Beatrix Potter School and Newfoundland’s Shared History

The connection began in 2003 under the leadership of Mr. Neale, the former Headteacher. During a local cemetery visit near Remembrance Day, Year 2 students noticed several graves without poppies. This led to a research project, uncovering the stories of World War I soldiers and a nurse from Newfoundland buried there. The discovery sparked a lasting bond between the school and the people of Newfoundland, grounded in remembrance and respect.

Cabinet Member for Children, Kate Stock, attended the event and praised the school’s efforts, saying, “The work Beatrix Potter School has done to preserve these stories and honour these individuals is a testament to the power of education in building lasting connections.”

Amanda Robertson, the current Headteacher, has been instrumental in maintaining this relationship and her dedication has ensured the ties remain strong, culminating in this special visit.

“Beatrix Potter School’s connection to Newfoundland is a story of compassion and commitment,” said Ms. Robertson. “It’s a privilege to teach our students the importance of remembering those who gave everything for us.”

Year 6 students Meerab and Nabil highlighted the importance of this connection, emphasising that remembering these individuals as more than soldiers or names on gravestones, but as human beings with lives and loved ones, ensures their legacy is never forgotten.

“The research that the children did with Mr Neale taught us something very important, each person laid to rest in the cemetery was a valued, unique individual loved by their families and friends. They may be far from home, but we hold them close in our hearts.”

Her Honour Joan Marie Aylward, herself a former nurse, expressed profound gratitude for the school’s ongoing dedication. She praised the generosity and care shown in 2003, noting how the bond has grown into something timeless. 
“While they never returned to Newfoundland, what they have found here at Beatrix Potter School is a new family. A family who has continued to remember them and care for their graves.”

Following the assembly, she laid a wreath at Bertha Bartlett’s grave in an act of remembrance.

This visit serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring ties that connect communities across oceans and generations. Beatrix Potter School’s commitment to honouring these lives has created a legacy of remembrance, humanity, and shared history that continues to inspire.

The seventeen soldiers and one nurse who were laid to rest at Wandsworth Cemetery are: 

• Bertha Bartlett
• Arthur John Abbott
• Frederick-Donald Bastow
• Patrick Joseph Brown
• Thomas Carter
• William Rex Cook
• Silas Edgecombe
• John Charles Edwards
• Philip Gillett
• Adolphus Heath
• James Patrick Houlahan
• Robert LeBuff
• Chesley Mercer
• Heber J Miles
• Edward Peckford
• Stanley Gordon Pike
• Augustus Quinton
• Alfred Reid