This year the School opened under difficulties, Mr. Bousfield and several of the staff being detained owing to quarantine regulations, and so we had to work the first week without them. However, let us hope that all those who are to represent us at the Senior and Junior Exams at the end of the year have settled down to work in earnest. As a result of the Armistice, numbers of our Old Boys are now returning from the Front. They have done their duty well, but in the joy of their home-coming, there will be tears for those whom we will never greet again.
The number of our Old Boys who enlisted has risen to over 1,002, and the Honour Board is filled up; the number of our "honoured dead" having risen to 167. Let us hope that the proposed memorial to these splendid and heroic men will soon be begun.
We were sorry to lose Mr. Potts at the end of the first term, but he takes with him the best wishes of the whole School. At the beginning of the year, Mr. Lea resumed his duties at the School after three years' service at the Front. May his future stay with us be long and pleasant! Nobody may say of our Old Boys that they are not "doing their bit" to keep up the reputation of the School.
(The remainder of the Editorial reviews the year's examination successes and sport.)
The President for 1918–19 was Mr. F. S. N. Bousfield (the Head Master). At the 1919 Annual General Meeting the Presidency passed to Dr. A. B. Carvosso, B.A. (with Mr. R. M. King also recorded as President for 1919–20 — the roll lists both, indicating a change during the year). Mr. J. G. Nowlan continued as Hon. Secretary & Treasurer. The Association's main work this year was preparing the permanent War Memorial to the fallen Old Boys (a circular was issued to the next-of-kin).
Old Boys' Association (Founded 1898).
No award. The Reginald Heber Roe Memorial Bursary had not yet been founded (first award 1933).
This issue prints the School's Roll of Honour under the motto "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." Over 1,002 Old Boys enlisted in the Great War; the honoured dead numbered 167–169 (killed in action, or died of wounds or injuries). The OBA's War Memorial (which became the War Memorial Library, foundation stone 1923) was the Association's response.
Both 1919 issues carry the WWI Roll of Honour (Killed; Honours and Decorations) and Old Boys' registers; not reproduced here. These WWI name lists are of particular heritage value. They are not reproduced in this transcript.
Source: The Brisbane Grammar School Magazine, June 1919 and November 1919 (two termly issues, combined). First post-Armistice year. Notation: Bracketed "(year)" = year of ENTRY. (No R. H. Roe Bursary before 1933.) School Captain 1919: C. H. Atkinson (first-named Prefect). Head Master: F. S. N. Bousfield, M.A.
In this era, an Old Boy's year designation was the year he entered Grammar; the convention today is the year he finished. A boy who started in 1993 and finished in 1997 was (93) but is now '97.
Brisbane Grammar School Old Boys' Association · Old Boys History. Part of the OBA Knowledge Project.
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