What Impact did World War I have on the Community of Tonbridge School?
Between 1914 to 1918, life at Tonbridge School was completely overshadowed by the events of the First World War. Regular school matters seemed insignificant and unimportant in contrast to the fighting taking place just across the channel. Many boys wanted to enlist, but couldn’t as they were too young: ‘Not one amongst us wishes not to be doing something either in the trenches or on the barrack squares of England’. Instead they had to remain behind, and ‘to continue with the old routine as if nothing was happening, as if not a couple hundred miles from school men were dying swiftly and by degrees’ (The Tonbridgian, 1914). Throughout the war, the Tonbridge community was always eager to contribute to the war effort. The school had a considerable roll-call, with many old boys and staff volunteering for service. In addition, those that remained behind were also able to offer a large amount of support. In 1914 the ‘Public School Base Hospital Fund’ was set up to help provide medical treatme
