WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 170, 8 April 1918, Page 7

WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS

' , 4~ ANNUAL REPORT. '< The annual report of the Wellington College Old Boys' Association states that, thanks to the enthusiastic assistance of Mi-. Renner and other college masters, fifty-one new members were enrolled during the year. The finances of tho association ato in a satisfactory condition. The war. memorial fund account shows a balance of £891 2s. 4d., of which £800-has been placed on fixed deposits. Since the year closed further subsoriptious havo been received, and there is now £1000 on fixed deposit. Although tho Swimming Club was unable to resume operations, the Cricket and Football Clubs again took part in the compotitions,_ with very creditable results. Donations of £5 6s. for the ground fund, £2 2s. for a ritle shooting prize,' and £2 2s. for the old boys prize were made to tho college. Referring to tho war, the report says;—" Another year of struggle and bloodshed has passed and still a never-ending stream of old boys passes on into the fight for liberty and justice. We hear from thorn and of thom in every quarter of tho globe— from the mud of Flanders, from tho wilds of Africa, from Palestine, from Mesopotamia, and Salonika. Fifteen hundred • and over of our numbers are either in camp or on activo Bervice; and those are being added to every day. Many of them we shall, alas I see no more, for one hundredand fiftytwo havo died gloriously; while out of tho gallant 1600—280 have been wounded. Wo are proud to think that so many have answered tho call to service; wo are full of grief that so many brave mon have maoo tho supreme sacrifice. The gallantry of our brethren has been in no small measuro honoured. Four have gained the C.M.G.; one tho Legion of Honour; two the Croix de Chevalier; eight the D.5.0.; one tho V.C.; ono tho Order of tho Crown of Italy for Valour; one tho Order of Leopold; forty-one have been mentioned in dispatches; fivo have gained the D.C.M.; two tho Meritorious Service Medal; two havo been given bars to tho Military Medal; one has gained the Italian War Medal; forty the M.C.; eleven tho Military Medal;~ four tho Croix de Guerro;one has gained a bar J to tho Military Medal; ono a bar to the D.S.O. . Among tho old boy soldiers aro men, tho fame of whose deeds has resounded through tho world; there are many whoso courage and steadfastnoss in the grim presence of Death must remain unhonoured and unsung. It is in thinking of these more particularly—though the sohool honours all herp gallant sous—that wo onoe again bring before all old boys the form of that memorial which is to perpetuate in 6omo. measure the shard the old school has taken in upholding tho weak against tho strong, liberty against slavery, right againßt wrong. A year ago your committee called for contributions towards tho erection o'f a memorial hall which was to bo built as a lasting monument to our brethren. Roughly, a quartor of tho total asked for ha 6 been subscribed. Surely our progress should be at a greater rate than this I Do we realise what we have lost in tho 162 whom wo are destined never to see again? Do we realise what a story, of suffering and sacrifice might be written of the 280 who have come back, some maimed, some less shattered? Do we, at home, realise what all and sundry have sacrificed—men who are either now in the hell of war or are fitting themselves for their part in the terrible struggle? ' Finally, are we going to wait till tho war is over before we put our hands in our pookets ? Only a day or two ago the committee received a notification that tho late Sergeant E. Levy, staunchest of old boys and best of good fellows, had left by will a legacy of £25 to the memorial fund. Here we have had an example of how great a part, tho school played in one old boy's life—that he thought of his brethren when he gave his Bfe to his country's service. We ask all those who have promised money _ to give that money now. Sums so given earn interest to pay the incidental expenses. Wo ask all who havo not yet subscribed to do so, in order that your committee may report at its next annual meeting that the amount required —£5000—is oversubscribed."