Glenwood High School (Durban)
Glenwood High School is a public English medium high school for boys located in Glenwood in Durban in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The school was established in 1910.
| Glenwood High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | All-boys public school |
| Motto | Nihil Humani Alienum (Nothing that concerns humanity is unimportant to me[1]) |
| Established | 1910 |
| Locale | Urban |
| Headmaster | Andri Barnes |
| Grades | 8–12 |
| Number of students | 1,300 boys |
| School colour(s) | Red Gold Green |
| Mascot | Stormin' Norman (Grasshopper) |
| Newspaper | Falcon |
| Website | glenwoodhighschool |
History
War years
In 1915 South Africa sent one brigade of Infantry to support the Allied war effort on the Western Front. The 1st South African Infantry Brigade comprised four battalions with the 2nd Battalion being known as the Natal & OFS Battalion, containing many men from Durban and Pietermaritzburg.[2] In 1915, there were only 120 boys at the school,[3] of which (from the Class of 1914 and earlier) twenty five ex-Glenwood pupils lost their lives as part of this Battalion during World War I[4] Of those killed, four were killed during the Battle of Delville Wood, in The Somme region of France. (Refer External Links section below for World War I Roll of Honour).
In 1939, at the start of World War II there were 490[3] pupils in the school and during the six years of war, 457 Old Boys served in East Africa, the Western Desert and Italy. Of these, 109 were in the South African or Royal Airforce.[3] Out of the 457 who served, 120 old-boys lost their lives during this war. There is a very poignant picture of the school's 1st Rugby Team of 1935 where at least 15 of the 18 boys in the photograph volunteered for service in the war and six of those in the photograph were killed. These included Roy Gibson, son of Durban's Lady in White (Perla Siedle Gibson),[5] and Clement (Neville) McGarr, who was one of the prisoners of war to escape from Stalag Luft III as part of the "Great Escape".[4][6]
The six were:[4]
- C. Roy Gibson
- J.Vic Rochford
- Daniel J. Jacobs
Glenwood High 1st XV 1935. At least 15 of the 18 boys in the photograph are known to have volunteered for service of which six were killed in WWII - Clement A. Neville McGarr
- Rolf Meyer
- Frank J. Ball
The following eulogy was added to the Glenwood Roll of Honour in December 1945:
The war has come very close to this school, as indeed, it has come to almost every part of the world. The tragedy is apparent to us when we look at the long list of those Old Boys of Glenwood who gave their lives for the cause which finally triumphed after 6 dark years. When we think of those names in terms of the people they represent, that each name means a gap in the life of a home, the loss of a father or a son – it is then we realize that the tragedy of war is not represented by a picture of a bomb-shattered building. A home to which a son or husband has not returned from battle is a true picture of war's tragedy. If the full significance of the sacrifices in human life were to impress itself upon all men and women, and especially upon the leaders of the nations, perhaps we could look forward to a world of peace.
There is a very real link between this school and every name on the Roll of Honour. All of them were boys here. They played cricket and rugby, swotted for examinations and cheered at swimming galas.
We honour the memory of all these gallant men.
CWGC Website
Facilities
Glenwood High is one of the few Durban public schools with a boarding establishment. The boarding establishment, opened around 1935, is known as Gibson House. It was named after Roy Gibson, the first past pupil to be killed in World War 2 – and the son of "The Lady in White" who saw off soldiers at the docks embarking on ships for tours at the front during the Second World War.
Gibson House is situated on the corner of Alan Paton and Esther Roberts Roads, a short walk from the main school. The original boarding school took only a small number of boys (three dormitories) but has been expanded.
Trevor Kershaw Fraud Scandal
Trevor Kershaw, who was headmaster between 1999 and 2015, is due to stand trial for allegedly defrauding Glenwood High School. It is possible that he may alternatively be charged with theft.[7] It has also been alleged that Kershaw interfered with the State's investigation. The provincial Department of Education is also conducting an investigation against him.[8]
References
- "Glenwood High School Prospectus". Archived from the original on 17 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
- Buchan, John (1992). The history of the South African forces in France (Litho reprint of 1920 ed.). London: Imperial War Museum & Battery Press. ISBN 0-901627-89-5.
- "Commonwealth War Graves Commission:". A School in South Africa. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
- "Facts about Durban". Retrieved 22 October 2009.
- "Durban's Lady in White". Archived from the original on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
- 95691 2nd Lieutenant Clement A.N. (known as Neville) McGarr (24 Nov 17 – 24 Mar 44) 2 Sqdn SAAF escaped by tunnel on 24 March 1944. He was caught and executed by the Gestapo. See photograph of memorial with McGarr inscription at List of Allied airmen from the Great Escape
- Barbeau, Noelene (20 October 2016). "Trial date set for Glenwood fraud principal". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- Barbeau, Noelene (29 July 2016). "Headmaster 'interfered' with fraud probe". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
External links
- Glenwood High School official site
- Roll of Honour: World War I
- Roll of Honour: World War II