A piece of history has recently been returned to St Bees School, bringing to light the story of an old boy who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I.
The book, Poetry of Byron, was discovered by a man while visiting his parents in Carmarthenshire and has now been returned to its original home of the Cumbrian school.
The man discovered it in his parents’ collection and on closer inspection, he noticed an inscription at the front of the book of Leonard Ewbank, School House, St Bees and the date September 25 1911.
The inscription sparked a journey of discovery into the life of Leonard, who was born on February 16 1893 and attended St Bees School from 1902 to 1911 before continuing his education at Queen’s College, Oxford.
Despite having poor eyesight, he was commissioned into the 15th Border Regiment in 1915.
His life was cut short on February 23 1916 when he was killed by a bullet to the head. Leonard is buried at the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground in Ypres.
Leonard’s legacy endures at St Bees School, where he is commemorated on the roll of honour as “an Englishman, brave, honest and loyal.”
He was also remembered in the St Bees School magazine as “a Cumbrian of the very best type – straight, clean-living, loyal, with a reserve of power and latent force of character which surprised even those who knew him best. And oh, while his friends loved and trusted him, they said, ‘so the best is yet to be.'”
The book was formally returned to the school where head Andrew Keep met the man who facilitated its return.
Mr Keep said: “It’s incredible to think that a piece of St Bees’ history has found its way back to us after all these years. Leonard’s story is an inspiration to our current students, and we are honoured to have this memento of his time here back in our possession.”
