Penair School, Cornwall, needs your help

13 March 2026

Penair School is participating in this year’s Malcolm Doolin Award for Local History Research. Their project is called Beneath the Battlefields and students are uncovering the stories of Cornish men linked to the First World War and to the later 1919 Levant mining disaster.

IMG 1690
IMG 1691

πŸ”Ž They are seeking records, photos, letters, medals, diaries, or contact with descendants of: 

  • Edwin Francis Pascoe – Born Colorado (1897), family from St Just. Died in the Levant disaster, 1919.
  • James Vingoe Trembath and the Trembath family of St Just – A family hit by multiple tragedies; James died in the man engine failure at Levant.
  • Leonard Semmens – Born 1894, Penzance area. One of nine children; four brothers were miners. Died in the Levant disaster, 1919.
  • John Paynton Ninnes – Born Manaccan, 1896. POW in April 1918; died 1979.
  • Richard John Rolling – Born Falmouth, 1899. Died 23 March 1916, buried at Cambrin. Family have no surviving photographs; any images or unit photos from the 251st Tunnelling Company would be invaluable.

If you can help, or know someone who might, they would love to hear from you. Together, they say, we can preserve these stories for future generations.

Please email TTuruelo@penair.cornwall.sch.uk

IMG 1689
IMG 1688

Latest news

1000001982 Web
31 March 2026

First World War burials and rededication ceremonies in April 2026

Read more
Gemini Generated Image 7W6j6f7w6j6f7w6j
30 March 2026

Somme 110 Conference: Bookings now open

Read more
2021.169.246 2014 09104 Loos
28 March 2026

Football and the First World War – new exhibition in Kansas City

Read more
Gemini Generated Image Owvhahowvhahowvh
22 March 2026

The Battle of Jutland: I Was There! Personal accounts from both sides

Read more
NMA 6 (1)
20 March 2026

Bilbrook Middle School’s visit to the National Memorial Arboretum

Read more
Wfa Trip To Somme
18 March 2026

WFA Tour - places remain available

Read more