Peter Bernard O'Reilly in 1st AIF uniform (photo courtesy of The State Library of New South Wales) who enrolled at Waverley College in 1905 at age 13 and was killed in action on 6 May 1917 during the second battle of Bullecourt
In 2014, the College published In Good Faith, Waverley College and the Great War 1914-1918 by Archivist, Kim Eberhard to commemorate the service and sacrifice of its Old Boys throughout WWI.
The Waverley College community played an integral role in serving its country, with ex-students amongst the troops who landed at Gallipoli on the very first ANZAC Day. Nearly 200 ex-students volunteered over the course of the war, and 19 lost their lives.
Between them, they served in every branch of the First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF), from the Light Horse to the Flying Corps, as infantrymen, doctors, engineers, drivers, stretcher-bearers and artillery experts.
Several were decorated for bravery, including Thomas James ‘Bede’ Kenny, who was awarded a Victoria Cross.
