Standards and Selfies in the 2014 Invasion of England

I was still at prep school when I read the story of Julius Caesar’s invasion of England in 55BC.  The Roman legionaries were somewhat disconcerted by the appearance of the hordes of blue and red painted Celtic warriors lined up along the shores and for obvious reasons, the legionaries were displaying extreme  reluctance to leave  the safety of their ships.

The standard bearer, the ‘aquilifer’, of Caesar’s elite Tenth Legion, then decided to take matters into his own hands and according to the writings of Julius Caesar, shouted:  ‘Leap, fellow soldiers, unless you wish to betray your Eagle to the enemy. I, for my part, will perform my duty to the republic and to my general.’

He jumped off his ship into shallows with the standard of the legion, the Eagle, chained to his wrist, and waded ashore.  Chaining the standard to the wrist of the aquilifer ensured that the only way it could end up in the hands of the enemy, would be to cut off the wrist.  With the prospect of losing their Eagle to the English and with the inevitable subsequent disgrace to the legion, the soldiers of the Tenth Legion leapt into the water to follow the aquilifer and protect their Eagle.

To the Tenth Legion, their Standard was their rallying point, their source of pride, the personification of their history, their unifying emblem, their badge of honour.

The Eagle was to the Tenth Legion what the school flag and similar symbols are to the schoolboys of Wynberg today.  For the first two weeks of their school careers, Grade 8’s are not allowed to wear their school colours and only after completing a hike to de Villiers dam near the top of Table Mountain with their matric buddies and having learnt school songs and the expectations of the Wynberg Brand, are they then presented on stage with the school blazers by their buddies in the presence of their parents.  This ceremony inaugurates them as the newest links of the ‘endless chain’.

Together with their buddies, they sing the school song to their parents:

‘From the shelter of its branches,
Year by year go forth again
All the heirs of its traditions
Brothers in an Endless Chain.
Joined by pride and linked by honour'

They now ‘belong’ – united by the flag and the badge which they wear daily. They are now committed to promoting the Brand – Friendliness, Manners, Pride in Performance, Aiming High and Never Giving up.  They are now members of a world-wide brotherhood.

It has been over a year ago since we first started planning the celebrations for the 175th year which take place in 2016.  ‘We should design a Flag and take it around the world to all our Old Boys,’ said Chris Merrington.  ‘We should call it:  Strengthening the Links.’

Pipe Major Charles Canning

And so we designed that flag and the first steps in this journey were put in motion with the introduction of the flag to the school at Founders’ Day on 22nd August 2014.  Charles Canning, the Pipe Major of the Cape Town Highlanders (to which our former Cadet Detachment was originally affiliated) piped in the flag which was carried by a Matric boy, Anthony Rowe, and his buddy, Khaalid Saliem.  It was formally presented to the Chairman of the Old Boys, Arno Erasmus, on the stage.

It was appropriate that the tune chosen for the march, was Flower of Scotland – in honour of John McNaughton, the first Headmaster of the School who was brought out from Scotland in 1841 as a recent graduate of Edinburgh University.  In 1996, during the Rugby World Cup, the matrics of that year rewrote the words ‘Men of Wynberg’ to the same tune and it is sung lustily at all sporting events today.

In our newly refurbished Jowell Quad, many boys took the

Founders' Day in the Jowell Quad: Terry February, son Che & the 175 Flag

opportunity to have their photos taken with family members in front of the 175 flag – a sentimental piece of nostalgia for the family album; a vignette of history to be appreciated in decades to come; a snapshot for gloating to future grandchildren about what the school was like back in the ‘old days’.

Every day in Founders’ Week to follow, the Flag was ceremoniously presented at various events:  Old Boys’ Cape Town Dinner; WBJS Flagraising and sports matches.

Then it was taken to Leeuwenhof, the official residence of the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille. The flag was formally handed to her by Guy Bowden, Chairman of the Representative Council of Learners – himself the Great Grandson of the legendary Headmaster of the 40’s and 50’s, Bill Bowden.  The Premier then, in turn, handed it over to the Cross Country team who would run it in relays back to the school where they were scheduled to be greeted at the Memorial Gates by a cheering group of boarders – resplendent in their boaters.

The Premier also handed over a letter:  ‘To the Old Boys who encounter the Flag as it travels, you can rest assured that almost 175 years later, the rich traditions of excellent education, combined with good manners, fierce competition in sport, pride in uniform and respect for all, continue to be upheld.’

There was much clicking of cameras.  It was a beautiful day at Leeuwenhof with the spring flowers starting to bloom and Table Mountain looking more imposing than normal.  Robert Cook, in a conspiratorial stage whisper, said to me, ‘Do you think that I can ask her for a selfie?’  As I took a deep breath to tell him that he could do no such thing, we both were not to know that the Premier’s ears have been finely tuned over the years to catch any whisper of discontent in opposition benches.

‘Of course you can,’ she said graciously and moved towards him.  Robert turned round to me and winked.

Robert Cook and the Premier ...

I have banked that wink.  However, I do think that putting his arm around the Premier of the Western Cape and Leader of South Africa’s Official Opposition was taking it a little too far – even for a red-blooded Wynberg boy.  I bet that not even President Zuma has done that!

Waved off by the Premier, the first three runners took off through the streets of Cape Town.  They enjoyed the experience and the comments from the crowd so much, that they all continued running even after handing over the flag to the next set of runners!

Chris Arendse, posted this comment later:  “I felt a great sense of pride while holding the 175th flag up high as we ran a relay, 13km in total, from the Premier’s residence in town back to Wynberg. I had only imagined what it would be like to run the Olympic torch but today, I had a very similar experience. The great symbolism behind the flag in the accumulation of pride-instilling traditions cannot be described, only remembered in years to come, when we can say, ‘I was there!’ “

Nkosinathi Ganamfana, who had his picture in the Weekend Argus taking his selfie with Helen Zille, had this to say:  ‘A memorable day indeed. I never thought I would enjoy running my 4km leg after a long Wednesday at school. Passing people in the streets of Wynberg while carrying the Wynberg flag, and them giving me a death stare and probably asking their peers "What on earth are these school kids doing?"  was all worth it, and made me feel proud of my school.’

Incorrigible Robert Cook, emboldened by hugging the Premier and winking at his Headmaster, wrote this email to me later: I would just like to say a huge thank you for organizing today (3 September) and for allowing me the opportunity to meet such an enthusiastic and down to earth person as Helen Zille and allowing me to literally fly the school colours high! It truly was an inspiring moment for me.  I realised how privileged the boys and I are to be at Wynberg.  I appreciated the opportunity and one day I will ask you too for a selfie  - as I don't want you to feel excluded.’ 

On Wednesday 12 November, the 175 Flag is scheduled to fly to London to be presented at the London Old Boys’ Dinner which is being held before the Twickenham rugby test against the Springboks.  It will also go to the test ground where there will be similar blue and red painted Celtic warriors waiting for us.  However, like the Tenth Legion, we will also take our standard courageously  into the ranks of the foe.  Maybe those watching on television back in South Africa may even hear a small portion of the crowd singing: 

Oh Men of Wynberg, 
We've come to see   /  your pride again.
We fought and played for / Your endless years of strength
and so together  / the Wynberg's army
has sent them homewards  /  to think again.

For the 2014 Invasion of Britain, the Standard will be taken by Aquilifer Richardson.  He will be requesting the Queen for a selfie.

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Photos courtesy Tania Robbertze & Peter Catzavelos, Videos by Kyle Robbertze