AN Army leader is spearheading the publication of a new book honouring a Colchester school’s students who lost their lives during the Second World War.

Colonel Richard Kemp CBE, 61, is the chairman of the Old Colcestrian Society, the alumni organisation associated with Colchester Royal Grammar School.

He spent seven years at the school in Colchester before subsequently serving in the British Army for 30 years.

Col Kemp was part of the Royal Anglian Regiment and led operations in Afghanistan in 2003.

Given his connection to both the Army and the grammar school, the former military man has now helped curate a book which combines the two.

The in-depth book is entitled They Stand Beside Us, which is a title taken from a poem originally written by a 15-year-old Colchester Royal Grammar School student called JK Sansom.

Gazette:

He composed the poem in 1943, during the height of the Second World War, and it has acted as a source of inspiration for the book, which features short biographies of former students and teachers at Colchester Royal Grammar School students and teachers.

“This book brings together the life and death stories of the 73 pupils and teachers who were killed fighting for their country in the Second World War,” said Col Kemp.

“Our very way of life today, our freedom, our prosperity, were paid for with their blood and with the sacrifices of those who fought.

“If these brave men had not put their lives directly on the line, we could not have overcome.”

Alongside Col Kemp, the poignant book has been conceived by society members Michael Green, Laurie Holmes, who is also the grammar school’s archivist, and her husband, Neil Brinded, who recently retired from being the school’s Head of Classics.

Peter Rowbottom has also contributed a chapter on Colchester in the war, Paul Woodward has illustrated the stories with paintings, and Col Kemp wrote is responsible for the foreword and introduction.

Col Kemp added: “I, and all of those involved in this project, felt greatly honoured at being able to undertake this work.

“I believe we have a duty to remember those who gave up their lives to fight for the freedom we enjoy today.

“The publication means that knowledge of their lives and sacrifices can live on and I hope people will be able to remember their courage and how much we owe them.”

n They Stand Beside Us can be pre-ordered now from oldcolcestrians.org ahead of a release on Amazon.