We must continue to remember
Captain Peter H. Broughton-Adderley was an Old Androvian who fell at the Battle of the Selle on 16 October 1918, aged 27, making him the last OA to perish during the Great War. He attended St Andrew’s from 1901-05 and the Androvian magazine described him as ‘a goal-keeper with fairly safe hands but not quick enough on his feet’! From St Andrew’s he went to Eton and then on to Exeter College, Oxford. From there he spent time in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Canada before enlisting in the services as part of the war effort. A crash with the newly formed Royal Naval Air Service was not enough to stop him serving and he joined the Scots Guards where he rose quickly through the ranks and distinguished himself on the front. He was recommended for the Military Cross because of his gallantry and good leadership and his chaplain said the following of him: “I would just like to say how deep an impression his kind, generous, chivalrous personality made on us all. Peter was one of the finest fellows I ever met. I admired and respected him more than I can say. He was so true and gentle and considerate.”
Examples like this of young men who died tragically young during wartime are all too common but we must continue to remember them, just as we did yesterday in our Remembrance Day service and just as the country will do on Sunday. Today we remember more than just those who died in the 1st World War and I was very grateful to Colonel Anthony Lamb MBE DL, a master from Eastbourne College, as his presence gave a contemporary understanding to the business of modern-day soldiering and he sowed some extremely important and provocative thoughts. From those that have died, and died tragically young, we must take a lesson: to make the most of every opportunity that comes our way, so that we can live our lives richly and positively.