IT was a brave decision which ultimately cost him his life. Almost 100 years ago Maynard Percy Andrews quit his post as headmaster at Hipperholme Grammar School to go to war.

He never returned and now his extraordinary, inspirational and heroic deeds will be celebrated at an event in his honour on February 27.

Capt Andrews was killed in action in Flanders in 1915 while trying to save his wounded men from enemy fire.

Current Hipperholme Grammar School headteacher Jack Williams said: “As we approach the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of the First World War we have been working with local genealogy experts to research Capt Andrews’ life and trace his family. His entire life story is full of inspiration.

“The rediscovery of his many accomplishments is the beginning of a project to contact former pupils and gather their stories regarding their achievements after they left the school. While Capt Andrews’ story is remarkable, we know there will be many more wonderful examples of feats and triumphs by our alumni which we are keen to hear about.”

Members of Capt Andrews’ family – including three of his grandchildren – will join school staff, governors, former pupils and members of the wider local community at the event.

Capt Andrews was educated at Oxford University but was unable to complete his studies due to ill health resulting from the effects of typhoid which he had contracted as a nine-month-old child.

He left Oxford to become a cowboy in the Rocky Mountains, declaring that the mountain air would “kill me or cure me”.

The mountain air is said to have relieved him of his heart conditions and he returned to England to finish his studies and was awarded his MA in 1889. Post university he went to Germany and France before taking up the post as a teacher of Modern Languages at Leicester, Bolton and Lancing College 1908-1910.

The Education Board of the time described him as possibly the ‘first true modern languages teacher in the country’. While at Lancing College he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Officer Training Corps on October 29, 1909.

In 1911 he was appointed headmaster at Hipperholme Grammar School and the same year joined the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) in Halifax and was quickly promoted to Lieutenant and then to Captain in October 1914.

He was deployed to France on April 14, 1915, as second in command of A Company and was followed into battle by former and then current pupils of the school.

While in Command of A Company he was killed in Flanders on Saturday, August 14, 1915 while trying to bring his wounded men to safety.

He was described by a commanding officer as “one of the straightest, cleanest, and healthiest-minded men I have ever met.”

Hipperholme Grammar School has been providing education to the children of Calderdale, Kirklees, Bradford and beyond since 1648.

THESE are a selection of the poignant letters sent to Capt Andrews’ family after he was killed in action.

Both were sent to Captain Andrews’ widow, Charlotte Jane (née Gray) Andrews.

From: The Brigadier General Commanding

August 16, 1915

Dear Madam,

May I convey to you my profound sorrow and deepest sympathy in your terrible loss. Your husband was killed whilst not only doing his duty, but going almost beyond it in assisting wounded men. I am bringing his gallantry to the notice of the higher authorities.

He died a noble death. I can only say that his Battalion has lost, in my opinion, its very best officer and the Brigade a most gallant and exceptionally good officer. A short time ago I was pleased to be able to tell your husband that the Major-General commanding the Division had mentioned to me that at all his many visits to the trenches, to many regiments, he had seldom or never met any officer who was so thoroughly conversant with every detail of his duty as your husband. The Major-General told me he was one of the best company officers he had ever met. I can endorse that opinion thoroughly.

Your husband’s Company has lost a leader who will be very, very hard to replace. I feel that we all have not only lost an exceptionally good officer, but a most gallant gentleman.

I was present yesterday morning at the funeral. The Rev Page, our chaplain, read the service. Your husband is buried near the spot where he lost his life and four of his own Company were buried with him. He lies close to the firing line.

I can only again say we all have lost a very gallant comrade. There is the consolation, a poor one to you, that your husband lost his life in the noblest manner, giving it for his wounded comrades.

Yours truly

E. Brereton

Brigadier General

14th Infantry Brigade

Fragments of letters from non-commissioned officers and men:

"Your husband was heroically helping to carry some of his wounded over a very exposed piece of ground when he was shot in the head and died very shortly afterwards.

"He need not have been doing it, but he went because he would not send another on so dangerous a task. It was an act of magnificent calculated bravery, but it was to be expected from him for he has acted so ever since he came out here.

"Just before doing this brave deed, he said to the men: ‘This is a dangerous undertaking, I will go with you boys.’"

"To inspire a whole company of men, nay a whole battalion, with a desire to do what is right and to put before us an example of courage and self-sacrifice is a reward very few have been able to say they have achieved.

"So it is with the captain that we get right down to the bedrock of principles, to those hidden meanings which hang round such every day words as duty, discipline and sacrifice.