Grade Nine students at Saltus shared their research into the First World War with Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, during an exhibition yesterday at the Pembroke school.

On display was the culminating project of their social studies unit on nationalism.

The school said the project, “Uncovering the Past: Saltus Alumni and the First World War”, emphasised critical thinking, inquiry-driven learning and the examination of global events through local perspectives.

The exhibition debuted at a Remembrance Day concert at the school on November 10, when students shared their findings.

Mr Murdoch was accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan Simons, Commanding Officer of the Royal Bermuda Regiment, with Deborah Atwood, curator at the National Museum of Bermuda and Lisa Howie, the museum’s director of learning and engagement.

Students examined the rise of nationalist movements in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the impact of Enlightenmentthought and the role of nationalism in the outbreak of the First World War.

They then investigated the contributions of Bermudians who served in the conflict, focusing on the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps and the Bermuda Militia Artillery, the antecedent units of the Royal Bermuda Regiment.

The students used a range of primary sources, including Commonwealth War Graves Commission documents, Ancestry.com records, archival Royal Gazette articles, enlistment papers, census data and military files to research the 14 Saltus alumni who served.

The Governor told them: “This exhibition is a remarkable example of how young people can connect deeply with Bermuda’s heritage.

“The students’ research honours Bermuda’s history and ensures the sacrifices of these men will not be forgotten.”

James Anthony, social studies teacher, said: “Our students have demonstrated remarkable dedication to this project.

“They developed historical inquiry and evidence-based reasoning skills while forging meaningful links between global events and Bermuda’s own legacy of service.

“This experience not only deepened their understanding of the past but also allowed them to engage authentically with history.

“The students were genuinely excited about welcoming all four of our guests to campus. It was a clear demonstration that their hard work is appreciated, meaningful and valued.”

Thomas Twilley, a Grade Nine student whose outreach prompted Mr Murdoch’s visit, said: “I thought that it was really important to showcase all the work that our year group had completed and to put it out to the community.

“We had put a lot of time and effort into the research and I felt it was also a great chance to commemorate former students who fought and died in the conflict.”

The school said the exhibit told the stories of the former Saltus students with “accuracy, respect and historical insight”.

It said Saltus students from K-Grade to Grade Ten were now following the British Columbia curriculum, with the exhibition reflecting its focus on developing historical inquiry skills.

The curriculum also encouraged students to engage with authentic sources, form evidence-based interpretations and connect global history to local narratives and identities.

Saltus said the exhibition benefited from community collaboration, including from Ms Atwood, a Saltus alumnus, who provided additional archival materials and guidance.

Mr Simons facilitated connections with Captain Andrew Wallace, a former curator of the National Museum of Bermuda and Saltus graduate, who shared further resources to enrich the students’ research.