Aldenham Old Boys remembered 75 years on

The School paused during Assembly on Monday as the Headmaster commemorated two OAs who were in Normandy 75 years ago this week. One of them was very well known. General Sir Richard Nelson “Windy” Gale (School House 1911-13) was the Commander of the 1st Parachute Regiment and 6th Airborne Division. He landed in Normandy shortly after midnight on 6th June 1944 and was the first General to be back on mainland Europe. His meticulous planning contributed heavily to the success of Operation Overlord. He went on to serve with great distinction after the war was over. His commemorative bust stands outside School House today.

The other former pupil commemorated, Lt Trevor JF Tooley OA (Beevor’s 1930-35) remains in Normandy to this day. He was killed on the first day of Operation Overlord when his unit, the 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, sustained heavy losses on Sword Beach. He died aged just 27, leaving a wife and two year old daughter. He is remembered with honour in La Delivrande War Cemetery, Calvados, just a short distance from where he landed on French soil and is one of 116 OAs who went to fight in the Second World War and who never returned.

Also in OA News

EDI 01featured-image-Carol-service
DEC 11, 2019

Carols in the Abbey

A beautiful service of lessons and carols was enjoyed by all at St Albans Abbey. The service started with the traditional Once In Royal David’s City with the first verse sung acapella by Emilie Geissmar-Wagstaff and Dinah Styles Vickery. All ages were representing the music department with Martineau’s Choir performing lively versions of Personent Hodie and […]

READ MORE Carols in the Abbey
Sports banner-3
JAN 24, 2016

Eton Fives players perform well

Four Aldenhamians Tom Hawkes, Erik Kemish, Flynn Nicholas and Adem Arik acquitted themselves well at the U15 Eton Fives Individuals' Competition at Harrow at the weekend.All students played and performed gallantly moving from quarter-finals, to semi-finals and, after a real sporting fight against students from Ipswich, Alleyns', Emmanuel and St Olaves Schools, Tom Hawkes rose […]

READ MORE Eton Fives players perform well
OA News 01featured-image-Remembrance-Day
NOV 11, 2020

Remembrance Day at Aldenham

This year's memorial service was unlike any other. In a scaled down ceremony, representatives from the School joined a small number of others from the local community including faith leaders and a representative of Hertsmere Council to record the service and for the laying of wreaths at the War Memorial in Letchmore Heath for Remembrance […]

READ MORE Remembrance Day at Aldenham