Roll of Honour
By the end of WW2, almost 800 boys had passed through the School and almost half of those had enlisted. Most of them were in Canadian or Imperial units, but at least thirty were in the United States military. As was said in a Remembrance Day Service years ago, “This voluntary enlistment was a remarkable indication of the sense of duty that Shawnigan had instilled in these young men. But I also attribute it in part to the knowledge of history acquired at the School and, perhaps, a love of adventure.” Many of those were wounded or made prisoners of war, and, sadly, 44 of them were killed in action, along with one former staff member.
Bill McMullan was the School’s odd-job man from 1927-1939; he had helped level the School’s playing fields. When war was declared, he was one of the first in the district to enlist. He fell in 1942.
To tell the story of each young man on this roll would take much more than a few paragraphs. They were some of the School’s best and brightest. Among them are three former Heads of School. On the list were scholarship holders, School and House prefects, prize winners, and top athletes. Two were only 20 years old; the oldest was 39. It is heartbreaking to note that the roll includes two sets of brothers. Sadly, five died in training exercises. The rest met their end far, far from home in the Atlantic, western Europe, North Africa, Greece, and Hong Kong. Several were killed in well-known battles, such as Normandy and Dunkirk; others in small commando raids.
At least a third of the men were married, and many of them had children. A great number of them had added post-secondary education and started careers. Their dreams and plans may have started to take shape during their time Shawnigan. Throughout the war, Headmaster Lonsdale received letters from parents and wives of those serving overseas, and even from the young men themselves, passing on bits of news about their adventures. But interspersed with those were letters carrying the dreaded news about the death of a young man he had known well. He must have opened letters with hesitancy.
In March 1955, a Memorial Plaque on the north wall of the Chapel with the names of the Old Boys who gave their lives in World War II was unveiled and dedicated. Research over subsequent decades uncovered the names of more students to be added, prompting a new plaque. Later still, the omission of another student and a former staff member were discovered; their names are imprinted on a small plaque that hangs below the larger one.
Each year at the School’s Remembrance Day Ceremony, all 45 names are read aloud from the Roll of Honour.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
To tell the story of each young man on this roll would take much more than a few paragraphs. They were some of the School’s best and brightest. Among them are three former Heads of School. On the list were scholarship holders, School and House prefects, prize winners, and top athletes. Two were only 20 years old; the oldest was 39. It is heartbreaking to note that the roll includes two sets of brothers. Sadly, five died in training exercises. The rest met their end far, far from home in the Atlantic, western Europe, North Africa, Greece, and Hong Kong. Several were killed in well-known battles, such as Normandy and Dunkirk; others in small commando raids.
At least a third of the men were married, and many of them had children. A great number of them had added post-secondary education and started careers. Their dreams and plans may have started to take shape during their time Shawnigan. Throughout the war, Headmaster Lonsdale received letters from parents and wives of those serving overseas, and even from the young men themselves, passing on bits of news about their adventures. But interspersed with those were letters carrying the dreaded news about the death of a young man he had known well. He must have opened letters with hesitancy.
In March 1955, a Memorial Plaque on the north wall of the Chapel with the names of the Old Boys who gave their lives in World War II was unveiled and dedicated. Research over subsequent decades uncovered the names of more students to be added, prompting a new plaque. Later still, the omission of another student and a former staff member were discovered; their names are imprinted on a small plaque that hangs below the larger one.
Each year at the School’s Remembrance Day Ceremony, all 45 names are read aloud from the Roll of Honour.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
