Two Minute Silence Armistice Day (also sometimes referred to as Remembrance Day) marks the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended WW1 and commemorates the sacrifice of those who died serving New Zealand in this and all wars and armed conflict.
Edward George Honey (1885-1922) was an Australian soldier and journalist who suggested the idea of a moment of silence on Armistice Day. Edward was educated at Wellington College, New Zealand (1898) and Caulfield Grammar School in Melbourne, and served briefly during WWI with the British Army before receiving a medical discharge. He later worked in Melbourne as a journalist for The Argus newspaper. On 8 May 1919, Edward, who was working in London at the time, wrote a letter to the London Evening News newspaper suggesting an appropriate commemoration for the first anniversary of The Armistice Treaty which signalled the end of WWI, signed on 11 November 1918 at the 'eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month'. In the letter he said, Five little minutes only. Five silent minutes of national remembrance. A very sacred intercession. Communion with the Glorious Dead who won us peace, and from the communion new strength, hope and faith in the morrow. Church services, too, if you will, but in the street, the home, the theatre, anywhere, indeed, where Englishmen and their women chance to be, surely in this five minutes of bitter-sweet silence there will be service enough. Edward had been prompted to make the suggestion as he had been angered by the way in which people had celebrated with dancing in the streets on the day of the Armistice, and believed a period of silence to be a far more appropriate gesture in memory of those who had died at war. Edward's letter did not immediately create the Remembrance Day traditions, but on 27 October 1919, a suggestion from Sir Percy Fitzpatrick of a similar idea for a moment of silence was forwarded to George V, who on 7 November 1919, proclaimed that at the hour when the Armistice came into force, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, there may be for the brief space of two minutes a complete suspension of all our normal activities … so that in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead. No record directly suggests Fitzpatrick was prompted by Edward's letter to propose a moment of silence, but Edward was recognised for being involved in the idea when he was invited by George V to a rehearsal of the moment of silence at Buckingham Palace. Edward died on 25 August 1922, and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery, in South London. A monument of Edward was erected near the Shrine of Remembrance in St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
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Old Boy starts training as a Navy Helicopter Pilot
Old Boy, Sub Lieutenant Sam Williams (1998-2002), 28, has dreamed of being a helicopter pilot in the Royal New Zealand Navy since he was six years old. His dream is becoming a reality as he gets ready to embark on the second stage of his pilot training course. I joined the Navy in 2011 with the goal of becoming a Seasprite pilot. In 2013 I went on the Air Force WINGS course and completed my primary training phase on the CT-4 Airtrainers. Currently I’m working in Naval Staff at Defence HQ in Wellington until October when I’ll start my advanced pilot training on the King Air aircraft, said SLT Williams. Once he completes his advanced training, SLT Williams will progress to the Helicopter Basic Course, then onto the Seasprites at 6 SQN at Whenuapai in approximately 2017. Being the only Navy person in an Air Force course hasn’t been a problem for SLT Williams who says although there are slight differences in the culture of each service, being able to experience Air Force life is providing valuable experience. When I am a trained pilot and flying for the Navy I expect that I will still have a lot to do with my course mates in the Air Force as we work on various deployments and missions together. I’m really looking forward to seeing us all graduate in a few years knowing our hard work has been worth it, said SLT Williams. The pilot training course is difficult and those who graduate are the best of the best. For SLT Williams the highlight to date has been a week flying around the South Island. It has been an incredible experience so far and better than I could ever have imagined. I’m looking forward to getting onto the King Airs and achieving the next step towards my goal. Wellington College extends an invitation to former and current serving Old Boys to attend the 2015 ANZAC Service at Wellington College, joining our current students and staff. Friday, 24 April 2015 at 11.30am A light Buffet Lunch will follow the service at $25.00pp which includes wine.
To pre-register or to make an enquiry, please contact WCOBA: oldboys@wc.school.nz or 04 802 2537. The Lampstand the • 2014