Chaddesley Corbett Village community commemorates with Winterfold School
13 Nov 2018
Chaddesley Corbett village community came to Winterfold School on Thursday 8th November to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War One and remember those who lost their lives in various conflicts.
Guests enjoyed afternoon tea, with uplifting songs by the Pre-Prep Choir, Pack Up Your Troubles and It’s A Long Way to Tipperary. Head of History, Simon Dieppe gave an informative account of World War One and included reference to the impact it had on the little village of Chaddesley Corbett. Two hundred and twenty-three young men enlisted from the Parish, one hundred and thirty-five of which are listed on the Roll of Honour board in St Cassian’s Church. These are locally known as ‘The Boys on the Board’ and it was the book of the same name written by local historian Sylvia Beardshaw, which provided the inspiration for the Drama piece Band of Brothers by Year 7. This was set against the backdrop of John Singer Sargeant’s emotive painting ‘Gassed’ of 1919, which depicts eleven men waiting patiently in line, blindfolded and broken but importantly, still alive.
Unlike many memorials around the country, the Roll of Honour at St Cassian’s doesn’t just list the fallen, but all those who signed up. Of the 223 men, 47 didn’t return. That left nearly 80% who did return to carry on their lives or to build new lives in Worcestershire and beyond.
During a poignant Flanders Fields by the Year 7 and 8 drama group, Head of English and Drama, Mrs Miles read out the list of fallen Old Winterfoldians. Following an incredible violin Elgar instrumental from Year 6 pupil Rosie Brookes, The Chamber Choir sang a very moving Remember Me.
The title of the closing song, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, from the 1965 film of the same name was based in 1910, just before the War, at a time when interest in aviation was beginning to literally ‘take off’. The huge advancements in aeronautics during the War catapulted human-flight from the domain of eccentrics and dare devils to a reality for everyone and anyone. This sing along for the School’s guests provided an uplifting end to what was a poignant commemoration of the end of WW1.
Click here https://youtu.be/pQd-h7KrHN8 for musical highlights from the afternoon.
Mr Dieppe reminded us that with the passage of time, it is easy to see and hear the statistics of the First World War and forget that every one of the fallen had a past, aspirations for a future, a family, loved ones, a place in the community. We must remember them.