The Inaugural Anzac Day Field of Remembrance Service at Prince Alfred College, 2024.
Aligning with the centenary of our Memorial Building (est. 1924), the Field of Remembrance Service will be an annual event on the College Calendar. The College believes it is important to share this history of service and sacrifice with our students and our community.
In preparation for the Anzac Day service, PAC Archives has been undertaking many months of research. Based on our original honour boards, enrolment records and referencing certified sources, we have identified the names and histories of hundreds of fallen soldiers who attended and worked at Prince Alfred College.
It has been a valuable experience to cross reference our archival records with official war records to create this dataset. This year, the list comprises the names and biographical information of 263 Princes students and staff who died in World War I or World War II. The lists of Old Scholars and staff who served in either the Boer War or conflicts post 1945 will be added in following years. This research will also be accessible.
263 Princes men died in WWI and WWII. We use the term ‘boys’ with gravity. The average age of those who died in these two wars was 22 years. Many were barely 19 years old when they died. The deceased were sons, brothers, cousins, young fathers, work colleagues, and fellow school friends.
These deaths devastated the school community and as a College we promised we would remember them. This year, our first Field of Remembrance Service for Anzac Day, we place white crosses in the ground on the front oval. The students will hear each soldier’s name called by Headmaster and will watch on as our Year 11 and 12 students place each cross into the ground.
There is a story behind each name. May they all Rest in Peace.
Are you a descendant? We would love to hear from you archives@pac.edu.au