Over 200 Brentwood School CCF cadets, officers and former pupils travelled to Belgium on Friday 9 October to unveil a memorial at St. George's Church in Ypres. The memorial commemorates all members of the School who have lost their lives in the service of their country.

A special church service was held in the afternoon led by Father David Gilchrist, Brentwood School Chaplain. The Brentwood School choir sang superbly, particularly Treble Soloist and 1st Year Oliver Valentini who stirred emotions by leading the song ‘Hear My Prayer.'

Godfrey Thomas, a former Schoolmaster who worked at Brentwood School for 35 years spoke movingly about the pupils he had taught who had lost their lives in a variety of wars and mentioned many notable Old Brentwoods who fought and died in the Ypres Salient. Godfrey Thomas is author of ‘Everyone a Hero,' a book commemorating the 250 men whose names appear on the School War Memorials.

Mr. John Norris C.B.E, Old Brentwood, Governor and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Essex introduced and read ‘Falling Leaves' by Margaret Postgate Cole.  Chairman of Governors and Old Brentwood Mr. Colin Finch then led the Dedication of the Memorial, and Brentwood School's Headmaster Ian Davies read lines from ‘For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon. The service of dedication was followed by a reception provided by the Headmaster at the Novotel in Ypres.

The CCF then laid a wreath during the daily 8.00 pm service at the Menin Gate. Old Brentwoods were in attendance and three senior cadets, Alex Quigley, Oliver Candon and James Lennox represented the school admirably, wearing their CCF uniform as a mark of respect at the ceremony.

Current CCF pupils were proud to have been a part of this memorable and moving day the Headmaster was delighted with the way the pupils  conducted themselves throughout the day and commented, "I was very proud of both the cadets and choir, they represented the school with great pride and helped make the day a very memorable and moving occasion."

Please click here to view a gallery of images from this event.