Pupils pay tribute to war dead

Date published: 11 November 2009

The stories of local men who died in the First World War have been brought to life by Greenacres School pupils preparing for Armistice Day.

The primary class researched Harold Platt Hall, who came from Ryeburn Street, in Greenacres, and was born in 1895. Harold was awarded the military medal, but died two days before the war ended.

And the children also found pictures of other local men whose names are recorded on the war memorial at Greenacres Congregational Church.

All their research led to a special assembly before Remembrance Sunday, for school and parents, when they listened to the Last Post and sang a song about peace.

Today the whole school observed the two minutes silence in the playground at 11 am.

Teacher Debby Chappell explained: “This was the first time we have done a project like this and the children need to be able to relate to why we have poppies and remembrance.

“We did it through local people, so the children could see where Harry lived and say they had walked past his house. It made it more real for them.”