Friday 19 February 2016 Leading a student trip to the battlefields of northern France in the 1980s, history teacher John Davies recognised a name on one of the graves as a former pupil of the school. Lieutenant Herbert Cheetham, an old boy of Leeds Grammar School (LGS), was just 20 years of age when he died trying to help a wounded comrade during the Battle of Passchendaele. Realising that Lt Cheetham was one of hundreds of old boys who had served in World War One, John began to delve deeper into the archives and thirty years later has written a book telling their stories. A High Ideal: Leeds Grammar School and the Great War is published to coincide with the centenary of the war. The book records the contributions of 776 old boys and staff members involved in the conflict, including 130 old boys who lost their lives, and explores how the school was affected during and after the war. John said: “With the centenary of World War One there was an obligation on the school to recognise those former pupils who served, and those who lost their lives. It became a labour of love to record their stories as the period is a particular fascination of mine, and I hope this book will help to keep their memory alive in school.” LGS is now part of The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) following the merger with Leeds Girls’ High School (LGHS) in 2008. A section of the book is dedicated to the contribution of LGHS to the war effort. John Davies studied history at Liverpool University and taught history and religious studies at LGS from 1976 until 1992 before becoming headmaster at LGS Junior School. In 2006 he moved to Moorlands School as headmaster and, following his retirement from that role, returned to GSAL in 2013 as school archivist. A High Ideal: Leeds Grammar School and the Great War is 235 pages long and includes over 100 photographs. It is available from GSAL at a price of £20 for paperback and £30 for a hardback. To order a copy, please email alumni@gsal.org.uk or call 0113 229 1552. Leeds Grammar School Roll of Honour General
