James Griffin Bartlett (OKG28)

Knox’s #9 Student 1924

James was the ninth enrolled student at Knox. He attended the School from 1924 to 1928. He participated in Track and Field, winning medals in each year from 1925 to 1928 and was the Captain of the Track and Field team in his final year. James also played in the first XV Rugby team from 1925 to 1927. He was a School Senior for South House.

James recalls attending the official opening of the School with his parents. The event was held in a marquee on the croquet lawn. He remembers that Jim Thomson (OKG31) was the only other boy present on the day. Newly enrolled students had not been invited, he regarded himself and Jim as “gate crashers” – school officially started the next day. He travelled to the School from Roseville by steam train. Aged 12 he found himself in Form II and lamented that Latin was a compulsory subject. James remembered student working bees to plant couch grass runners into the oval in his first year at the School.