A remembrance project at a leading independent school in Yorkshire paid its last respects to over 230 former pupils who gave their life to serve their country in World War 1.
Over the past five and a half years, Bradford Grammar School’s Old Bradfordians’ Association (OBA) has collaborated with the school’s former Head of History, Nick Hooper, to reveal the identities and stories of those former pupils who died during the First World War.
At the last ceremony, attended by the Lord Mayor and led by The Rt Revd Dr. Helen-Ann. Hartley, Bishop of Ripon, the school specifically remembered Harry Woodhead, Charles Jolly, Leslie Priestley and Maurice Smith, who were the last to die from their injuries or diseases.
Trevor Smith, the Project Manager for the OBA, said: “The project has paid tribute to each of the men on the 100th anniversary of their deaths. The first former pupil to die was Captain Jonathan Edward Knowles aged 32 on August 23, 1914, at Mons – he was possibly the first British officer to be killed in the war.”
“The school’s high death toll is believed to be because many of the men had trained while still pupils at an officer training corps started at the outbreak of war or previously with the Bradford Territorials. They went on to provide a large proportion of officers for the Bradford Pals, leading men into battle from the trenches.”
The final ceremony remembered all those from the Bradford Grammar School community who were caught up in the courageous but tragic events of the First World War: those who were killed in action, or by subsequent disease, the bereaved, the lost, the families which were shattered, and those who held in silence unspeakable memories of warfare.
Trevor continued: “It’s been a very emotional project from the start, recognising the suffering and heartache suffered by many BGS parents and families. The BGS community has worked tirelessly crafting commemorative crosses and personalising biographies for each and every soldier – no small undertaking, but one which gives powerful expression to the contribution that Bradford and BGS made to the war effort. We have also learned so much about people’s lives in the City as it developed in the period leading up to and during the War.”
BGS Headmaster, Simon Hinchliffe said: “This has been a remarkable and poignant act of remembrance led by Nick and Trevor. It has brought together all members of the Bradford Grammar family, current and former pupils, parents and staff, and a great many prominent civic figures.”
“We have come together and commemorated as a community. Profound, deeply moving and a project that has connected the school and our friends to moments in our shared history.”
“This has been a remarkable and poignant act of remembrance led by Nick and Trevor. It has brought together all members of the Bradford Grammar family, current and former pupils, parents and staff, and a great many prominent civic figures.
We have come together and commemorated as a community. Profound, deeply moving and a project that has connected the school and our friends to moments in our shared history.”
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