The value of teachers

“There is yet another form of “national service” which calls for special comment, particularly as it is not one which is glorified elsewhere. If half the men in Europe between the ages of 20 and 40 are to be wiped out of existence, what can be more vital than the education of those who will have a double burden of duty in after life, the present schoolboys? Many young schoolmasters without any very bright future before them must have found the path of enlistment the easier course in the last few weeks; they may also have felt it to be the way of duty, and for that reason none would wish to find fault with these; but others have felt that their duty now, more than at any other time in their lives, was to the generation that is not touched by the war now, but which will need still greater strength to carry on the better life of man in the future. To such men every European State to-day owes the deepest debt of all. They are educating the men who will direct the course of the new Europe which we believe will arise when the war is done.”

From ‘Bootham’ magazine, December 1914

Old Scholars in the Fighting Forces

The December 1914 issue of ‘Bootham’ magazine included a list of those Old Scholars who were known to have joined the forces.

“Many Old Scholars have felt that the way to freedom and a more enduring peace lies only through an appeal to arms, and have joined the fighting forces of the Crown. Even those who disagree with their principles will honour their motives and their courage. We have endeavoured to make the following list of those serving as Regulars, Territorials, or in the Army Medical Corps as complete as possible, but there must be omissions; and we shall be glad to hear of any other Old Scholars serving with the Colours, with the names of their regiments :—R. H. Beck, A. Hunt, T. S. Impey, A. Impey, B. Harper, M. Haughton, G. Milner, B. Wright, A. Pumphrey, H. Pearman, J. Carr, T. A. S. Hamilton, D. Hamilton, J. R. Hamilton, G. N. Clark, A. Wilson, R. Burley, C. L. Bentley, E. Y. Priestman, J. Goodbody, O. Fayle, A. M. Hughes, E. Walker, G. P. Abbatt, F. Brockbank, C. Brockbank, J. G. Braithwaite, W. Irwin, L. P. I’Anson, W. M. I’Anson, P. Midgley, G. Cowpe, E. Sparkes, B. Goodbody, B. Watson, A. J. Clark, O. F. Goodbody, I. T. B. Cash, R. Manners, Maurice Brown.”

“The work of ending the war and of succouring the helpless and homeless…”

“The calamity which has overtaken the whole world has wrought tremendous changes in our surroundings and in our outlook in a few short months. At a time when not only our hopes of permanent peace but the priceless possession of our common humanity seem to have been shattered, the temptation to search out misunderstandings and errors of statecraft or to ascribe all our ills to one nation or one individual is very great; but if the wound in our civilisation be deep and terrible, though it is not beyond healing, the time for probing the cause and applying the knife and dressings and ligatures is not yet. It is the work of ending the war and of succouring the helpless and homeless both abroad and at home that is insistent.”

The thoughts of the editor of ‘Across the Months’ in ‘Bootham’ magazine, December 1914

The Ambulance Unit at Bootham School

“Perhaps the event of most importance during the term was the inauguration of an ambulance unit, composed of about fifty boys, under the supervision of Mr. Walker. We had nine stretchers lent us, but later obtained some of our own. We gave up football practices twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, when we practised the drill in the field. On Saturday evenings some twenty of the unit took First-Aid lessons, and at the end of the term an examination was held. Fifteen entered and fifteen passed. During the term two route marches took place, under the supervision of Mr. Knight; whilst subjects and lunch were forwarded in Mr. Walker’s car. Both marches were thoroughly enjoyed by all, although on the first occasion a great amount of doubling was done, perhaps a little unnecessarily, as we were not yet hardened to it. Some of those training now hope soon to join the Anglo-Belgian unit which is at present doing such beneficent and wonderful work at the Front. Before the unit had set out for Belgium, Mr. V. W. Alexander gave us a very interesting lecture on the day’s routine of work at Jordans, and how everything was conducted there.”

From ‘Bootham’ magazine, December 1914