Explore Your Archive Week

From the 21st to the 30th of November, it was Explore Your Archives Week, a national campaign, where school archives share their content. Each day saw a different theme and the hashtag(#) used portrayed what topic it was. School’s Archives followed the campaign’s themes but chose to have the overall subject of the week to be WWII. 

Below are the photos that were shared on the social platforms and a few that were not. 

Thursday 21 Nov – Image of Westward Ho! map 

Our Explore Your Archive theme is WWII. Headmaster Bell had made the decision to evacuate Highgate pupils even before war was declared, destination Westward Ho!

#Decisions 

Friday 22 Nov - Image pupils arriving 

Teachers, pupils and their families came together to create school communities in three locations during WWII: Westward Ho!, Hartland Abbey and Highgate.

#Heroes  

Saturday 23 Nov - Image of pupils on Bishopswood Road 

Pupils were only allowed to take one suitcase with them when they left London and this contained: 2 blankets, 2 changes of underwear, shorts, jumper, socks, 1 pair of shoes, a gas mask, knife, fork and spoon, and School books.

#Tiny  

Sunday 24 Nov - Image of pupils fixing bed 

More than 450 pupils were evacuated to Devon and don't forget the School also brought beds, desks, chairs and other equipment. When they eventually returned to London it took 9 days to loads the School's property onto 21 railway containers and 3 vans.

#Huge  

Monday 25 Nov - Image of clothing ration book and coupon 

The introduction of rationing changed the lives of pupils. As well as hungry boys, they had to contend with limited clothing.

#Fashion  

Tuesday 26 Nov - Image of cross country and squats on beach 

Renouned teacher Theodore Mallinson introduced cross country in Devon but it wasn't the only change to the sport curriculum - the day started with exercises on the beach!

#Mythology  

Wednesday 27 Nov - Concert programme 

War didn't prevent the Highgate community from enjoying life as they found a variety of ways to stay entertained. Music remained at the heart of this.

#Disco  

Thursday 28 Nov - Michael Kelly letter 

Pupils wrote letters home every Sunday, updating their family about their experiences. #Family  

Friday 29 Nov - Image of boys at Hartland 

For many pupils at Hartland Abbey this was their first trip into the countryside. Memories include their first sighting of a peacock on the Estate!  

#Animals  

Saturday 30 Nov - Image of Memorial Gates ceremony 

The Memorial Gates, erected in 1947, stand today as a physical reminder of the sacrifices OCs made serving their country.  

#YourArchive