93 years ago on 11th November 1918 an Armistice was signed between the Allies and the Central Powers, ending the First World War – a global conflict that lasted four years and had profound social, political and economic changes on the world.



The Poppy
The poppy became the symbol of remembrance as a result of the work of American Moina Michael and Frenchwoman Anna Guerin and was adopted by the Royal British Legion in 1921. 90 years later, the poppy is still worn in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Bermuda and Ireland.



Swindon WW1 Factoids
Over 5000 from Swindon served in the armed forces during WW1. Much of the work of Swindon service personnel and the civilian population is documented in W D Bavin's book "Swindon's War Record" which is available in Swindon library. 920 service personnel from Swindon died during World War 1 and these are recorded in Mark Sutton's book, "Tell Them Of Us".

Highworth Warneford School is named after WW1 Victoria Cross winner Reginald Warneford.

Victoria Cross Road in Wroughton is named after Victoria Cross winner William Gosling, a Wanborough man who settled in Wroughton.

5 members of Swindon Town Football Club and 2 members of Swindon Cricket Club were killed during World War 1.



Friday 11th November 2011

Kingsdown will be observing a 2 minute silence at 11am on Friday 11th November 2011.

Listed below are some of those being remembered by staff and students at Kingsdown School :

World War 1
2nd Lt Alan Anderson 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment. Killed in Action 1914, aged 21.
2nd Lt Philip Anderson 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment. Killed in Action 1915, aged 26. Brother of 2nd Lt Alan Anderson
Private George Bathe 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. Killed in Action 1915, aged 25.
Private Percy Bown 140th Field Ambulance, RAMC. Killed in Action 1914.
Private William Brewer 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. Killed in Action 1914, aged 21.
Private Joseph Clarke 15th Battalion (Bantams), Cheshire Regiment. Killed in Action 1918, aged 29.
2nd Lt George Dean 162nd Battalion, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in Action 1917.
Private Charles Lander 1/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, formerly Army Service Corps. Died of wounds 1918, aged 33.
Gunner Albert Milton Royal Field Artillery. Killed in Action 1917, aged 31.
Sapper Joseph Niland 179th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers. Killed in Action 1917, aged 43.
Private Thomas Harry Petley 43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). Killed in Action 1916, aged 29.
Private Maurice Reardon 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment. Killed in Action 1914, aged 24.
Private Maurice Reardon Depot, Devonshire Regiment. Died 1917, aged 50.
Private James Shepley 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died of Wounds 1915
Sapper John Shepley Royal Engineers. Died in 1943 of wounds received in November 1918. Brother of Private James Shepley.
Private George Sweeney 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers. Killed in Action 1917, aged 19.
Cpl Harold Warren MM Heavy Artillery, Army Service Corps. Died 1918, aged 25.
2nd Lt Frederick Wheatcroft 5th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Died 1917, aged 35.
Private James Wildblood 6th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died 1917, aged 41.


World War 2
L/Cpl Roy Cooke 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Killed in Action 1944, aged 22. Nephew of James and John Shepley listed above.