Honouring Our Past: Governor Joins Saltus Community to Celebrate Grade 9 WWI Inquiry Exhibition

Yesterday, Saltus had the honour of welcoming His Excellency Andrew Murdoch CMG, Governor and Commander-in-Chief, to campus to view the Grade 9 student exhibition, “Uncovering the Past: Saltus Alumni and the First World War.” The Governor was joined by Lieutenant Colonel Duncan E. R. Simons, Commanding Officer of the Royal Bermuda Regiment; Dr. Deborah Atwood ’02, Curator at the National Museum of Bermuda; and Lisa Howie, Director of Learning and Engagement at the National Museum of Bermuda.

The exhibition formed the culminating project of the Grade 9 Social Studies unit “Nationalism and the Birth of Nations,” which emphasizes critical thinking, inquiry-driven learning, and the examination of global events through local perspectives. The exhibition debuted at the Saltus Remembrance Day Concert on Monday, 10th November, where students shared their findings with the broader school community.

Following the concert, Grade 9 student Thomas Twilley emailed the Governor to highlight the students’ work and invite him to view the final installation, a gesture that led to yesterday’s visit.

As part of the unit, students examined the rise of nationalist movements in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the impact of Enlightenment thinkers, and the role of nationalism in the outbreak of the First World War. They then conducted a detailed investigation into the contributions of Bermudians who served in the conflict, focusing specifically on the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps (BVRC) and the Bermuda Militia Artillery (BMA).

For their final inquiry, students used a range of primary sources, including Commonwealth War Graves Commission documents, Ancestry.com records, archival Royal Gazette articles, enlistment papers, census data, and military files, to research the 14 Saltus alumni who served and fell during World War I. Their exhibit showcases these materials alongside students’ analyses to tell the stories of these former Saltus students with accuracy, respect, and historical insight.

Saltus students from K-Grade to 10 are now following the BC Curriculum. This work reflects the BC Curriculum’s focus on developing historical inquiry skills, encouraging students to engage with authentic sources, form evidence-based interpretations, and connect global history to local narratives and identities.

The project benefited greatly from community collaboration. Dr. Deborah Atwood ’02, Curator at the National Museum of Bermuda and Saltus alumna, provided additional archival materials and guidance. Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Simons facilitated connections with Captain Andrew Wallace ‘13, former curator of the National Museum of Bermuda and Saltus alumnus, who shared further resources to enrich the students’ research. Saltus extends sincere thanks to all those who contributed to this meaningful learning experience.

During the visit, the Governor shared his appreciation for the students’ work, noting, “This exhibition is a remarkable example of how young people can connect deeply with Bermuda’s heritage. The students’ research honours Bermuda’s history and ensures the sacrifices of these men will not be forgotten.”

James Anthony, Social Studies Teacher, expressed his pride in the students’ work, “Our students have demonstrated remarkable dedication to this project. They developed historical inquiry and evidence-based reasoning skills while forging meaningful links between global events and Bermuda’s own legacy of service. This experience not only deepened their understanding of the past but also allowed them to engage authentically with history. The students were genuinely excited about welcoming all four of our guests to campus. It was a clear demonstration that their hard work is appreciated, meaningful,  and valued.”

Grade 9 student Thomas Twilley, whose outreach prompted the Governor’s visit, shared, “I thought that it was really important to showcase all the work that our year group had completed and to put it out to the community. We had put a lot of time and effort into the research, and I felt it was also a great chance to commemorate former students who fought and died in the conflict.”

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