A Richer Dust Concealed

Kent College book cover

This month sees the publication of A Richer Dust Concealed' - The Old Boys of Kent College who Died in Conflict.

Kent College, Canterbury had been established less than 30 years at the outbreak of the First World War. It was still a small school of less than a hundred boys as term began in September 1914. So, the grievous death toll of 50 former pupils in that conflict represents more than seven per cent of the total number who had passed through its gates. To these must be added a further 42 old boys, who lost their lives in the Second World War and three others, who subsequently died in the Korean War, the Troubles in Northern Ireland and the Falklands Conflict. The instances of extraordinary bravery and self-sacrifice amongst the 95 Old Canterburians who lost their lives were doubtless matched by similar actions for which no records have survived.

This new book, inspired by the successive centenaries of the Great War, is an attempt to tell their stories. It was written by Graham Noble with Julian Waltho and designed and published by Martyn Barr. Copies, priced £7.99, are available from the school.