Anzac Day took on special meaning for the students of Gresford Public School this year as they studied World War I and, in particular, the Gallipoli landing 100 years ago through the eyes of a former principal of the school.
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Captain Tom White served on the Western Front during World War I and his first appointment after returning from service was as principal of Gresford Public School in 1920.
Two of Captain White’s grandchildren were special guests at the school’s Anzac Day ceremony on April 27 – Max White, who travelled from south-eastern Victoria, and his sister Kaye Koder, of Sydney.
“My sister and I know that our grandfather Tom White would have loved to have been here,” Dr White told the children.
“That, of course, is not possible – he would be 130 years old – but we do know he would have been proud of the day and very proud of all of the students because you have, through your projects, tried to understand what it was really like then in that terrible war.
“And Tom White would have been more than grateful for the simple fact that you have remembered.”
Captain White returned to Australia on a hospital ship in July, 1919.
He spent many months in and out of hospital for treatment to injuries sustained in the war and in December of that year he was appointed principal of Gresford Public School.
“So in January, 1920, our grandparents and their three children – Merle, Bill and our father Alan - set out from their temporary wartime home in Sydney,” Dr White said.
The family settled in the school house, which still stands and is now used as the school office.
“All of the family loved Gresford, and from all accounts, Gresford loved them,” Dr White said.
When the Education Department announced Captain White would be moved to Tingha half way through 1922 the community of Gresford was devastated.
“Representatives of the P&C and the community travelled to Sydney to see if the move could be overturned and Members of Parliament lobbied the Minister for Education but all to no avail,” Dr White said.
“So sadly, very sadly, Gresford and Tom White and his family parted company.”
The school’s Anzac Day service was a ceremonial event with a bugler playing The Last Post, the haunting sounds of the bagpipes, singing from the children, a catafalque party from Singleton Army Base, raising of the flag and the laying of a special “100” wreath of carnations placed by each of the children from the school.
The school’s Anzac Garden, which includes a Lone Pine, was also refurbished for the 100th anniversary commemorations and was dedicated to the memory of Captain White.
