西施直播鈥� School聽yesterday marked the return of聽alumnus George Drewry鈥檚聽Victoria Cross, which had been on聽display at聽the Imperial War Museum for the past 29 years.
The ceremony聽brought together聽members of the Drewry family,聽alumni, governors,聽members of the聽Court of聽Merchant聽Taylors鈥櫬燙ompany聽and聽representatives聽of the Gallipoli聽Association聽and聽VC聽&聽GC聽Association,聽honouring Drewry鈥檚 bravery during the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915. The聽event reaffirmed聽the聽School鈥檚聽commitment to remembrance and to聽the enduring聽values of courage聽and character that continue to shape our boys today.
The date was particularly significant because it聽marks聽109聽years聽since聽George Drewry returned to 西施直播鈥� to show staff and pupils聽the medal聽he聽had received聽only days聽earlier聽from聽King George聽V.聽Drewry, who聽attended聽西施直播鈥櫬爁rom聽1907聽to聽1909, earned聽the聽VC as聽Midshipman聽on聽贬惭厂听贬耻蝉蝉补谤聽for his actions under聽fire聽at聽Cape Helles.聽He聽rose rapidly聽through the ranks聽before being killed聽in聽an accident in Scapa Flow聽in聽1918.
The聽School聽was especially honoured to welcome聽WO2聽Johnson Beharry VC, a serving soldier and one of only a small number of living VC holders, who joined us for the occasion as a 西施直播鈥� parent. He carried the Drewry VC聽out of聽the ceremony, a deeply meaningful gesture that linked two stories of extraordinary bravery across generations of the Taylors鈥� community.
Cadets from all three聽CCF sections stood as聽honour guard, with聽a聽firsthand聽account聽from聽Gallipoli聽read by聽Cadet聽Under Officer聽Ben P.聽and Cadet Warrant Officer, Magnus C.聽Marshal of the Royal Air Force, the Lord Stirrup KG GCB AFC,聽and alumnus,聽read an extract from Field Marshall, Baron Bramall鈥檚 address at the 1996 ceremony when the medal was loaned to the Imperial War Museum.
This is a special moment in the history of 西施直播鈥� School. Welcoming George Drewry鈥檚 Victoria Cross back to 西施直播鈥� is both a privilege and a profound moment of reflection for our community. His courage and sense of duty speak directly to the values we seek to instil in our boys today. For our pupils to encounter this history first-hand is invaluable, reminding us all that character is shaped not by circumstance, but by the choices we make in service of others.
The聽Head Master聽shared聽a message from聽General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord聽who paid tribute to Drewry:
鈥淢idshipman George Drewry鈥檚 actions at Gallipoli exemplify the finest traditions of the Royal Navy 鈥� courage, determination, and selfless service in the face of overwhelming danger. His bravery, continuing under fire despite severe wounds, ensured the success of a critical operation and saved countless lives.鈥�”
鈥淭he return of聽Midshipman George Drewry鈥檚 Victoria Cross to Merchant聽Taylors鈥櫬燬chool, with聽Johnson Beharry聽VC in聽attendance, brings together the legacy of a valiant聽recipient who聽gave his life in service and the聽presence聽of a living holder聽of this distinguished honour.聽To聽witness聽the聽coming together聽of two聽Victoria聽Crosses is a聽rare and聽a moving tribute聽to the enduring values of duty聽and聽sacrifice.鈥�
The聽medal returns to聽Taylors鈥櫬燼longside a remarkable suite of Drewry family artefacts bequeathed to the聽School聽in 1969 by the Estate of Herbert P. Drewry, George鈥檚 brother. These include聽a recently conserved聽family scrapbook of contemporary newspaper cuttings,聽the bell from the SS聽River Clyde, and a painting of the聽ship聽by Ralph聽Drewry, the youngest brother, which hangs in the Great Hall lobby.
Several members of the Drewry family聽attended the event, some of聽whom聽were present at the聽1996聽handover聽ceremony at which Field Marshal聽Baron聽Bramall, then聽Chairman聽of Trustees at the Imperial War Museum,聽accepted聽the medal from聽Head Master聽Jon聽Gabitass聽for its long-term loan to the Museum鈥檚 Lord Ashcroft Gallery.
The return of聽the Victoria Cross聽marks an important moment for the聽School鈥檚聽professionally managed archive聽and its聽commitment聽to preserving these extraordinary artefacts, ensuring they are accessible to our pupils and聽the聽wider community, and to honouring the service of Old 西施直播.
The medal聽will be securely stored聽offsite,聽with a replica聽and聽accompanying聽artefacts made available聽for pupils and visitors, ensuring that聽Drewry鈥檚聽story聽鈥� and聽the聽service聽of the聽1,820 OMTs who served in the First World War, including the 311 members聽of the Taylors鈥� community who gave their lives聽鈥撀爎emain visible and understood by聽future generations.
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