A College Captain’s Reunion Day Speech
On 25 October 1415, St Crispin’s Day, the English
army of King Henry V—outnumbered by between
4 and 6 to one—defeated the French army of King
Charles VI at the famous Battle of Agincourt.
Before that battle, the king is said to have
delivered a famous speech t his battle-hardened
troops, who, spurred on, destroyed the flower of
the French army.
Old Boys’ Reunion Day is College’s St Crispin’s
Day, so, with apologies to Shakespeare, College
boys are urged to think of these fiery words, as
they ready themselves to do battle with their
enemies.
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words Goodson the skipper, Coetzee and Tharratt,
Mazwi and Steyn, Jacobs and Watson Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.
Photo: Darrell Abel
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Reunion Day shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the word,
But we in it shall be remembered We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
Photo: Darrell Abel
He who has no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
This day is call’d Old Boys’ Reunion Day.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d,
And rouse him at the name of Reunion Day.
Photo: Darrell Abel
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And
say ‘To-morrow is Reunion Day.’ Then will he
strip his sleeve and show his scars, And say
‘These wounds I had on Reunion Day.’
And College boys still in bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d
they were not here,
And hold their mainhoods cheap while any speaks
That fought with us upon Reunion Day.