Keeping history alive: St Andrew’s College and its ANZAC traditions

George (Year 12) and William (old collegian 2024) with their father Gideon (old collegian 1987).

St Andrew’s College has long embraced remembrance as a core value – a tradition rooted in its Scottish Presbyterian founders, who established the school in 1917 amid the final stages of World War 1.

Every visitor to the Christchurch school is reminded of the legacy of war as soon as they step into its magnificent Centennial Chapel. Just through the big double doors leading to the main chapel is the Memorial Enclave. On its brick wall is a Roll of Honour, filled with the names of old collegians who died in service. A beautiful memorial book sits in a glass case, with each page dedicated to one of the fallen.

One of the college's Roll of Honour boards in the Memorial Enclave.

St Andrew’s College chaplain, Rev Paul Morrow, says the annual Anzac Day service in the Centennial Chapel is a poignant gathering – and one of the most attended services by its old collegians’ network each year.

“It is important we acknowledge the sacrifice of the young men from our school, and remember the past, so we don’t go there again.”

Remembering through ritual and service

At the end of each year, a Year 12 history student is selected to give the keynote address at the following year’s Anzac Day service. Max (now Year 13), whose family have been associated with numerous conflicts, was chosen to deliver the 2025 address about what Anzac means to today’s students.

Another special moment at the service is when rector Mark Wilson, and board of governors deputy chair Nick Letham, read the names on the Roll of Honour.

Following the service, guests enjoyed a special morning tea, with catering manager Russell Gray and his team creating Anzac-themed petit fours to accompany the traditional Anzac biscuits.

The Anzac service is not the only time the fallen are remembered, shares Paul.

French Légion d’honneur medal awarded to old collegian Naylor Hillary for his actions during World War 2.

“Each time there is an assembly we turn a page in the Memorial Book, and tell the students some information about the person we are remembering that day.”

Another treasure on the wall of the Memorial Enclave is the French Légion d’honneur medal – the highest French military honour – awarded to old collegian Naylor Hillary for his actions during World War 2. He served in one of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Squadrons.

Naylor started at St Andrew’s in the late 1920s. Remarkably, he was 101 when he cut the cake at the college’s centenary celebrations in 2017 – older than the college itself.

Iona (old collegian 2024) and Adam (Year 13) in the Memorial Enclave of the Centennial Chapel.

Global tours and local heroes

Ian Morrison, the recently retired teacher-in-charge of travel and tourism at St Andrew’s and an expert on both World Wars, says the story of former rector Joseph Mawson, who led the college from 1934–1947, is another memorable one.

“Mawson served in World War 1 and was awarded a Military Cross for jumping out of a trench and taking out a machine gun post by himself. He was rector of St Andrew’s during World War 2 and was so important that the New Zealand military took him out of the college for two years to help run the Pacific campaign.”

For many years, Ian has run global education tours. These trips take groups of students to areas of wartime interest – from the battlefields of both wars to Brockenhurst, UK, the site of the No.1 New Zealand General Hospital during World War 1.

His latest tour group of 10 St Andrew’s students left in early April for Italy, France and the UK. They were to attend a special Anzac event at Brockenhurst on 24 April, alongside the Christchurch Cathedral Band.

“These trips have a big impact on the students, especially when they see the sites and hear the stories of the old collegians who are buried overseas, many who were just a few years older than them when they died,” says Ian.

Old collegian Daryll Fell (OC 1991) who has served with both the New Zealand and Australian defence forces, is also doing his bit to preserve the legacy of the many former St Andrew’s service people.

Since embarking on a mammoth research journey, Daryll has unearthed an ever-growing list of students and teachers who served during World War 2.

By meticulously cross-referencing names in the school list, he identified just under 700 old collegians and 26 teachers and staff who answered the call of duty. Their contributions span across the navy and merchant marine, the army, and the air force.

Remembrance is a core value at St Andrew’s College, which includes honoring their Scottish Presbyterian founders.

Student voice keeps the legacy alive

St Andrew’s students are also involved in a variety of Anzac initiatives inside and outside the classroom.

The Year 10 tutor group of teacher Ellen Hampson have baked giant Anzac cookies, as they remember the fallen soldiers, while Ellen’s Year 9 class have completed reflections on the topic The Futility of War.

Three Year 12 English students were to deliver speeches at the Nurse Maude Anzac service, sharing some of their own family connections to World War 1 and World War 2.

One of the students, Emily, says she enjoyed learning about the importance of music to her great-uncle when he was serving in World War 2.

“My grandmother and I talked about her memories of her uncle and the tales he told about being in Egypt. It intrigued me when she said in 1944, while her uncle was in Egypt, he heard Vera Lynn sing.”

Several members of the college’s award-winning pipe band also take part in various Anzac Day services around the region each year.

Through its unwavering commitment to remembrance, St Andrew’s makes sure the past, and the sacrifice and service of so many of its former students, is never forgotten.