99 Old Boys Fell in Two Wars
Title
99 Old Boys Fell in Two Wars
Description
A newspaper cutting about the Ashford Grammar School Memorial.
Creator
Date
1951-10-12
Language
Type
Format
One newspaper cutting
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
NLawJH191026-03
Transcription
KENT MESSENGER, OCTOBER 12TH, 1951
[photograph]
ASHFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL MEMORIALS to the fallen in two wars were unveiled and dedicated on Sunday. In the foreground are the Vicar of Ashford, Canon H. Duncan S. Brown, and the headmaster, Mr E. T. Mortimore. On the left, Mr. A. W. Clark (who placed a wreath for Old Ashfordians’ Association), Mr. P. W. Garner and Mr. P. F. Woodworth (who unveiled the memorial and the Book of Remembrance respectively)
99 Old Boys fell in two wars
Ashford Grammar School memorial.
THE memorial and Book of Remembrance to the 99 old boys of Ashford Grammar School, who fell in the two world wars were unveiled and dedicated at the school on Sunday.
The service, which opened with the hymn “Oh God our help in ages past,” was conducted by the Vicar of Ashford, Canon H. Duncan S. Bowen, who is chairman of the governors, and the lesson was read by the headmaster, Me E. T. Mortimore.
The unveiling ceremonies were performed by representatives of the Old Ashfordians’ Association. Mr. P. F. Woodworth (secretary) unveiled the Book of Remembrance, which rested on a table by the side of the memorial, which was unveiled by Mr. P. W. Garner, who served in both wars as a naval officer and lost his son William in the last war.
“ALL THE TRUMPETS SOUNDED”
These impressive words from John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” preceded the unveiling:
“Then said he, I am going to my Father’s and though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been to to [sic] arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill, to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me, that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder.
“When the day that he must go hence was come, many accomplished him to the riverside, into which, as he went, he said, Death where is thy sting? and as he went down deeper, he said, Grave where is thy victory? So he passed over and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.”
The headmaster then said to the Vicar: “On behalf of the members of this school, both past and present, I ask you to dedicate these memorials to those our brethren who gave their lives in the service of their country in the wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45.”
FLORAL TRIBUTES
The Vicar said: “We dedicate these memorials to the Glory of God and in the thankful memory of the scholars of Ashford Grammar School who gave their lives that we might live.”
Wreaths were laid at the memorial by Mr. A. W. Clark (Charing), on behalf of the Old Ashfordians’ Association, and J. Hyland (school captain) on behalf of the school. One from Mrs. Roots, mother of William Charles Roots, one of the fallen who had been associated with the school scouts, was placed for her by Scout John Chambers.
The concluding hymn, “For all the Saints who from their labours rest,” was followed by the National Anthem.
[photograph]
ASHFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL MEMORIALS to the fallen in two wars were unveiled and dedicated on Sunday. In the foreground are the Vicar of Ashford, Canon H. Duncan S. Brown, and the headmaster, Mr E. T. Mortimore. On the left, Mr. A. W. Clark (who placed a wreath for Old Ashfordians’ Association), Mr. P. W. Garner and Mr. P. F. Woodworth (who unveiled the memorial and the Book of Remembrance respectively)
99 Old Boys fell in two wars
Ashford Grammar School memorial.
THE memorial and Book of Remembrance to the 99 old boys of Ashford Grammar School, who fell in the two world wars were unveiled and dedicated at the school on Sunday.
The service, which opened with the hymn “Oh God our help in ages past,” was conducted by the Vicar of Ashford, Canon H. Duncan S. Bowen, who is chairman of the governors, and the lesson was read by the headmaster, Me E. T. Mortimore.
The unveiling ceremonies were performed by representatives of the Old Ashfordians’ Association. Mr. P. F. Woodworth (secretary) unveiled the Book of Remembrance, which rested on a table by the side of the memorial, which was unveiled by Mr. P. W. Garner, who served in both wars as a naval officer and lost his son William in the last war.
“ALL THE TRUMPETS SOUNDED”
These impressive words from John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” preceded the unveiling:
“Then said he, I am going to my Father’s and though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been to to [sic] arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill, to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me, that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder.
“When the day that he must go hence was come, many accomplished him to the riverside, into which, as he went, he said, Death where is thy sting? and as he went down deeper, he said, Grave where is thy victory? So he passed over and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.”
The headmaster then said to the Vicar: “On behalf of the members of this school, both past and present, I ask you to dedicate these memorials to those our brethren who gave their lives in the service of their country in the wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45.”
FLORAL TRIBUTES
The Vicar said: “We dedicate these memorials to the Glory of God and in the thankful memory of the scholars of Ashford Grammar School who gave their lives that we might live.”
Wreaths were laid at the memorial by Mr. A. W. Clark (Charing), on behalf of the Old Ashfordians’ Association, and J. Hyland (school captain) on behalf of the school. One from Mrs. Roots, mother of William Charles Roots, one of the fallen who had been associated with the school scouts, was placed for her by Scout John Chambers.
The concluding hymn, “For all the Saints who from their labours rest,” was followed by the National Anthem.
Collection
Citation
Kent Messenger, “99 Old Boys Fell in Two Wars,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed January 24, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/43282.