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4. Wherefore did he sit him up and did shout mightily, wondering what it was that had happened to him.
5. And the other did bid him, oast off his raiment in haste; for the lights they were not for long, and darkness would fall with the blast of the trumpet.
6. Him did Simplicitas gaze upon, and lo! he
was a hefty one and muscular, and moreover in his eyes did gleam a gleam; so that Simplicitas did say nought of the manner of his wakening, but did get him off his raiment, and to bed.
7. Thus, when the lights grew dim did he slumber yet again on his couch; and the others did sleep also, so that there was peace in that place, and quiet did reign in Wauk Up.
8. And when the night was gone, and the sun
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risen, did Simplicitas wake him once more; no buffet of pillow did wake him up, but a mighty trumpet did resound and he arose.
9. And Simplicitas did do even as they did
who slept also in Wauk Up, and did get him a move on, and did busy himself with things.
10. For they did show him the manner of arranging his couch; and the other things meet, these did they show him also.
11. His shoon did he clean in a chamber, round and with many shelves; and he did lave his body in the place of washings.
12. Then when the trumpet did sound anew, he did come with the multitude unto a place that he did know and., giving thanks, they did break their fast.
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1925-1929
In 1925 the Queen Victoria School was far more simply equipped than it now is. The War Office had probably hoped, in taking over the property from the subscribers, that some endowment, however small, would follow; but nothing of the kind happened; and as the war of 1914-18 made money harder to find, there had been few additions to the plan of 1908, although casualties to Scottish servicemen had swollen our numbers to. 250 boys.
Only part of the playing, field hadi been drained or levelled. There was no' space tor any hobbies, no workshop', no privacy for older boys. A dozen boys filled the library, and the playroom was wanted for many purposes. Sometimes the staff acquired a room for themselves; sometimes it was commandeered as a classroom.
Apart from band engagements and football
fixtures, there was little contact with the civilian world; even examinations were Army examinations, designed to grade adult serving soldiers. But efforts to develop the School life were being made by many — doctors, ministers, nurses, matrons, teachers, colour sergeants and maintenance staff — whom, I cannot justly describe for want of space; I can name only the commissioned officers.
The Adjutant, Major J. M. Macrae, D.S.O., was a Lewisman who' had risen by bravery and energy to command the battalion of Seaforths in which, as a Gaelic speaking boy of 16, he had enlisted 30 years earlier; and every Victorian must have felt that his was a career to be copied. The staff of pensioners under him seemed elderly to me — the sergeant shoemaker had been in the Zulu War of 1879 — but they were active; Sgt.-Major Scotland swinging a pair of sabres was the picture of fitness. My own method of keeping fit was Highland dancing; but however long I spent in the gymnasium, I never acquired the staying power of the veteran Pipe-Major Taylor.
All teaching was done by the Army Educational Corps, under Captain A. F. Barnes, M.C., a Doctor of Music of Oxford, whose career as a conductor and player had been ended by the bullet that shattered his hand. Having taught in some wealthy schools, he was shocked at the
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leeway to be made up in the organisation of
games. I remember him, being many evenings at the nets, photographing small batsmen to prove to them, that their wrist work was wrong.
After Barnes came Captain (now Brigadier) W. T. Lunt, who was well qualified to give the school a new start in science and technical subjects. Many improvements came in the tune' of these two headmasters. More of the playing field was levelled; a play shed, a pavilion, and a reading room were built; the isolation, hospital became the school workshops; badminton and drama clubs and the Old Boys' Association were founded; the magazine had its face lifted; a School Leaving Certificate was established; and the school began to take part in such events as the County Music Festivals.
The greatest event of my years at the Q.V.S. was due to the Hon. Treasurer, (the late) Colonel Chilton Addison-Smith, who put in several years of effort to raise funds for scholarships to Sandhurst and Woolwich, such as the Duke of York's School possessed. I later had the pleasure of entertaining the first two holders of scholarships as Woolwich cadets, George Thomson, and Robart Linton; I had first known them as small Victorians, and I last saw them as Lieutenant-Colonels in the Royal Corps of Signals.
But the space given me is already exceeded, and I can only express my regret at being prevented from attending Grand Day of 1958. Brigadier Lunt, now my neighbour in Camberley, has similar regrets to express; and we bath offer our warm regards to all old friends who may attend, and to the present school, which we admire.
A. C. T. WHITE.
Colonel A. C. T. White, V.C.,
Commandant, 1925-1929).
1930-1939
I have been asked to record some recollections of my 9 1/2 years as Commandant of Queen Victoria School. Nearly 30 years hav» elapsed
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