Every year at West Hill Park, our Year 3s and 4s go to the board in the dining hall and place poppies next to the names of Old Westhillians who made the ultimate sacrifice. This year, Martin Bundy, our Groundsman, has been researching these Old Westhillians, and we were delighted that he agreed to be our speaker for this year’s Remembrance Service.

Please find his speech below for those who missed it.

Good morning.
Today, as we gather here for this Remembrance Service, I want to talk to you about something important — something that’s at the heart of why we remember. That word is HERO.

So, what is a hero?

When we hear the word hero, we might think of someone in a cape who flies through the sky or saves the day in a movie. And while these stories are fun, real-life heroes are a little different. Real heroes don’t need superpowers. They don’t wear costumes. What makes them heroes is their courage, kindness, and willingness to help others – even when it’s hard.

The people we remember today – soldiers, nurses, medics, pilots, and many more — were real-life heroes. They gave up their comfort, their safety, and even their lives to protect others.

Many were very young, some not much older than you. They fought for peace, for freedom, and for the hope of a better world. And because of them, we are here today, living in safety.

But being a hero isn’t only about fighting in a war. A hero is anyone who puts others before themselves. During times of war, that meant helping a wounded friend, writing letters home to their family to give them hope, or staying brave even when afraid. These acts seem small, but they mattered – and they still matter now.

Heroes aren’t perfect. They have fears and doubts, just like we do. But what makes them special is that they act with bravery anyway. They choose to care, to help, to protect – and even though many of them are no longer with us, their stories live on in our hearts.

Today we honour the Old Westhillians who died in the Second World War. Each of them had their own amazing story. They served in all three of the major branches of the Armed Forces – the Army, Navy, and RAF – and in many different parts of the world. They were present at many of the key battles during the war, from Kohima in Burma to Monte Cassino in Italy, to Normandy in the days following D-Day.

Flight Lieutenant Pearson DFC was killed over Germany on a raid over Berlin in January 1944. He flew Lancaster bombers and had made over 45 sorties over Germany, 27 of them as the lead pathfinder, meaning his plane was out at the front directing the rest of the aircraft.

Lieutenant Nicholas Ward was lost at sea aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious on 9th June 1940. Lt Ward was a forward observer, flying biplanes to help spot targets for the British fleet during the evacuation of Norway. They were ambushed by the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst and sunk. Of a crew of 1,207, only 38 men were recovered.

The main story I want to tell you is of Captain John Morillyan Napier MC. He joined WHP in 1923, and at the outbreak of the war was part of the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, stationed in Egypt. Captain Napier was a tank commander in the famed 7th Armoured Division — the Desert Rats. They initially fought against the Italians in the defence of Alexandria. During a night attack on an Italian strongpoint at Fort Capuzzo on 29th – 30th June 1940, he was awarded his MC. The MC is the third-highest medal for gallantry. His citation reads:

“This officer left his tank on foot to go to the assistance of another tank which had been severely hit. I consider that this action showed great disregard for his own personal safety and contributed to the safe return of the other tank and crew, and am of the opinion that his gallantry and prompt action are well worthy of recognition. He has consistently shown a fine example in the field.”

Imagine how much courage it took to climb out of his own tank and run across the battlefield to save his fellow tankers.

The war in North Africa swung back and forth in 1940 – 41 as the Commonwealth troops pushed the Italians back towards Tripoli. However, the arrival of the German Afrika Korps under Erwin Rommel, known as “the Desert Fox”, pushed them back on the defensive as they retreated across Libya. The Allied garrison at Tobruk was besieged for seven months.

I have found reports of a game of cricket that took place between the Australian troops from the 20th Infantry Division and the 107th Royal Horse Artillery. Some of the amazing rules included: “Play will be continuous except by interference by air raid. Play will not – repeat not – be halted by shell fire. Only the wicket keepers are to wear tin hats, and the umpires were the only ones permitted to carry loaded weapons.”

In November 1941, the Allied troops launched Operation Crusader in an attempt to relieve the garrison at Tobruk. Captain Napier and the 7th Hussars were to act as an armoured spearhead in an attempt to break through. On the 21st November, they were holding the airfield at Sidi Rezegh when they came under attack from a German column. Reports suggest there were around 40 British tanks facing over 130 German ones. The fighting was fierce, and the action lasted all day.

Sadly, Captain Napier’s tank was hit and blown up. So fierce was the fighting that day that three VCs were awarded. The VC is the highest medal for valour in the Armed Services. Only eight VCs were awarded in North Africa between 1940 – 42, and three of those were on this day at Sidi Rezegh. Captain Napier is buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery in Libya.

So today, when you see a poppy, hear a moment of silence, or think about Remembrance Day, I want you to remember this: being a hero doesn’t mean being fearless – it means doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.

And you too can be a hero in your own way. You can stand up for someone who is being treated unfairly. You can be kind to someone who’s feeling left out. You can listen, learn, and show respect.

These small actions help build a better world – the kind of world those heroes dreamed of. We remember heroes not just to honour them, but to learn from them – to be inspired by their strength, kindness, and their love for others.

So, as we take this moment to remember, let’s carry their courage in our hearts and their stories in our minds. Let’s be thankful for their sacrifices, and let’s do our best to be the kind of people they hoped we would be.