Glimpses of An Afternoon with the War Poets

Written by Akhilan Manivannan, Junior 1 Higgs, Class of 2015

Photos taken by Lai Li Chan, Junior 1 Higgs, Class of 2015

Just recently, we at YJC had one of our most coveted and successful events in Cempaka history, when after months of hard work, the "An Afternoon With The War Poets" event came into fruition. The event was designed to enlighten all our fellow Cempakans on the toils of World War 1, and on the 100th anniversary of its horrific mark in history no less. 

To do this, an exhibition was held with creative and informative stations - designed and prepared solely by the students themselves! The exhibition was divided into separate sections scattered all around the entrance to the hall, organised in a way that viewers can absorb quick and comprehensive information on different aspects of the war. The contents of the exhibition were wonderfully diverse, featuring a barrage of posters, an incredible model of a WW1 fighter plane, beautiful drawings, models of the ever loathsome trenches and many more. 

We also took the opportunity to highlight some of the literary superstars of the time, the esteemed war poets whose pieces based on the devastation are mind-numbingly immortal and heart-wrenchingly brilliant. Some of our very own writers and editors took on the task of bringing the experiences of these war poets to life, by reciting masterpieces ranging from "In Flanders Field" all the way up to "Butchers and Tombs". The entire experience was enhanced further by tearjerking music from the age itself, and an overall heart stopping solemnity. 

If those weren't enough, a remembrance tree adorned with message inscribed poppies was also stationed on stage,the blood red poppies of course signifying and commemorating the many deaths in the terrible war. Esteemed founder and mentor of Cempaka Schools Dato Frieda, was first to tie her poppy on the tree, followed by honourable guest, Pauline Vey, Encik Hisham, principals, teachers and other students filling the tree with their own messages as the afternoon dragged onwards.

Many say pictures often speak louder than words, but here at YJC we have both, and to allow some of our Cempakans to relive those inspiring moments, not to mention show our non-Cempakan readers a bit of the magic as well, here we have a photo diary of "An Afternoon With The War Poets".

YJC Editor-in-Chief Amanda Lee giving an impassioned speech on the devastating First World War.

Nicholas reciting Wilfred Owen's "Anthem For Doomed Youth" 

Alisraa binti Aldin Bakar reciting John Mcrae's "In Flanders Fields"

Tiara Hana-Marie Ruidavet reciting Siegfried Sassoon's "Prelude: The Troops"

Arthur Lee Ting An reciting Siegfried Sassoon's "Glory Of Women"

Akhilan Manivannan reciting Ivor Gurney's "Butchers and Tombs".

Ryan Yoong Ka Jun reciting Wilfred Owen's "Dulce Et Decorum Est" 

Ryan Yoong Ka Jun, finishing off the recitation with arguably the poem of the afternoon.
("Gas, Gas! Quick, boys!")

A poppy wreath to commemorate the fallen soldiers.

Founder, mentor of Cempaka Schools Dato Frieda Pilus scribing a message on one of the symbolical poppy flowers.

Dato Frieda Pilus tying her poppy onto a branch of the Poppy Tree.

Dato Frieda closing the ceremony with a heartfelt and motivational speech.

Badges designed by our very own designers.

Painstakingly-made cutouts depicting fleets dreadnoughts and battlecruisers from the Battle of Jutland,  the greatest naval battle of The First World War.

Believe it or not - This model of the standard biplane used during World War I is made out entirely out of mounting board, sticks and of course, some good old-fashioned tape. 

Half of the four-man team posing in front of their Air Warfare exhibit. 

Amanda Lee welcoming the principals to the exhibition.

Special guest Pauline Wey signing the exceptionally drawn welcoming portrait.

Dato Frieda signing the exceptionally drawn welcoming portrait.

Dato Frieda, honourable guest Pauline Wey, Encik Hisham, Pn Farah and Doctor Fanny viewing the opening exhibit.

Dato Freida, Encik Hisham, principals, teachers and honoured guest, Pauline Vey posing with the hard workers behind the off-stage exhibition. 

Natasha Wong and her team presenting their interpretation of the infamous WW1 Trenches. 

Austin Ng and his team presenting their detailed fighter plane diagrams.

Dato Frieda looking through an old viewfinder.

Special guest Pauline Wey looking through an old viewfinder.

Atief Ashkari and his team presenting their posters and cut-out ships.

The freshmen students presenting their hard work and research on their station "US Entry into World War I". 

August Issue: Remembrance

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

Typically our editors' notes are due in the early days of the month and obviously August's one is much overdue and for that, we apologize. We've been caught up in the tidal wave that is August - Founder's Day, FHC Prize Giving, not to mention YJC's own event- An Afternoon with the War Poets. 

We commemorated a centenary since the Great War or World War I the way we know best through literacy and design. And the words "Gas! Gas!" will forever be etched in our minds. To the students who painstakingly worked to pull off an event that some might have thought of as impossible, thank you. Thank you for the weekends spent painting posters and cutting out models and nights spent reciting poems.

In July, we persevered through the hard times. This month, we commemorate. We honour, we pay tribute to and we remember. Though tragic and truly so, both the anniversary of the first world war and the MH17 incident brings about more than just empathy, pity and solemnity. It urges us not to just remember them but to learn from them.

History is meant to teach us not to repeat mistakes of the past but if we look at the world today, war still prevails. Yet in these times, we must not lose hope. For the world has changed tenfold from centuries ago - new and improved technology, medicine, communication. War, conflict and peace is simply another big, tangled web of an issue but it can be unknotted. The shining heroes of the wars and tragedies of the past will not die in vain for they have shone the light to guide us to a peaceful tomorrow. 

The devastation of the MH 17 tragedy was one particular tragedy of a bigger war elsewhere that we will never forget. It is the epitome of the saying "When the rich wage war, it is the poor who die." This accident, has turned out to be a tragic, senseless, loss, another number in the casualties of war statistics. Another reason why it is so important that we learn and pray for the victims, who have at last returned home.

In commemoration and respect to the lost lives, we will remember and will forever carry them with us in our hearts.

The Horror That Was World War 1

Written by Akhilan Manivannan, Junior 1 Higgs, Class of 2015

There is nothing more evil in this world than war, and as the anniversary of World War 1 draws upon us, one would be hard pressed to argue with that statement. World War 1 was aptly named as such due to it’s massive worldwide involvement of countries, the first time any war had been so widespread all over the Earth. The war begun on July 28 1914 and lasted until November 11 1918. The war was mainly fought due to difference in foreign policies, but the immediate cause was the assassination of Austria’s Archduke Ferdinand. World War 1 was fought by two main sides, the Allies(including France, Great Britain and Russia), and Germany and Austria-Hungary. In total, 30 countries were involved in the major conflict but countless other countries were affected by it as well.

During the war, soldiers fought most of their battles in trenches (large, narrow ditches) and because of this thousands of these men suffered from shell-shock, a mind debilitating stress. The British and French trenches were usually filthy, squalid and generally unpleasant, while the German trenches were rather luxurious in comparison, some even having bunks and decent cooking facilities.

Even animals suffered the trauma of World War 1, and dogs were used to carry messages in capsules attached to their body. In addition dogs were sometimes also charged with carrying and placing telegraph wires in important areas. Pigeons also took to the sky, about 500,000 regularly dropped into enemy lines by parachute, and then sent back with messages. 

World War 1 was one of the first wars to start rapidly developing advanced weaponry, and the cannons and artillery used were extremely loud. For example in 1917, the explosives used in the destruction of a bridge in France could be heard over 130 miles away in London. A plethora of new weapons were invented or first put to use during the war, most famously a 48 ton gun called Big Bertha, capable of firing a shell over 9 miles. Big Bertha did however take a big 200 men several hours to assemble it. Tanks in World War 1 were also interestingly divided into two categories, "male" tanks armed with cannons, and "female" tanks armed with machine guns. 

They say that some aspects of our world simply cannot be expressed in words, and the incredible statistics involved in WW1 are certainly one of those aspects. Instead, here are the shocking, pure statistics regarding the terrible tragedy.

Total number of men mobilised to fight : 65 million

Percentage of men mobilised who died : 57%

Total number killed : 8.5 million

Total number of casualties : 37 million

Number of missing Prisoners of War : 7.7 million

Number of wounded soldiers : 19.7 million

Number of years of fighting : 4 years

Number of allied countries military casualties : 5.7 million

Number of allied country civilian casualties : 3.67 million

Number of allied countries wounded : 12.8 million

Number of military casualties : 9,720,450

Number of civilian casualties : 8,865,650

Total War Cost : $186.3 billion

Those are some extremely terrifying numbers.

World War 1 was undoubtedly one of the most tragic and devastating historical disasters in the history of the world, and will remain as one till the end of our existence. We must however continue remembering the horrors of World War 1, and ensure that we do what our forefathers failed to do, and that is prevent another world war, for the Earth may simply not live through another.