Herman F.G. Ede, a Bermudian, graduated from Trinity College School in 1934, having been an avid athlete who excelled in football, gymnastics, cricket and swimming. He had just begun his studies at McGill University when he enlisted in the Royal Air Force in spring 1935. In May 1940, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conspicuous gallantry in action. On June 9 of that same year, while he and others were being evacuated aboard the aircraft carrier Glorious, a surprise German attack sank the convoy of Allied ships, leaving no survivors. Herman Ede was 23 years old.
His was just one of the stories of Trinity College School alumni who made the ultimate sacrifice which was shared during the annual Service of Remembrance, held on Thursday, November 10th.
This year, students and staff gathered together in Memorial Chapel for the service, led by TCS chaplain, Maj. the Revd. Canon Don McLean Aitchison CD. The personal stories of TCS alumni who died in action, some of which were told by the school prefects during the service, are a way of providing context to the thousands of Canadians who killed in service in the World Wars and other conflicts around the globe.
Hymns were accompanied by organist, Mr. Randy Mills, who also led the Chapel Choir in the singing of In Remembrance, composed by Eleanor Daley (with lyrics from the poem Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye).
Following the indoor portion of the service, attendees processed out to the terraces, to surround the Memorial Cross. In addition to the recitation of In Flanders Fields and the reading from the Book of Remembrance by Mr. Stuart Grainger, the gathering included a moment of silence. Ms. Emma Crawford, Junior School music teacher, played the Last Post and Rouse. TCS Parents’ Guild President Lisa Bailey laid a wreath at the base of the cross on behalf of the guild.
More than 100 years have passed since the Armistice that ended World War I, on November 11, 1918. Yet, each year the call to remember and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice must be answered, and our commitment to peace renewed.
