A research project is underway to discover more about the lives – and deaths – of the 117 former pupils and staff of Hymers College, who lost their lives during the First World War fighting for their country.
Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1914-1918 War, the school’s librarian, Mrs Sue Tomlinson, has embarked on the most in-depth study to date of Old Hymerians killed in conflict.
Mrs Tomlinson is appealing for anyone with links to the former pupils to send any information that might help her research. She said:
“I’ve always had a keen interest in family and local history and the idea was to launch a history club at Hymers, but I really wanted to make a start by finding out as much as I could about those former students and staff who died in the First World War.”
“I’m gradually working through the names to see what is known of the individuals, hopefully finding out where they are buried and what they did in action, and as it’s the centenary of the start of the First World War I thought that would be an appropriate place to commence the research.”
The school’s memorial carries the names of the 117 along with the 89 men listed as being killed in the Second World War and a further two in conflict in Northern Ireland.
Mrs Tomlinson, who lives in Beverley, has worked as the Hymers College librarian for the past three years but also has some teaching duties, primarily teaching English to Year 7 pupils.
She will also be the manager of the school’s new Learning Resource Centre once the new facility is built and operational towards the end of 2015.
