A FIRST World War serviceman who saw action on the Somme, Ypres and Passchendaele has been honoured at his former school, 101 years after he was killed in action.

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Victor Francis Carr enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company, before going straight to Flanders.

After coming safely through the Second Battle of Ypres, he was wounded at Hooge. On coming out of hospital he was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1916 and saw much heavy fighting on the Somme, the Ancre, round Arras and Vimy and Ypres and Passchendaele.

Promoted to captain in 1917, he was killed in action near Givenchy, aged 31, on May 21 1918. He is buried near Bethune in France.

Now a bronze plaque commemorating Cpt Carr's life has been given to his boyhood home at Durham School.

The plaque, erected in Carr’s memory at Northumberland County Hall, was taken down when the building was sold in the early 1990s and had sat unnoticed for nearly quarter of a century in a cupboard in Newcastle Civic Centre.

More than 100 of his fellow former pupils, known as Old Dunelmians, died during the First World War and are commemorated on the walls of the School Chapel.

It was coverage of Durham School’s 2018 Armistice commemorations which alerted Joe Hogan at Newcastle Civic Centre, who had been researching the history of the plaque since its rediscovery earlier in the year.

Cpt Carr, who was born in Columbia where his father was working as British Vice Consul, joined Durham School in 1899. He excelled academically and at sports, especially cricket.

In 1901, he was awarded a King’s Scholarship, which is still the school’s most prestigious academic award.

An international pupil, he boarded at the School in Caffinites House, one of the school's five houses.

After leaving school in 1905, Carr returned to South America, where he became a fruit exporter, before enlisting to help the war effort.

Durham School development director, Andrew Beales said: “It’s a frightening co-incidence we are putting this plague up 101 years later.

“The school has a strong tradition of remembrance, and this continues to shape the lives of our pupils today.

“Through our house system, we also develop a keen sense of place and belonging, and it is fitting that Carr’s memorial can find a home here in Caffinites House.

“We are grateful to Joe for making this reunion possible.”

Mr Hogan added, “Newcastle Civic Centre is going through a lot of refurbishments and the plaque was found during some work in one of the committee rooms. Someone passed it to me, as I’m a bit of a historian and I started looking into it.

"It has been on a journey. It has passed through a number of cupboards and drawers – thankfully well looked after.

“I found the connection with Durham School and after seeing the stories about the First World War commemorations last year, I got in touch with Andrew Beales and am really pleased that the plaque is going to be displayed in a place Captain Carr had such a close association with.”