ARMISTICE Day or Remembrance Day is commemorated every year on 11 November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany.
Local schools commemorated this day on Tuesday with their own ceremonies.
Each year on the 11 November, the St Henry’s Marist College community gathers in the College Quad at the Memorial Bell Tower to remember the 18 young men from the College who gave their lives in the second World War and the Marist Brothers who have taught generations of Marist pupils and who have since died.
This year, special mention was made of 2nd Lieutenant Dennis Chambers (Class of ’33) who served in Burma in Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles and was killed in action in 1943.
Durban High School held their remembrance day to celebrate Armistice Day and boys from the school as well as staff and invited guests paid tribute to the good deeds of the DHS Old Boys who died while in service during the various conflict wars.
Every year, everyone in attendance on the day wears the familiar red poppy, to show their gratitude. The entire ceremony of Armistice Day has been a tradition since the first DHS Remembrance Day held in 1926, which was when the first wall memorial was opened.
Head Master, Mr Leon Erasmus, began the ceremony by addressing the guests and naming the 250 DHS Old Boys that gave their life in service. He left them with a message before the wreath laying ceremony and said, “these brave men who gave their lives will always be remembered by DHS and their legacy will be kept alive year on year, in the hearts, minds and walls of this school.”
Every year DPHS marks Remembrance Day with the placing of a wreath at the Memorial Gates at the school entrance.
The boys of Grade 7A presented an assembly where they explained the history and significance of the occasion. The assembly ended with four of the boys accompanying the Headmaster to the memorial plaque to lay the wreath while the assembly observed a few minutes silence in honour of those who had fallen during conflict.
This year the bagpipes played by piper, Gordon Capper added poignancy to the assembly by the rendition of Amazing Grace.
