Anzac Day

2024 The School Anzac Day Service

The Anzac Day service at King’s High School is a poignant occasion that bridges the gap between the school’s past and present. It provides a great opportunity for the Kingsmen to participate with the present-day staff and pupils from the school in this solemn event.   On stage for the ceremony were Kevin Weir (Dunedin RSA President and RNZAF Liaison Officer), Lox Kellas (Otago District RSA President), Karyn Fielding from the Ministry of Education, Barbara Agnew and Stephanie Ashton (Principal and Deputy Principal of Queen’s High School respectively), and our King’s Trustees members of the Old Boys Association (the Kingsmen). Kingsmen in attendance were Association president Chris George, Doug Jackson, Huia Ockwell, Harold Browett, John Barr, Mack Stephens

During the service, head prefect Ted Menzies and deputy head prefects Hugh Jack and Paddy Tyrrell deliver readings, including excerpts from Ecclesiasticus, Pericles and Ataturk. ”

A crucial part of the service was the reading of the names from the roll of honour by head boy Ted Menzies.

Each year one of the members of the King’s Roll of Honour have their life presented to school. This year’s Guest speaker, Randal Scott (a King’s teacher) presented the life of Raymond Edward Graham.  Sergeant Ray Graham was an Air Gunner in 218 Squadron RAF Bomber Command. Ray was a very quiet, reserved boy with dark curly hair. He lived in Caversham and came to King’s in 1936 after 1 year at OBHS. He left at the end of 1936, to join the Post and Telegraph. He was killed, along with his Canadian pilot and 5 other crew, on his first operation on 10th September 1942. 429 bombers attacked Dusseldorf—38 were lost. Stirling BF351/C was shot down over Holland at 11.40 pm, by a night fighter, crashing at St Philipsland. All 7 are buried at Bergen-op-Zoom (north of Antwerp). Ray was 21.

At the conclusion of the ceremony those assemble moved outside to join with the full school and face the quadrangle flagpole. The Rector and Chris George the Kingsmen President placed the wreathes on the base of the flagpole. Poppys were then placed alongside the wreathes by the various members of the official party.

A special acknowledgement goes to Year 10 pupil Ben (Tuong) Nguyen for his poignant playing of the Last Post and Reveille to the school.  A fitting end to the occasion.
The Rector said thar “It’s important that boys have this day as part of the values education, and also understand the threat of conflict is not diminished. The boys showed great respect for the occasion and the values it embodies. We came together to commemorate the Old Boys who served in WWII and in conflicts after it. It’s the local connection … it becomes more real for the boys.”.

“I hope pupils come to appreciate that the potential for more conflict and its terrible impact remains unless we learn from the past.”

The School Anzac Day Service was attended by the President of the Old Boys’ Association, Chris George, and several other Old Boys’.

The Guest Speaker was Miss Gabriella Hyndman, a Teacher from the School who delivered a fascinating speech about her Grandmother’s involvement in WWII and the role many women played in the War.

As has become tradition, Rector, Nick McIvor told the students the stories of three of the 15 Kingsmen who lost their lives during WWII. Throughout our students five years at King’s, they will hear all 15 stories.

During the service, ‘Anzac wreaths’ were laid and opportunity was provided the for each guest to lay a poppy next to the wreath as a way to remember. This was followed by the usual minutes silence, then a student, playing the ‘Last Post’ and the ‘Reveille’

Year 13 students were part of the service in the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) all other students watched the service Livestream in their classrooms respecting and honouring all those men and women who sacrificed for our nation.