A grammar school at war

A NEW book featuring Craven and the Great War is due to be launched later this month.

Written by teacher Steven Howarth from Skipton's Ermysteds Grammar School, it is entitled 'A Grammar School at War - the Story of Ermysted's Grammar School during the Great War'.

The School was one of the major secondary schools of the Skipton and Craven district of Yorkshire at the time of the War, taking in boarders as well as local boys.

The main focus is on 54 Old Boys and Masters of the Skipton School who died serving in the armed forces, predominantly the Army. Nearly half these individuals held commissions, whilst many of the other ranks were NCOs. A sizeable proportion served with the local Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, although there was a wide range of other regiments represented.

The book uses individual profiles to help relate the story of the full span of the War and covers key battles such as Loos, Somme, Arras, Passchendaele, Cambrai, the German Spring Offensive and the 100 Days Campaign of 1918.

Each individual receives a detailed account of his background, school days, civilian career, military service and circumstances of death. Detailed research for the book has utilised School records, local newspapers, battalion war diaries and service files at the National Archive.

Also included are letters written to the School by serving Old Boys and an account of the War's impact on School life itself.

Released on Saturday 15th September, the book will retail at £15 per copy.

The book is available from the school office on Gargrave Road, at the Craven Museum and from other local outlets