Six WW2 Servicemen Added to Glyn School Memorial in Ewell
Six Forgotten Names Return to Ewell’s Glyn School Memorial
For decades, six young men who once walked the corridors of Glyn School in Ewell were missing from the place where their school remembers its war dead. Five were killed in action during the Second World War and one died as a prisoner of war. Their names have now been carved onto the school’s memorial, ahead of this year’s Remembrance Day services. Anyone who has driven along the Epsom Downs side of town or waited at the bus stops near the school will know how central Glyn has been to local family life for generations. That is why this story matters beyond the school gates. The memorial is more than a stone wall with names on it. It is a link between today’s pupils and the boys who sat in the same classrooms nearly a century ago. The school’s centenary in 2027 has added a sense of urgency to the work, since many families who might have known these men have long since moved on. The fact that the names were restored at all says a great deal about how much this community still cares about its history and the people who shaped it.
The Teachers Behind the Research
The discovery came from the school’s history department, which was digging through archives while preparing for the centenary. Their research revealed that the 1951 memorial had left these six former pupils off the list. The reason, as history teacher George Howard explains, was simple but sad: the men had moved away, or their parents had lost contact with the school by the time the memorial was built. The teachers did not stop at spotting the omission. They traced each man’s story, examined the records and made sure the names were properly verified before they were added. Headteacher Jo Garrod credits the team’s persistence for making it happen, and the wider school community has backed the change. Alumni, staff and parents came together to fund the work, showing how a local institution can rally around a shared purpose. Howard also pointed to the former head, Frank Clark, who had fought at the Somme. For Clark, remembering the students he once taught was a central part of his commitment to the school. That sense of duty has clearly been passed down through the staff who now care for the memorial.
What Ewell Residents Should Know and Watch Next
If you have a connection to Glyn School, whether as a former pupil, parent or neighbour, it is worth visiting the memorial during the coming Remembrance period to see the new names for yourself. The story also offers a useful reminder that local history is often held in unexpected places, such as school archives, parish records and family attics. Anyone with old photographs, letters or documents relating to Ewell’s wartime residents could help the research continue. Surrey has a long tradition of community projects like this, from Guildford to Dorking, and many of them depend on volunteers and small donations. Community halls, churches and older school buildings linked to projects like this often need refurbishment too. Whether it is a bathroom refurbishment, a kitchen renovation or simply finding reliable bathroom fitters for a local hall, it pays to choose experienced local tradespeople who understand older buildings. Looking ahead, keep an eye on the school’s plans for the 2027 centenary, which may include further commemorations and an opportunity to share more stories from the past.
Source: War dead added to Glyn School memorial after teacher research
