“THE splendid dead who gave the fragrant blossom of their youth at duty’s call.”

So reads the inscription on a war memorial in Middlewich High School, dedicated to the men who departed Cheshire for the First World War and never returned.

Almost 100 years on from the end of the war, the King Edward Street school’s former headmaster has published a book giving a detailed glimpse into the lives of those whose names are proudly etched onto the town’s memorials.

Titled ‘The Fragrant Blossom of Middlewich’, the book by Philip Andrews, who was Middlewich High School headteacher between 1979 and 2000, is the product of years of research.

Listed by the date of their deaths, ‘Volume One’ of the book chronicles the first 68 Middlewich soldiers to die in battle, between 1914 and June of 1917.

Volume Two, recalling the further 75 men to die in the following 18 months, is due for release in 2018 – the centenary of the end of World War One.

Made up of 286 pages, Philip’s latest release seeks to compile for the first time details of the soliders’ personal and military lives, before and during the war.

Historian Philip, who has now authored five books, said: “Since retiring, one of my main occupations has been local history.

“When you work somewhere for 21 years, you get to know the names of people and so on. I got to know Middlewich very well.

“People who live in Middlewich would recognise names – I recognise names of kids I taught in the school.”

The research brings together details from national archives, genealogy and incredible extracts of letters home as reported in the Northwich Guardian a century ago.

Copies of ‘The Fragrant Blossom of Middlewich: Volume One’ are available for £12. For further information, contact Philip on 01477 534890 or at hclovell67@yahoo.co.uk.