A FITTING tribute to those who died ‘on the King’s service’ has been launched by a North school following painstaking research by archivists and parents.

A total of 739 former pupils and staff at Barnard Castle School, from across the North-East and North Yorkshire, marched to death or glory as the First World War ravaged Europe.

Since the 1920s the school has honoured its 150 dead with oak panels carrying their names adorning the chapel walls.

But to mark the centenary of the conclusion of the ‘war to end all wars’ a special memorial website has been commissioned to honour the Barney Boys.

The website was launched officially at a commemorative dinner on November 10 on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the armistice which brought peace to Europe.

Around 180 guests were invited to the unveiling including former students currently serving or who have served in the forces, forces parents who have children at the school, Barnard Castle’s mayor and other civic and military dignities, staff and Combined Cadet Force officers.

Hours of detailed research have gone into the project led by Old Barnardians secretary Dorothy Jones, former chairman of governors Malcolm McCallum and past parents Pat Burgess and Christine Hick.

Headmaster Tony Jackson said: “It is so important that the whole school community remembers our fallen. For all the accounts we do have of the heroic actions of our staff and boys there are so many whose tales will never be told.

“As well as the daily reminder of their sacrifice on the walls of our chapel we now have a contemporary tribute with which we can build a clearer picture of the gallantry they exhibited on the King’s service.”