THE sacrifice of former Barrow Grammar School pupils was commemorated earlier this month when rolls of honour from both world wars were given a new home inside Barrow Town Hall. 

There are a total of 77 names carved in wood on the panel for the First World War and we are taking a look at a few of them who were killed in action or died of wounds fighting for Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the Indian Army. 

All were old boys of the Municipal School for Boys, which from the 1930s was Barrow Grammar School on the Parkview site – now Barrow’s Furness Academy.

Petty Officer Alf Thomson served on the Barrow-built warship HMS Vanguard which exploded and sank at anchor in Scapa Flow in Orkney on July 9 in 1917. 

The ship was launched at Barrow on April 2 in 1908 and commissioned into Royal Navy service on March 1 in 1910. 

Its brass bell, recovered from the sea bed, is on display in the Dock Martime Museum. 

There were claims, possibly encouraged by the government, that the explosion was the result of German saboteurs but far more likely was the spontaneous ignition of explosives stored on the ship to fire its big naval shells. More than 700 sailors died. 

The Barrow sailor was aged 31 and was the son of David Thomson, of Hindpool Road, Barrow. 

He has no known grave and his naval service is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. 

Private Ernest Harold Kimberley, was killed on August 16 in 1916, while serving with the Wellington Regiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. 

The 26-year-old was the son of Edmund and Isabella Kimberley, of Holker Street, Barrow. 

He is buried at the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery at Armentieres, France.

The school magazine, The Barrovian, noted: “For nearly four years he had been in New Zealand, at Stratford, Wellington, and had established a successful business there.” 

He was killed by the explosion of a mine-thrower. 

Lieutenant Robert Cecil Stables served with the sappers and miners with the Indian Army and was killed, aged 25, on May 13 in 1917. 

He is named on the Basra Memorial in Iraq and was the son of Matthew and Mary Anne Stables, of Newbarns House, Barrow. 

Lt Stables was a mining engineer who had worked in the Rand, South Africa. He was killed during fighting in the Mesopotamia Campaign against Turkish forces. 

The Barrovian noted: “He met his death on a reconnoitering expedition, when his small company was overwhelmed by a large marauding band.” 

Sergeant Douglas Berry served with the Alberta Regiment of the Canadian Infantry and was killed in action on June 3 in 1917, aged 35. 

He was the husband of Elizabeth Berry, of Ramsden Street, Barrow, and is buried at La Chaudiere Military Cemetery at Vimy.

Sgt Berry had gone to Canada as a farmer and later set up a flour business.

The Barrovian noted: “He went to France, where, after seeing a good deal of hard fighting, he fell at La Coulette.” 

Charles Hassall Ellwood was killed on June 16 in 1915 at Hooge while serving with the King’s Liverpool Regiment. 

The 23-year-old was the son of John Hassall Elwood and Prudence, of Low Wood House, Haverthwaite. 

He has no known grave and is named on the Menin Gate at Ypres, Belgium.

The Barrovian noted: “Ellwood came to us from Haverthwaite. 

“He left as soon as he could begin his apprenticeship at Vickers as he was more inclined to a life of action than of study. 

“He was the sort of lad whom the call to arms would grip strongly. 

“Brave and fearless, he was just the material out of which good soldiers are made.” 

Major Robert Wilson Balfour was 29 when he died of illness while serving with the 95th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery on January 6 in 1918. 

He is buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, near Bapaume in France and was the son of Robert and Sarah Ann Balfour, of Barrow. 

He was a pre-war territorial with the artillery and saw service at Fort Walney before going to France. 

Sergeant James Francis Teasdale served with the East Lancashire Regiment and died from wounds aged 21 on June 17 in 1917. 

He was the son of Edward Garnett Teasdale and Eleanor, of The Bridge, Millom and is buried at Etretat Churchyard Extension, on the French coast, near Le Havre. 

The Barrovian noted: “When the war broke out he was under military age but when the time was ripe for him to go, he went promptly, quietly, without hesitation, undeterred by any thought of the sacrifices he would have to make in going, or of the horrors he would have to face when gone.” Pte Herbert Burrow Symons was one of many former pupils of the Municipal Secondary School for Boys to join the Furness territorials of the 1/4th King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. 

He died from wounds at the age of 21 and is buried at St Sever Cemetery at Rouen, France and was the son of George Frederick and Margaret Slater Symons, of Harrel Lane, Barrow. 

When war broke out he was serving an apprenticeship as an electrical engineer and celebrated his 21 st birthday in the trenches.