When I was 11 we had to do a history project at school which involved choosing at random a pupil from the school who had died in WW1 and finding out what we could about their life. I chose Edward Pitcairn-Jones because I had always thought his name was interesting when I had looked at the memorial board in the chapel. Early in my research I mentioned to my grandmother that I was doing this project about Edward and she recognised the name. By complete chance it turned out that Edward Pitcairn-Jones had been the best friend of her Uncle Jack, my great, great uncle. She dug into her drawers and found photos of the two of them, showing off their uniforms and messing about together whilst off duty. It was amazing to see my 'history project' coming to life through stories and images of these best friends, two proud, determined and energetic young men. Jack and Edward served in the Rifle Brigade together, and sadly both died within weeks of one another. From what I could glean from my research, Edward was brave, loyal and intelligent. He was head boy, captain of the cricket and football teams, a scholar (even taking a class for his teachers during the influenza period!) and would have taken up a place at Oriel College, Oxford had the war not intervened. I will always be glad that I chose Edward's name and had the privilege of getting to know a little bit about an exceptional young man and, as it turns out, a family friend.

Alexandra Godfree