Thank you to our young men, staff and visitors who contributed to our annual Anzac Service held earlier this term. The first part of the service, in the school hall, was led by Old Boy Mr. Tim Costley.

This year marks 110 years since the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign and this was the focus of today's service. Senior History students - Alvi Kabir, Jonathan Peel, Leejun Kim, Henry Bovey, Jakob Abernethy, Jayden Evans, Angus Bilsland, Ishmam Biswas, Anthony Yuan, Tyler Thompson and Oliver Crotty - read brief biographical information about the ten Old Boys of Palmerston North High School who were killed at Gallipoli (Palmerston North High School split into separate boys' and girls' schools in 1920) - Herbert Ayling, Robert Gudgeon, John McFerran, Donald Pallant, Trevor Preece, Archibald Robbie, Francis Robinson, Henry Sutton and Francis Twisleton.

The Roll of Honour for World War One was read by Old Boy Mr. Stu Leighton on behalf of the PNBHS Old Boys’ Association. Former Head of History and current school archivist Mr. Dom King read the Roll of Honour for World War Two and the Falklands Campaign. Thank you to the Concert Band who performed the Anzac Hymn and National Anthem.

The second part of the service took place on the front lawn of the school, between the Gallipoli Oak and the Memorial Gallery. Upon their dismissal from the hall, the entire student body walked in silence along a path flanked by crosses bearing the name, photograph and service number of our Old Boys killed in war, before assembling in their Form Classes.

Mr. Alan Cull, Patron of the PNBHS Old Boys’ Association and Mr. Evan Torrance, both former servicemen, laid a wreath at the Gallipoli Oak.

Head Prefect Tristan Chambers and Jack Pedersen, the youngest Year 9 pupil, laid a wreath at the base of the flagpole. While these wreaths were laid a lament was played by Year 10 student Ashton Murphy.

The Last Post and Reveille were played by Gus Wescott as Deputy Head Prefect Nadith Rathnayake lowered and then raised the New Zealand flag. The ode was read in te reo Māori by Mr. Bruce Hemara and in English by Mr. Costley. Thank you to the RNZAF who provided a flyover for our service.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them."

"E kore rātou e kaumātuatia

Pēnei i a tātou kua mahue nei

E kore hoki rātou e ngoikore

Ahakoa pehea i ngā āhuatanga o te wā

I te hekenga atu o te rā

Tae noa ki te aranga mai i te ata

Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou"