Remembrance project available to view online
11 Nov 2020
'The Fallen' pays tribute to the 24 men remembered by St Anselm Hall who died on active service during World War I and World War II
St Anselm Hall is a University hall of residence situated in Victoria Park, founded in 1907.
Revd Hugh Bearn, who is the chaplain of St Anselm Hall, has painstakingly researched the lives of former students who tragically died during both World Wars.
They include Second Lieutenant Hendrick (Han) Jordan, who was warned that his chances of surviving as a Special Operations Executive were slim. He went anyway. Han was parachuted into the Netherlands in March 1942 but in May was captured during the 'das Englandspeil' operation. Han was subsequently sent to several concentration camps and died at Mauthausen, just two weeks before the liberation on 21 April, 1945 – coincidentally, 21 April is the feast day of St Anselm. He was posthumously given the Bronze Cross, one of Netherlands' highest military honours.
Pilot Officer George Ratcliffe was a hall resident in the 1934-35 session. He later wrote to the Warden: "I shall always remember Floreat Aula Sancti Anselmi and all that it stands for."* Having joined the RAF at the start of the war, George became part of 218 Squadron and piloted Stirling R9333. In March 1943, the aircraft took part in a raid over Essen, Germany, where they were shot down. All eight crew members were killed. Only in 1949, six years later, was George's body found and given a proper burial. He was 25.
*Roughly translating as 'May St Anselm Hall Thrive' Floreat Aual Sancti Anselmi is the traditional hall toast, given at important events. It is also written on the main hall entrance, where students pass it several times a day.
You can read all the stories of the 24 fallen online.