Pupils discover research is elementary as they find Sherlock links

It may seem elementary but pupils at one school have tracked down evidence of links between the author of Sherlock Holmes and Yorkshire.
Richmond School student Betsie Hall, 11, begins researching old boys  including John Francis Innes Hay, brother of Sir Arthur Conan DoyleRichmond School student Betsie Hall, 11, begins researching old boys  including John Francis Innes Hay, brother of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Richmond School student Betsie Hall, 11, begins researching old boys including John Francis Innes Hay, brother of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

While researching a school project students at Richmond School and Sixth Form College have found evidence the author who brought the inimitable detective to life on the page has strong family links with the school. They have discovered Arthur Conan Doyle’s brother John Francis Innes Hay Doyle was an old boy.

It is not the first time that speculation about Yorkshire links has cropped up in relation to the author but staff at the school are keen to hear from anyone who may have more information about Innes.

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Sophia Mawer, Richmond School history teacher said: “It is believed that Sherlock and his brother Mycroft were based on Arthur and Innes.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (AP Photo/File)Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (AP Photo/File)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (AP Photo/File)

“There is certainly a lot more digging to be done and we would love it if someone reading this could let us know any more information,” she said.

It has already been reported that the author married his first wife Louisa Hawkins at St Oswald’s church in Thornton in Lonsdale, but pupils were thrilled to discover more North Yorkshire links.

The pupils were given a burnished memorial brass plaque featuring 28 names of men who sacrificed their lives for King and Country in the Great War. Among them was Innes, a Richmond Grammar School old boy.

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In its day the grammar school, which later merged to become Richmond School, was a boarding school used by members of the armed forces in the garrison town.

Students discovered that Innes was a highly decorated Brigadier General serving with the III Corps Royal Artillery HQ Royal Field Artillery, receiving the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, Distinguished Service Order and Legion d’Honneur.

Mrs Mawer said: “He died in February 1919 and is buried in Belgium so he survived the war but fell victim to the Spanish flu epidemic that ravaged Europe during the clean up operations. His son died too and apparently the double tragedy triggered Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s well-documented interest in spiritualism.”

The project, backed by the Green Howards Museum and English Heritage’s schools programme saw pupils volunteer to learn the stories behind the names of those on the memorial plaque.

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They discovered Rear Admiral Christopher Craddock, of Hartforth Hall, died in Chile, after he went down with his ship trying to stop the return to Europe of part of the German fleet, while another died at Gallipoli.

Among those pupils taking part was Betsie Hall, a Year 7 pupil, for whom the research was tinged with sadness.

James Witham Thompson was a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery and survived the majority of the war. But on November 1, 1918, aged only 27, he was killed at the Battle of Valenciennes, just ten days before the armistice. He is buried in Northern France.

“It was really exciting starting the research knowing nothing about him,” said the 11-year-old, of Crakehall. “But when I found out he died just before the end of the war I thought that was really sad.”

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Mrs Mawer is currently analysing all of the information which will form an exhibition at Richmond Station in March. Anyone with any further information can contact Mrs Mawer at: [email protected]

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