Village and school unite to honour Anzac legacy

Villagers in Sutton Veny have marked Anzac Day with a poignant ceremony reflecting the village’s deep and lasting connection to Australian and New Zealand military history — a connection that has been upheld for over a century by Sutton Veny CofE Primary School.

During the First World War, hundreds of Australian and New Zealand soldiers and nurses were based in the village so they could be close to training on Salisbury Plain. They were part of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).

When the war ended in 1918, many of these personnel were struck down by the Spanish Flu pandemic and never made it home. They were laid to rest in Sutton Veny, in the churchyard next to the school — a resting place that has been quietly honoured by generations of local children.

Anzac Day, held each year on 25th April, commemorates members of the ANZAC who served and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. A special service was held at St John’s Church in the village to pay tribute.

Those attending included Lieutenant Colonel Ben Howard representing the Australian Defence Force; Jake Ellwood, a retired Australian General, and his wife Nic, who are staying with James and Sarah-Lucie Bashall in the village; and Alex Smyth and his wife, visiting from Brisbane and staying locally with friends.

As part of the ceremony, Sutton Veny CofE Primary School once again played a leading role in the remembrance. Headteacher Adam Lewis said, “During the war, four children from the school picked wild primroses, growing in the local woods and fields.

“When they got back to school, they decided to place them on a few war graves that had appeared here in the churchyard, right next door to the school. The four children told their teacher, Mrs Elsie Poore, who praised them.

“Mrs Poore then encouraged the children to gather flowers every year from that day for the graves in the churchyard. This is how our ANZAC tradition began.

“The caring act of remembrance, demonstrated by our school community for the last 109 years, has been passed down through generations of children and staff who have attended the school.”

The posies laid on the graves this year were made with flowers donated by school families, a laurel leaf to represent honour, and a sprig of rosemary for remembrance.

To mark the occasion, pupil Oliver Self’s gran also hand-knitted two Australian characters for each class — 14 in total — and Sutton Veny’s Friends of School team provided refreshments.

Adam added, “Over the years, we have been contacted by numerous relatives of those laid to rest in our churchyard. These families, knowing they may never visit the grave of their loved one, take great comfort in knowing that the children show respect and care for their relatives, who were laid to rest so far from home.

“Each year we are touched by the number of people who share their memories, appreciation and write to express their thanks for all that the school does.”

Pupils at Sutton Veny CofE Primary School laid posies on graves to mark Anzac Day