On the eve of our 150th year, we're calling on the School's alumni, parents, past parents and greater community to aid us in correcting the record of our involvement in two watershed geopolitical events of the 20th century.

For the last four years Toowoomba Grammar School Museum Volunteers, Mrs Ann Hallam and Mrs Sue Palmer, have been updating the School records on Old Boys, staff and Trustees for the World War I and World War II theatres of war. Over the years several staff and volunteers have worked on these records. Lately with the assistance of a few websites and the digitisation of these military records by the National Archives of Australia, we have been able to add or remove numerous names from our records.

In May 1917 the Toowoomba Grammar School World War I Honour Board was unveiled by Mrs Freshney in the School’s Old Hall. The November 1926, Toowoomba Grammar School Magazine stated that:

"Now during the first half of this period the attendance at School was at almost its lowest and it is probably true that hardly more than five hundred boys passed through the School between the years mentioned. Probably more than fifty of these either died or were incapacitated. From this we conclude that at least over eighty per cent of those who might have enlisted did enlist. At the time fifty-six Old Boys were identified as having paid the Supreme Sacrifice."

The World War I tablet faces the west and on either side are two smaller ones (donated in 1918), similar in material and design. One carries the names of those who won special decorations and was the gift of Mrs Robert Wonderley, whose son Charles gave his life in France, after winning the Military Medal. There were originally 45 names on this board.

The other tablet was given by Mr and Mrs G P Barbour (Headmaster of TGS 1910-1935) in memory of their son Fred, also a Captain of the School and a University Scholar. The inscriptions on this tablet amounted to 56 names. Over the years further additions have been made to all three tablets, but unfortunately, they are still inaccurate.

The numbers of Old Boys that are known to have enlisted for World War I have increased from the School’s historian, John Winn’s original list of 358 to 388, referred to in his book ‘Toowoomba Grammar School Steadfast, Brave and True’. Current research indicates that 15 were not TGS Old Boys, staff or Trustees (see list below) and a further 14 were TGS Old Boys but have no known military record (see list below). Recent research has identified 66 TGS Old Boys who ‘Paid the Supreme Sacrifice’.

In 1973 the School’s Old Hall was completely restored and refurbished in time for Toowoomba Grammar School’s Centenary celebrations. One of the projects proposed was the provision of Honour Boards in Old Hall, specifically for World War II and the Headmasters. These boards were financed jointly by the Old Boys’ Association and the Ladies’ Auxiliary Clothing Pool (Ref: p 390 ‘Playing the Game’ by John Winn). There is no School record about the unveiling of these projects.

Over the years there has been contention over the names listed on the two WW II boards that were on the eastern wall of the School’s Old Hall. Research on Old Boys who are known to have enlisted for World War II has increased from School historian, John Winn’s list of 1350 to 1364 names. This is a massive difference from the 855 names that were identified on the two boards in the School’s Old Hall in 1975 (Virtual War Memorial Australia).

Research has shown that 47 Old Boys on the World War II Honour Boards had no known military service (see list below) during this period. In addition, there were a further 61 names (see list below) that appear to have no direct relation to the School. Research has also increased the numbers of Old Boys that paid the Supreme Sacrifice from 120 to 125, even with the removal of two men where our records were inaccurate.

We need your help

Help is required from the School community and wider community to rectify any of these names. Please contact the Museum Archives directly if you have any information to contribute.

We would also greatly appreciate donations of copies of any photographs of TGS Old Boys who served. We are particularly interested in photos of Old Boys in uniform, or in groups. These can be forwarded to the TGS Museum.

The community should be aware that there are no definitive ‘rules’ about the names and inscriptions on war memorials. Different criteria for inclusion were used by different communities and so who is commemorated, which conflicts are commemorated and the style in which these details appear varies from memorial to memorial. This is why some war memorials only include those who fought and died, whilst others also include those who fought and survived, and why some include civilian as well as service casualties.

Toowoomba Grammar School wishes to identify all Old Boys, staff and Trustees impacted by war or conflict. The school commemorates those whose lives were ended, changed or impacted by war or conflict and we urge you to contact us if you have any information that could help us make our records as accurate as they can be.