Scotch College

Scotch will remember

On Friday 9 November last the school held its annual Remembrance Day Assembly, which enabled the staff and the boys to pause and reflect on the significance of the day.

After singing the national anthem the Principal welcomed the OSCA guest

Rev Hal Oxley ('33). He told the boys that, after leaving Scotch, Rev Oxley went to Duntroon Military College and so became a professional soldier.

During World War II he was an Infantry Officer, serving in the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific. He was one of the famous 'Rats of Tobruk', and at the end of the war was on General Macarthur's forward operational headquarters in the Pacific.

He was the youngest Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army during the War. Colonel Oxley was mentioned in despatches twice and was also awarded an OBE. When asked why he received his decoration, Rev Oxley has been quoted as saying 'It should be awarded to the poor blighters who suffered, not to us who survived.'

After the War he served as Deputy Director of Military Intelligence for some years, before he left the Army and became a successful industrialist.

At the age of forty, Rev Oxley was called to the ministry, and during this stage of his life's work he has founded Churches, Schools, Bible Colleges and Overseas Missions; he also established an International Christian Ministry Organisation.

At the age of eighty-four Reverend Oxley travels overseas and all over Australia, holding conferences with church leaders regarding leadership training courses.

This year Rev Oxley was nominated for the Australian Senior Citizen Award and received a Certificate for Outstanding Service to the Australian community. Rev Oxley is the proud grandfather of Andrew Pyman of Year 8.

The background

Dr Donaldson then carefully detailed the background to the significance of Remembrance Day, saying that, 'at 11am on 11 November 1918, World War 1 officially ended. Each year since 1918, we have recognised 11 November as Remembrance Day.

'This is a day to commemorate and remember the sacrifice not only in World War 1, but in every conflict and war where lives have been risked and in many cases lost.

'This time last year I mentioned that Australian soldiers were on patrol in dangerous and hazardous conditions in East Timor. 'Today, more Australian servicemen and women are on standby for active service as a result of the events in the USA on

11 September.

'Scotch College history records that our first Remembrance Day assembly was held on

11 November in 1919, in the school yard at East Melbourne.

'By 1923 Scotch had moved to Hawthorn.

It was decided that this Hall would be dedicated as a memorial to the 205 Old Scotch Collegians who died in World War 1. Their names can be read on the eastern wall behind me'.

'Twenty years later a further 327 Old Scotch Collegians who died in the service of their country during the Second World War from 1939 - 1945 would have their names are enscribed downstairs at the western end of this Hall.

'This morning, we have the opportunity to pause in our busy schedule and give thanks to those who made such an enormous sacrifice. We should also give thanks to God that we have the opportunity to live our lives in peace - a peace which should never be taken for granted'.

After the bible reading from Philippians, we sang the Hymn 'O Brother Man', followed by the Chaplain, Rev Graham Bradbeer's address and prayer.

The traumatic reality

The traumatic reality of war was brought home starkly to all present with the telling of the stories of Old Boys TJ Hooper, PC Young, GR Johnston and GE Milne, who all died tragically in the war.

The mood of solemn understanding was continued with signing of the haunting 'Abide with me.'

Rev Oxley's strong but emotional reading of the traditional poem 'In flanders Fields' written by poet John Macrae, further captured the depth of feeling of all into the hall.

The traditional one minute's silence was broken with the playing of the last post and the stirring rendition of the Reveille.

The service concluded and it was quite clear….

Scotch College would never forget!