HBS Remembers

The whole of Hitchin Boys' School gathered on the Quad at 10.45am this morning for our annual Remembrance Assembly. Mr Moane addressed the students and read out the names of former students who lost their lives in the Second World War, and Head Boy Fera Olusanya read 'In Flanders Fields', by John McCrae. The Last Post was played, before all those present observed a two-minute silence. Mr Moane's speech from the assembly can be read below.

 

 

 

Since 1919, one year after WWI ended, we commemorate Remembrance every year at 11:00am on the 11th day of the 11th month. We think about all those who served, in particular those former students of Hitchin Boys’ who gave their lives in the fight for freedom.

 

In 1939, this school looked the same. The quad was built; the buildings that enclosed this area were built in 1931. The names that we will read in a few minutes were boys just like you. Loved rugby, loved football, loved drama performances in the school hall, probably loved messing around too!

And when the call came, they didn’t hesitate. And sometimes what is right is not what is easy.

 

Earlier this week, it was the 84th anniversary of Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass. Mobs of Nazi-supporters in Germany and Austria attacked, looted, and burned Jewish shops and homes, destroyed 1,400 synagogues, killed a high number of Jews and sent another 30,000 to concentration camps. Soon after, the Kindertransport was an organised rescue effort of children (but not their parents) from Nazi-controlled territory that took place during the nine months prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. The United Kingdom took in nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe. The children were placed in British foster homes, hostels, schools, and farms. Often, they were the only members of their families who survived the Holocaust.

 

To fight against this was why the boys of Hitchin served. To support refugees from war and terror is what we must do today, as we did in 1939. And we should not forget the military and civilians who have served since. Remembrance is respecting those who have served in whatever capacity. From more recent wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, to the tens of thousands of healthcare workers worldwide who took care of us during the Covid-19 pandemic. They put care for others ahead of their own safety. And it was only a handful of weeks ago that we stood on this quad to remember Queen Elizabeth II who served for 70 years.

 

So, as we remember those who served, ask yourself, would you have been brave enough to leave your comfortable home in Hitchin to fight? Would you do that today, like some of our more recent former students who are currently serving in the armed forces? Or would you serve in medicine, in teaching, in charities?

 

Service to others is a noble calling. As President George HW Bush said: “there can be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others.”