Gravesend Grammar School for Boys is soon embarking on possibly the most poignant journey to commemorate the lives of those lost in World War One, who use to attend our school. While the legal age to go to war was 19 over 250 000 soldiers were waved through by recruitment officers who were turning a blind eye. These officers were paid two shillings and a sixpence (£6 in today’s money) per new recruit enlisted, so it was in their best interest to turn a blind eye to those budding to go to war but legally under age. The majority of boys around 16 years old fitted the correct measurement in order to pass the physical exam; over 5 feet 3 inches and a 34 inch chest. However let us not believe that it was merely recruitment officers who shimmied boys to war, in fact it may come a surprise to know that the lights of headmasters, teachers, MP’s and even parents encouraged and aided underage boys to become underage soldiers.
Although the aforementioned events were both sickly and wrongly executed Gravesend Grammar School, driven by the history department, have embarked on a mission to visit every one of their war boys’ graves ranging. From the Somme to Afghanistan they plan to travel to each location and place a reef of poppies on each as a mark of respect and gratitude towards the sacrifice that many of them should not have had to make for their country. The tribute had been in planning for a while and had decided that the 100 year anniversary of WWI would be a fitting opportunity to commemorate the heroic and selfless boys of Gravesend Grammar School
Robbie Smithers-Halberg
Aged 15
Gravesend Grammar School for Boys
