Remembrance Day Service Honours Old Alfredians
14th November 23
On Friday 10th November, the School held it’s Remembrance Day service in the Old Library, which was open for everyone to attend.
Head of History, Leon, led the service starting by saying: “Once again we pause in the noisy life of the school to reflect on the sacrifices generations before us made, and continue to make in conflict zones around the world.”
The service began with some beautiful music played by students before Leon gave a presentation which touched upon the lives of some members of the KAS community who lost their lives during the war.
Those people included Maurice Basden (circled in blue) and Frank Bamberger (circled in green). Maurice was the goalkeeper of the hockey team pictured and lived just around the corner from Hampstead Tube station. He signed up to the British military in 1915 and was sent to France to fly missions photographing and observing German lines of trenches.
He was shot down in May 1916 and rests in France.
Frank was the third child of six and lived in Belsize Park. He and his two brothers went to fight in the war. He was the only one to return.
His oldest brother died building trenches in December 1914 and his second brother, who attended KAS with Frank, is remembered as one of the fallen during the third battle of Ypres, 1917. His name is carved into the Tyne Cott memorial.
Another family included the Miall Smiths. From four siblings, three went to war. Gladys, Eric and Arnold, all pictured below, went to fulfil what they felt was their duty. Gladys was the only one to return after working as a nurse in France, tending to wounded soldiers. Arnold was lost first in the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. Eric was taken a year later, shot down like Maurice Basden.
During the service, the School took a moment to remember all those who gave their lives, including all those that were once part of the KAS community.
Our Old Alfredians team love to hear stories from or about our ex students and staff, so do get in touch with any information you may have.
