One hundred years after his death during World War I, the family of Old Bedfordian, Archibald Denys Irving (07-17) came together at the School to remember him.  Archibald (Archie) was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th ‘C’ Battery, 82nd Brigade of the Royal Artillery and was killed just before his 20th Birthday at Moislans in France on 16th September 1918. 

Archie won an exhibition to attend Bedford School and went on to win a place at Lincoln College, although he was sadly unable to take this up as he had to join the war effort immediately on leaving the School.

Over thirty five family members, some travelling from as far afield as Zambia, spent the afternoon on the 100th Anniversary of his death in the Memorial Hall at Bedford School and laid a wreath in his memory.  Archie is buried in Peronne Communal Cemetry in St Radegonde, France, and the inscription on his grave reads ‘Bedford School 1907-1917,a cheerful giver’.  Following the reunion, a number of family members planned to travel on to France to visit his grave and to pay their respects.

 

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