Former pupils of Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton are raising funds to purchase a fellow Old Boy's collection of medals to put on display.
Jack Petty attended the school on Gargrave Road from 1904 to 1912, before serving with the army in the Great War and then working for many years as a government official in India.
He was the first former pupil of Ermysted's to be awarded the Military Cross, in 1916, and in later life received an OBE and the CIE (Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire).
It's hoped the fundraising campaign will enable the collection of the 8 medals that Jack was awarded during his lifetime to be put on display at the school to demonstrate the achievements of former pupils and aid learning for the current generation about the sacrifices made by their predecessors during the two world wars.
During his school years Jack, from Cross Hills, was part of the Ermysted's rugby, cricket, cross-country and athletics teams, was a member of the debating society and performed in drama productions and music concerts. He was also Head Boy in 1911-12.
When war broke out in 1914 Jack, then 19, enlisted in Skipton. Throughout the Great War he was part of the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. He rose through the ranks from Private to Major.
Post-war he worked for 26 years for the Forestry Service in India, before his tragic death in an air crash in Pakistan in 1948.
A spokesperson for Ermysted's Old Boys' Society said:
"We recently learned of an opportunity to acquire Jack’s collection of 8 medals – including his Military Cross, OBE and CIE. We feel that it would be brilliant to be able to put them display at Ermysted’s along with his story to help to demonstrate the many and varied achievements of our former pupils.
"We are running a fundraising campaign to cover the cost of purchasing the medals, and we would be hugely grateful for any donations that you are able to make to support this."
The Society is offering a free copy of a 200-page book, 'A Grammar School At War', to anyone who makes a donation of £20 or more. The book was written by former Ermysted's Head of History Steven Howarth and tells the story of the school's involvement in the Great War. It details every pupil, former pupil and member of staff who served their country in the war.
Find out more and support the fundraising at ermystedsoldboys.co.uk/product/donation-towards-acquisition-of-medal-collection/
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