williams, the service took place on the Parade Square with the whole school in attendance, accompanied by music from the Kingham Hill brass ensemble. The parade was commanded by the Head of RAF, Palmer, as the CCF came to attention, joining pupils and staff in observing the national Two-Minutes’ Silence.
The service began with a hymn followed by a reading from Head of School, Herbie. The haunting notes of the Last Post and Reveille then marked the beginning and end of the Two-Minutes’ Silence. Head, Mr Last, went on to read aloud the names from the school’s Roll of Honour: 64 men who fell in the First World War and 12 from the Second World War.
“Contrary to the fears of the Founder when he spoke at the dedication of the Chapel memorial in 1922, these men are not ‘merely names and nothing more’ to us, the current generation on the Hill,” Mr Williams reflected. “We are discovering more and more about these men and we celebrate their memory. May we always be grateful for their service and sacrifice.”
This year, Mr Williams shared the moving story of Charles Turner, who joined Kingham Hill in 1905 and lived in Bradford House under the care of Mr and Mrs Walliker. After leaving school, Turner joined the army and was killed at the age of 18, just 47 days into the Battle of the Somme. Despite witnessing his company commander shot before him, Turner displayed extraordinary courage, climbing out of his trench into no-man’s land.
“These were boys who once walked the same halls as us, played on the same fields, and worshipped in the same chapel. They were our athletes, musicians, prefects, scientists, and artists – the characters who helped shape Kingham Hill. We owe it to them to pause, reflect, and remember their contribution to the world we live in today,” he said.
The service underlined the importance of remembering the sacrifices of those before us, and celebrated the research efforts of successive 3rd Forms over the last decade, which have uncovered more about these men than had been known for generations.
Kingham Hill’s Drumhead Service serves as a poignant reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of those who gave their lives in service to others.