Wilson’s History department recently set a competition for our young historians. We gave them a series of titles to choose from, or an option to design their own, and three weeks in which to research and write their essay. We had an excellent range of titles, from the role animals played in World War I to an exploration of Wilson’s School and World War II. The calibre of responses received was very high, but some students set themselves apart. Their essays showed outstanding historical skill in cultivating and presenting their argument, alongside diligent historical research in order to evidence their conclusions. We applaud each and every one of them for what they have achieved.
Year 7 – Kaan
Year 8 – Vedanth
Year 9 – Isaak
Year 10 – Felix and Aryaan
Wilson's and World War II
One of our Year 10 Students, Kaivalya, has been researching some of Wilson’s historic documents to create a short history of Wilson’s and World War II. His conclusions on what this reflects about our community at Wilson’s resonates well with our school’s ethos, non sibi sed omnibus.
Mrs Berry, Head of History
On 1 September 1939, Hitler had ordered the annexation of Poland and Britain swiftly declared war on Germany – and on Hitler’s tyrannical reign. While Chamberlain’s cabinet faced several vital decisions, the leaders of the 35,000 schools dotted across the nation encountered similar challenges, upon resolving which the subsequent generation's future relied.
The headmaster of Wilson’s school, Mr J.S. Lee, and the governors, who were chaired by Mr B. A. Glanvill, promptly responded to these challenges by initially closing the school, working towards protecting each and every student. Schools were given two options: close until the war was over or temporarily relocate to the countryside, where it was safest. Wilson’s chose the second alternative, and the school began its search for a secure location that could accommodate a growing school community.
As the war with Germany raged on in the background, the school did not have much time to waste, eventually moving its operations to Ashford, a somewhat rural town in Kent where bombings were not as often as they were in London. Because finding a space big enough for a school on such short notice was something virtually impossible, students slept in billets and were offered part-time education in various buildings in Ashford. Wilson’s faced a problem - its students did not have a proper place to stay and they could not get the best education possible.
It was in such a situation that the governors had been invited to relocate the school to a newly constructed National Camp in Wedges Farm, Itchingfield near Horsham, Sussex. This camp, designed by Alistair MacDonald, had been built at a cost of £30,000 (worth £1,628,766.30 in 2023), and was fitted with state-of-the-art facilities including three science research labs and headquarters for O.T.C (Officers' Training Corps). Although, several adjustments needed to be made for the campus to accommodate the rich and diverse curriculum taught by Wilson’s, the school officially entered the camp on April 23rd, 1940, 235 days after the start of WW2. The camp school oversaw the (re)establishment of various groups, including the chess club, debating society, and dramatic society, and did not let WW2 prevent its students from flourishing in extracurricular activities. Wilson's achievement was not confined to this; the offspring of Wilson's union with culture may be seen in the prevalence of music - French and German songs were sung in Language lessons, while Music lessons consisted of classes singing along to sea shanties, folk songs and classical songs.
An outdoor lesson at Itchingfield. Banner photo, top: staff at Itchingfield
Through their active participation in the National effort for food production, led by the master for Biology, the pupils lived true to their school motto ("Non sibi sed omnibus" - Not for oneself but for all). After the pupils had settled into their new school life, they began growing potatoes, brassicas, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and lettuce on the once neglected area. Their efforts were acknowledged and eulogized during a visit to the camp school by His grace Bernard Fitzalan-Howard , the Duke of Norfolk in 1943.
While the school was going back into ‘normal’ school routines, several of the schools masters, including Messrs. B. A. Baker, B. D. Butler, G. E. Selby, J. P. Tuck, F. C. Ward, Dr A. J. Pritchard, as well as many of the older students enlisted to fight in the armed forces against the atrocities occurring 600 miles away, some unfortunately leaving the lives they took with them on the battlefield. There was more available than just gloom- all of the school masters who had served in the war had returned, the last to do so being Mr. B.A. Baker, who continued his responsibilities in the MFL department and as a House Master to Kelly (one of the six houses that preceded the six present houses) in July 1946.
While the camp in Kent was safe from bombings, the main school building in Camberwell was bombed badly, shattering a hundred windows, which meant that repairs were required before the school could migrate back into its former dwelling. It was difficult to reclaim the school buildings since no alternative facility could be found for the Camberwell Food Office, which had been using them during the war. After these necessary improvements were made, Wilson's moved back to its home in Camberwell on the 27th of September 1945, just over six years since the school was forced to move.
The story of Wilson’s during WW2 can be seen as one of resilience, perseverance and most importantly, it shows the strengths that a community can reach when they work together. To summarise the legacy of Wilson during WW2, I would like to refer to what old Wilsonian, Stan Alfert said- He mentioned how “there was a very strong patriotic feeling throughout the school”, meaning that “morale was high.” Wilsons had successful tackled one challenge and now it was ready for the next one.
Kaivalya (Year 10)