‘To Answer Duty’s Call’ – Remembering The Old Crosbeians Who Fell in WWI

“To Answer Duty’s Call”

731 young men from Merchant Taylors’ Crosby fought in World War 1, and 155 never returned – a death rate of some 21.2 percent and one of the highest mortality rates of any school in the war. The youngest Old Crosbeian to die was 18 years old, the oldest 45. The average age of those who did not return was 26.

In this important centenary year of our Joint Schools’ Combined Cadet Force our school archivist, Mr Trevor Hildrey, has painstakingly gathered information to honour the contribution and sacrifice of the 155, and of their loved ones. These accounts give us a moving and powerful insight into their lives, and help us to personalise the loss of each individual, when casualty figures are usually expressed in their thousands.

The title of this volume is familiar to many present and past pupils, staff and parents. It is a line from the second verse of the school song; all the boys whose biographies are included in the book will have sung this song on speech days, at concerts and other gatherings.

We have been delighted to present each current pupil, member of staff and those in the wider school community across all four schools their own copy of this interesting and important book which has been written to honour the contribution and sacrifice of our fallen Old Boys. Our grateful thanks go to Trevor Hildrey for enabling us to allow us to see the people behind the list of names on the war memorial in the School library.  We would also like to thank the Old Boys’ Association for co-funding the cost of the book.
David Cook

Remembrance Memorial at MTBS Library