Honouring Our Fallen on D Day

June 6th 2024

On 6 June, 80 years ago, the Allied invasion of Normandy took place. Many lives changed and were lost that day. Here, we share records from our Edward Alleyn Magazine of just a few of the stories of the Alleyn's men involved in that invasion at Normandy, which at the time was the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

Canon Michael Norman (Brading's 1936):

As a young man Michael wanted to be a farmer but the loss of his eyesight on the Normandy battle front in 1944 changed that. He joined the church after returning from the War and eventually moved to South Africa. He had a long and rewarding relationship with St. Dunstan’s Association for South African War-Blinded Veterans. His war service and service to victims of war was recognised in 1999 when the French Government bestowed on him the Diploma d’Honneur.

Robert Dickson (Brading's 1939):

Robert died on 29 April 1972 after a long illness borne with characteristic patience and courage. On leaving School Robert Dickson joined the National Provincial Bank and at the time of his death was Manager of its Trustee Department in Southampton. As with most of his contemporaries, his career was soon interrupted by war service. On D-Day he parachuted into France with a Field Ambulance of the 6th Airborne Division.

Edgar George Lister (Spurgeon's 1923):

Edgar started at Alleyn's during WWI. He must also have been one of the last to remember some of the original Housemasters including Doggie’ Roper, Tulley, Cribb and Brading. He had roseate memories of the tercentenary celebrations at the School in 1919. After leaving the School, he qualified as a chartered surveyor, working in private practice, then for local authorities, and finally Hampshire County Council. During WWII, he was seconded to the Admiralty in Plymouth where he was involved in the D-Day preparations and he met his wife through a mutual interest in amateur dramatics.

The Edward Alleyn Magazine November 1944 lists the following who were killed in action in Normandy:

M Buysman (Tulley's 1939) - sub.-lieut. presumed killed in action off Normandy.
W Davies (Roper's 1933) - Capt. Royal Dragoon Guards, killed in action in Normandy.
E Hooke (Roper's 1939) lieut, Wiltshire Regiment, killed in action in Normandy.
R Kennett (Tulley's 1936)- sub lieut, killed in action in Normandy.
H Poynor (Cribb's 1932) - capt. killed in action in Normandy.
T H James (Spurgeon's 1933) - Was a rifleman KRRC, was part of the D-Day landings and died shortly after in battle.

As we remember that day and the lives that were so sadly changed and taken during WWII, we also remember the special relationship forged with Rossall School in Lancashire, where Alleyn’s pupils were evacuated to during the War.

During the war effort, the 200 boys from the Alleyn's Junior and Senior Schools who were enrolled at the start of the Second World War were evacuated to Rossall School in Lancashire to start a new chapter of their education, away from the dangers of wartime London, while the Alleyn's School buildings were used to house the South London Emergency Secondary School for those who could not be evacuated.

The rugged Lancashire coastline was a far cry from the grounds of the School in leafy Dulwich. But all of the sports and clubs previously held in London continued at Rossall. And there were additional activities such as gardening and much more Drama was organised in which the Headmaster, Ralph Allison, himself often took a leading role. These were peaceful occupations and helped to fill in weekends.

Bonds became strong between pupils evacuated to Rossall and over the years since, reunions have taken place bringing those who were at Rossall back together. Ken Pywell (Spurgeon’s 1949) even took a trip back to the school with his family last year. He shared his memories with us.

Our connection with Rossall remains to this day and we look forward to November when Alleyn's footballers will travel to Rossall to play them and, together, mark Armistice Day honouring the lives of those who have died in the service of their country.

You can find out a bit more about life at Rossall in WWII - Life for the Rossall boys in WW2 by Mrs Katie Lee. Alleyn’s is mentioned from five minutes in.

Photograph shows a section of the War Memorial Panels in the Main Building praising and honouring 130 men from Alleyn’s who laid down their lives during the Second World War.

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