Passchendaele remembered

17 Oct 2017

Representatives from the New Zealand Defence Force Chaplain Service joined the congregation in Chapel, on Monday 16 October, to remember the sacrifice of College Old Boys and staff killed at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 – and, in particular, to commemorate College and New Zealand Expeditionary Force Chaplain Guy Spencer Bryan-Brown.

Born and brought up in the UK, Rev. Bryan-Brown arrived in New Zealand and took up his position at College in 1913. In a few short years, he became a much-loved and respected teacher and colleague, but returned to England in February 1917 to serve in the First World War. Chaplain-Captain Bryan-Brown was killed in action on 4 October 1917 while tending to the wounded outside an advanced Regimental aid post. He was just 32 years old and is buried in the Tyne Cot Memorial Cemetery in Belgium.

In the sermon, NZDF Principal Air Force Chaplain Anthony Hawes discussed the importance of having the courage to stand up for what is right. The members of the Chaplain Service then laid three wreaths beneath the stained glass window “given by the boys of this school in memory of Guy Spencer Bryan-Brown”, before Old Boy Ramses Hunt played the haunting “Last Post” and the congregation observed one minute’s silence.

Old Boys and staff killed at the 3rd Battle of Ypres – the Battle of Passchendaele – in 1917

Paul Studholme Barker

Ralph Edward Fulton Barnett

Leonard Walter Blunden

Guy Spencer Bryan-Brown

Frances F Cobham

Edward Arthur Craig

Fergus Ferguson

Mackenzie Gibson

Arthur Grattan Guinness

Roland Wallace Guy

Harold McMillan Harrison