On Friday, 07 November 2025, guests, staff, and pupils from across all year groups came together at the school’s annual Remembrance Service to reflect on those who serve, have served, and those who made the supreme sacrifice in war.

The service was attended by guests from the Reserve Forces and Cadet Association, as well as Old Armachians, governors, current and former staff and pupils from all year groups. The officiating minister was the Dean of Armagh, the Very Rev’d Shane Forster. Members of the school’s Combined Cadet Force contingent showed guests to their seats in preparation for the service to start at 10:40 am.

Following a welcome from the Vice Principal Curriculum, Mrs. Murray, the congregation sang ‘Abide with Me.’ This was followed by the Head Girl and Head Boy reading from Psalm 121 and Revelation 22, verses 1-5 respectively. The chamber choir, under the direction of Mr. Boyd, sang the evocative ‘For the Fallen’ by Douglas Guest, after which the headmaster delivered the remembrance address.

During the service, attendees learned about Old Armachian, Francis Oliver Ensor, who joined the Royal Navy Reserve after leaving school and spent the Great War onboard a minesweeper. During the second World War Francis Ensor was a highly skilled and respected ships pilot working to guide ships safely into port. Tragically, on one occasion the Italian ship he was piloting struck a mine off the coast of East Anglia and foundered with the loss of sixteen of the thirty-three men onboard. Francis Oliver Ensor was also lost, and his body has never been recovered. Mr Montgomery reflected that although Mr Ensor didn’t have a remarkable school career, he was hardworking, diligent and faithful and was therefore an excellent example of the values the school holds dear.

Following the address, Vice Principal Pastoral Mr. Cardwell led the Act of Remembrance before the Rev’d Forster led prayers, which were followed by the Act of Commitment. The service concluded with the hymn ‘In Christ alone’ and the blessing.

After the service, wreaths were laid by the head girl and head boy and representatives of the CCF at the Great War Memorial and then by a past president of the Old Armachian Society at the cricket pavilion, which is the school’s memorial to the former pupils who perished in the Second World War. Following the wreath-laying, guests were entertained to tea in the dining hall, which was served by cadets and prefects.