When checking out books from the library, it’s important to remember the due date for turning them in. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but in some cases, it can determine your future. This is especially true for students. An overdue book or an unpaid fine can keep students from moving to the next grade, or worse, graduating from high school. If your anxiety keeps you stunned as you feel terrible about an overdue book or are lax and will pay the fine no problem, nothing compares to the recent book return that’s been overdue for about 113 years.
Leonard Ewbank
Before the start of WWI, a schoolboy named Leonard Ewbank attended St Bees School near Whitehaven, Cumbria. The book checked out by Ewbank, a copy of the Poetry of Byron, was taken from the library on September 25, 1911. Later on, Ewbank went to study at Queen’s College, Oxford. Unfortunately for Ewbank, when he was recruited to fight in the 15th Border Regiment in 1915, he did not come back home. Dying in 1916 with a gunshot to the head, Ewbank was buried at the Railway Dugouts burial ground in Ypres, Belgium. This is a cemetery that has 2,463 buried troops, according to The Guardian.
Book Return
113 years later, the book was found by an anonymous man who lives in Carmarthenshire, south of Wales. Returning the book to the school, the headmaster Andrew Keep stated on BBC that he was “honored” to have the book finally returned to where it belongs. The headmaster has also said that:
“It’s incredible to think that a piece of St Bees’ history has found its way back to us after all these years.”
The school honors Ewbank by commemorating him on the school’s roll of honour as “an Englishman, brave, honest and loyal.” He has become an inspiration to the students of St Bees School.
Leonard Ewbank will be remembered for his bravery and sacrifice in his fight during WWI. Despite his poor eyesight, according to the school’s research, Ewbank still went and fought for a cause. The next time you forget to turn in your book, there’s no bigger excuse than what Ewbank went through.
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