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Football Battalion

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17th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Football Battalion
Recruitment poster featuring the Football Battalion
Active 12 December 1914
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army British Army
Type Battalion
Role Infantry
Size 600 troops
Nickname(s) "The Football Battalion"
"1st Football"

The 17th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment was an infantry battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, part of the British Army, which was formed as a Pals battalion during the Great War. The core of the battalion was a group of professional footballers, which was the reason for its most commonly used name, The Football Battalion. The 23rd (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment was formed in June 1915 and became known as the 2nd Football Battalion.[1] The battalions fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 amongst others, and soldiers who fought for the 17th included Second Lieutenant Walter Tull, who was the first black Infantry Officer in the British Army.

History[]

17th (Service Battalion)[]

During the First World War there had been an initial push by clubs for professional football to continue, in order to keep the public's spirits up.[2] This stance was not widely agreed with and public opinion turned against professional footballers. One soldier, serving in France, wrote to a British newspaper to complain that "hundreds of thousands of able-bodied young roughs were watching hirelings playing football" while others were serving their country. The suggestion was even made that King George V should cease being a patron of The Football Association.[3] Sir Arthur Conan Doyle publicly objected and appealed for footballers to volunteer for service, saying "If a footballer has strength of limb, let them serve and march in the field of battle".[2]

William Joynson-Hicks formed the battalion on 12 December 1914 at Fulham town hall after Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, suggested it as part of the Pals battalion scheme.[3][4] England international Frank Buckley became the first player to join,[2] out of thirty players who signed up at its formation.[3] The formation was announced to the general public on 1 January 1915.[5]

During training, the players were allowed leave on a Saturday to return to their clubs to take part in games. However, the clubs found themselves having to subsidise the train fares as the Army did not pay for them.[3]

By the following March, 122 professional footballers had signed up for the battalion, which led to press complaints as there were some 1800 eligible footballers.[4] These recruits included the whole of Clapton Orient (later to be known as Leyton Orient) – the entire Heart of Midlothian team had signed up for the 16th Royal Scots ('McCrae's Battalion') prior to the formation of the football battalion.[2] In addition to footballers, officials and referees also joined the 17th, along with football fans themselves.[3] Many football players deliberately chose to avoid the battalion by joining other regiments, causing the War Office to initially have difficulties filling the battalion.[3]

A number of decorations were issued to the soldiers with the battalion. Lyndon Sandoe, of Cardiff City, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal with bar, and the Military Medal.[3] Northampton Town's Walter Tull was recommended for the Military Cross during the war, and became the first Black Infantry Officer in the British Army.[6] The battalion suffered heavy losses, including at the Battle of Delville Wood and the Battle of Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme.[7] During the First World War, the battalion lost more than a thousand men, including 462 in one battle alone at the Battle of Arras in 1917.[4]

23rd (Service Battalion)[]

The 23rd (Service) Battalion was formed in June 1915.[1] Former Tottenham Hotspur and Clapton Orient footballer Alan Haig-Brown was appointed commanding officer in September 1916.[8]

Legacy[]

A memorial to the Football Battalion was unveiled in 2010 in Longueval, France. It was attended by members of the Football Supporters' Federation and representatives of more than 20 clubs. It had been paid for through donations received from football supporters having been promoted by former professional footballer and SAS soldier Phil Stant.[9] The ceremony was conducted by Father Owen Beament of Millwall, and a two-minute silence was started by Gareth Ainsworth.[10]

A granite memorial to the three Clapton Orient players who died in the Battle of the Somme whilst members of the battalion was unveiled in 2011, located in Northern France. Over 200 Leyton Orient supporters travelled for the unveiling, which commemorated the lives of Richard McFadden, William Jonas and George Scott.[11]

Key[]

  • Players listed in bold won full international caps.

Playing positions[]

GK Goalkeeper RB Right back RW Right winger DF Defender HB Half back IF Inside forward DM Defensive midfielder
OL Outside left LB Left back LW Left winger CB Centre back FW Forward FB Full back RM Right midfielder
W Winger MF Midfielder ST Striker WH Wing half AM Attacking midfielder CM Central midfielder LM Left midfielder
U Utility player OR Outside right SW Sweeper LH Left half RH Right half

Soldiers[]

Officers[]

Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
Lt Col Haig-Brown, AlanAlan Haig-Brown Flag of England England OR Clapton Orient 23rd 25 March 1918(1918-03-25) (aged 40) Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France DSO, MiD [nb 1] [8]
Maj Buckley, FrankFrank Buckley Flag of England England DF Bradford City 17th — — — [nb 2] [2]
Cpt Barnfather, PercyPercy Barnfather Flag of England England WH Croydon Common 17th — — MC [nb 3] [12]
Cpt Bell, EdwardEdward Bell Flag of England England OF South Farnborough 17th 24 March 1918(1918-03-24) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Somme, France MC and Bar [nb 4] [9]
Cpt Woodward, VivianVivian Woodward Flag of England England CF Chelsea 17th — — — [nb 5] [13]
2nd Lt Tull, WalterWalter Tull Flag of England England IF/HB Northampton Town 23rd, 17th 25 March 1918(1918-03-25) (aged 29) Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France MiD [nb 6] [14]

Senior non-commissioned officers[]

Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
CSM McFadden, RichardRichard McFadden Flag of Scotland Scotland FW Clapton Orient 17th 23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Somme, France MM [15]
CSM Smith, JoeJoe Smith Flag of England England HB Chesterfield 17th 13 November 1916(1916-11-13) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Pas-de-Calais, France MiD [16]
CSM Lyndon Sandoe Flag of Wales 2 Wales FB Cardiff City 17th — — DCM and Bar, MM [3]
CSgt Bartholomew, FredFred Bartholomew Flag of England England OR Reading 17th — — — [17]
CSgt Parker, FredFred Parker Flag of England England FW Clapton Orient 17th — — — [18]
Sgt Baker, WilliamWilliam Baker Flag of England England WH Plymouth Argyle 17th 22 October 1916(1916-10-22) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Somme, France MM [19]
Sgt Coquet, ErnieErnie Coquet Flag of England England FB Fulham 17th — — — [20]
Sgt Dalrymple, RobertRobert Dalrymple Flag of Scotland Scotland IF Clapton Orient 17th — — — [21]
Sgt Evans, NolanNolan Evans Flag of England England LB Clapton Orient 17th — — — [22]
Sgt Gibson, HarryHarry Gibson Flag of England England LH Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 7] [23]
Sgt Goodwin, FredFred Goodwin Flag of England England OL Exeter City 17th — — — [nb 8] [24]
[25]
Sgt Hanney, TedTed Hanney Flag of England England CH Manchester City 17th — — — [26]
Sgt McCormick, JimmyJimmy McCormick Flag of England England RH Plymouth Argyle 17th — — — [nb 9] [27]
Sgt Mercer, JoeJoe Mercer Flag of England England CH Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [nb 10] [28]
Sgt Morris, SamSam Morris Flag of England England WH Bristol Rovers 17th — — — [29]
Sgt Charles Stewart Flag of England England IF Croydon Common 17th — — — [30]
Sgt Whalley, ArthurArthur Whalley Flag of England England WH Manchester United 23rd — — — [31]
Sgt Wood, NormanNorman Wood Flag of England England IL Stockport County 17th 28 July 1916(1916-07-28) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Delville Wood, France — [32]
Sgt Woodward, MauriceMaurice Woodward Flag of England England HB/LB Southend United 17th — — — [33]
Act Sgt Keenor, FredFred Keenor Flag of Wales 2 Wales DF Cardiff City 17th — — — [nb 11] [34]
Lce Sgt Cock, JackJack Cock Flag of England England CF Huddersfield Town 17th — — — [nb 11] [35]

Junior non-commissioned officers[]

Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
Cpl Butler, BenBen Butler Flag of England England CH Queens Park Rangers 17th 13 May 1916(1916-05-13) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Bruay-la-Buissière, France — [36]
Cpl Doran, JackJack Doran Ireland Ireland CF Coventry City 17th — — MM [37]
Cpl Ford, GeorgeGeorge Ford Flag of England England LB Woolwich Arsenal 17th — — — [nb 12] [38]
Cpl David Gray Flag of Scotland Scotland FW St Mirren 17th — — — [29]
Cpl Hugall, JimmyJimmy Hugall Flag of England England GK Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 13] [39]
Cpl Pyke, GeorgeGeorge Pyke Flag of England England CF Newcastle United 17th — — — [40]
Cpl Roe, ArthurArthur Roe Flag of England England HB Luton Town 17th — — — [41]
Cpl George Saunders n/a n/a Clapton Orient 17th — — — [42]
Cpl Spittle, BillyBilly Spittle Flag of England England IF Woolwich Arsenal 17th — — — [43]
Cpl Turnbull, SandySandy Turnbull Flag of Scotland Scotland IF Manchester United 23rd 3 May 1917(1917-05-03) (aged 32) Chérisy, France — [nb 14] [44]
Act Cpl William Krug Flag of England England GK Chelsea 17th — — — [45]
Lce Cpl Joe Bailey Flag of England England IF Reading 17th — — DSO, MC and Two Bars, MiD [nb 15]
[nb 16] 		[46]
Lce Cpl Bell, CharlieCharlie Bell Flag of Scotland Scotland FW Chesterfield 17th — — — [47]
Lce Cpl Bullock, FredFred Bullock Flag of England England DF Huddersfield Town 17th — — — [48]
Lce Cpl Bunyan, Sr., CharlesCharles Bunyan, Sr. Flag of England England GK Standard Liège (manager) 17th — — — [49]
Lce Cpl Herbert Dersley Flag of England England n/a Croydon Common 17th 1 June 1916 (age unknown) Pas-de-Calais, France — [50]
Lce Cpl Edward Foord Flag of England England n/a Chelsea 17th — — — [nb 17] [48]
Lce Cpl Gallacher, PatPat Gallacher Flag of Scotland Scotland n/a Ton Pentre 17th, 23rd — — — [nb 11]
[nb 18] 		[51]
Lce Cpl Holmes, NormanNorman Holmes Flag of England England DF Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 19] [52]
Lce Cpl Robert Houston n/a n/a Woolwich Arsenal 17th — — — [53]
Lce Cpl Tom Pearson n/a n/a Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 20] [54]
Lce Cpl Henry Pennifer Flag of England England n/a Queens Park Rangers 17th 24 March 1918 (age unknown) Somme, France — [nb 11]
[nb 14] 		[55]
Lce Cpl Wheelhouse, SidneySidney Wheelhouse Flag of England England RB Grimsby Town 17th 19 September 1916(1916-09-19) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Somme, France — [56]

Ranks[]

Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
Pte Charles Abbs n/a n/a Norwich City 17th — — — [nb 10] [57]
Pte Barber, TommyTommy Barber Flag of England England HB/IL Aston Villa 17th — — — [58]
Pte Jasper Batey Flag of England England LH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 25) Pas-de-Calais, France — [nb 14] [59]
Pte Beech, GeorgeGeorge Beech Flag of England England LB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [60]
Pte Booth, BillyBilly Booth Flag of England England CH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [61]
Pte Borthwick, JackJack Borthwick Flag of Scotland Scotland CH Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [62]
Pte Bowler, GeorgeGeorge Bowler Flag of England England RH Tottenham Hotspur 17th, 23rd — — — [63]
Pte James Bowler Flag of England England DF Crystal Palace 17th — — — [64]
Pte Chalmers, DavidDavid Chalmers Flag of Scotland Scotland CF Grimsby Town 17th — — — [65]
Pte Codd, TommyTommy Codd Flag of England England OL Leicester Fosse 17th — — — [nb 21] [66]
Pte Coleman, TimTim Coleman Flag of England England FW Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [67]
Pte Crowther, GeorgeGeorge Crowther Flag of England England FW Hurst 17th — — — [68]
Pte William Daley Flag of England England n/a Chelsea 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Guillemont, France — [69]
Pte Davis, SamSam Davis Flag of England England RB Plymouth Argyle 17th — — MM [nb 22] [70]
Pte Charles Dexter Flag of England England FB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 27 June 1917(1917-06-27) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Derby, England — [nb 23] [71]
Pte Dunn, JohnJohn Dunn Flag of England England IR Luton Town 17th — — — [nb 24] [72]
Pte Dodds, JackJack Dodds Flag of England England FW Oldham Athletic 17th — — — [48]
Pte Durston, JackJack Durston Flag of England England GK Queens Park Rangers 17th — — — [73]
Pte Fidler, JoeJoe Fidler Flag of England England FB Port Vale 17th — — — [74]
Pte Foster, AllenAllen Foster Flag of England England IF Reading 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Corbie, France — [75]
Pte Frith, RobertRobert Frith Flag of England England HB Luton Town 17th — — — [nb 24] [76]
Pte Hugh Gallacher Flag of Scotland Scotland CF Bristol Rovers 17th — — — [29]
Pte Gerrish, BillyBilly Gerrish Flag of England England IF Unattached 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Delville Wood, France — [77]
n/a David Girdwood n/a n/a Chelsea 17th — — — [48]
Pte Charles Green n/a n/a Millwall Athletic 17th 28 April 1917 (aged 35) Oppy Wood, France — [78]
Pte Gregson, AlfAlf Gregson Flag of England England FW Grimsby Town 17th — — — [79]
Pte Holmes, AlbertAlbert Holmes Flag of England England OL Coventry City 17th — — — [80]
Pte Henry Hogarth n/a HB Burnley 17th — — — [29]
Pte Humphreys, PercyPercy Humphreys Flag of England England IR FC Basel (manager) 17th — — — [nb 24] [81]
Pte Hunter n/a FW Gainsborough Trinity 17th — — — [82]
Pte Iremonger, HarryHarry Iremonger Flag of England England GK Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [83]
Pte Jonas, WilliamWilliam Jonas Flag of England England FW Clapton Orient 17th 27 July 1916(1916-07-27) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Delville Wood, France — [42]
Pte Jones, BillyBilly Jones Flag of England England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [60]
Pte Kenny, DavidDavid Kenny Flag of Scotland Scotland CH Grimsby Town 17th — — — [79]
Pte Lamb, JohnJohn Lamb Flag of England England HB The Wednesday 17th — — — [74]
Pte Lindley, FrankFrank Lindley Flag of England England OR Luton Town 17th — — — [84]
Pte Linkson, OscarOscar Linkson Flag of England England FB Shelbourne 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28) Somme, France — [85]
Pte Lonsdale, TommyTommy Lonsdale Flag of England England GK West Ham United 17th — — — [86]
Pte Martin, FrankFrank Martin Flag of England England DF Grimsby Town 17th — — — [79]
Pte McKenna, TomTom McKenna Ireland Ireland FB Grimsby Town 17th — — — [65]
Pte McLauchlan, JoeJoe McLauchlan Flag of Scotland Scotland CF Watford 17th — — — [87]
Pte Middleton, BillyBilly Middleton Flag of England England FW Crystal Palace 17th — — — [88]
Pte Mounteney, ArthurArthur Mounteney Flag of England England IF Hinckley Athletic 17th — — — [66]
Pte Needham, ArchieArchie Needham Flag of England England U Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [89]
Pte Newton, ThomasThomas Newton Flag of England England GK Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 25] [90]
Pte Nixon, WilfWilf Nixon Flag of England England GK Fulham 17th — — — [nb 26] [91]
Pte John Nuttall Flag of England England n/a Millwall 17th — — — [92]
Pte Oliver, WilliamWilliam Oliver Flag of England England OL Tottenham Hotspur 17th — — — [nb 27] [93]
Pte Orme, JosephJoseph Orme Flag of England England GK Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [94]
Pte Poulton, AlonzoAlonzo Poulton Flag of England England IR West Bromwich Albion 17th — — — [95]
Pte Thomas Ratcliff n/a n/a Woolwich Arsenal (trainer) 17th — — — [48]
Pte Joseph Raw n/a FB Clapton Orient 17th — — — [96]
Pte Harry Reason Flag of England England n/a Clapton Orient 17th — — — [97]
Pte William Reed Flag of England England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [98]
Pte Ripley, StanStan Ripley Flag of England England HB Stoke City 17th 10 March 1917(1917-03-10) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Sunderland, England — [nb 14] [29]
Pte Roberts, HughHugh Roberts Flag of Wales 2 Wales OR Luton Town 17th — — — [99]
Pte Robertson, GeorgeGeorge Robertson Flag of Scotland Scotland LH/IL Birmingham 17th — — — [29]
Pte Robotham, HarryHarry Robotham Flag of England England RH Retired 23rd 12 September 1916(1916-09-12) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Somme, France — [100]
Pte Robson, FredFred Robson Flag of England England FB Southend United 17th — — — [101]
Pte Roney, PeterPeter Roney Flag of Scotland Scotland GK Bristol Rovers 17th — — — [102]
Pte Ralph Routledge Flag of England England n/a Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [nb 28] [48]
Pte Ernest Russ n/a n/a Chelsea 17th — — — [103]
Pte Scott, GeorgeGeorge Scott Flag of England England CH Clapton Orient 17th 16 August 1916(1916-08-16) (aged 30) Nord, France — [nb 10] [104]
Pte Seed, AngusAngus Seed Flag of England England RB Leicester Fosse 17th — — MM [66]
Pte Sheldon, JackieJackie Sheldon Flag of England England OR Liverpool 17th — — — [105]
Pte Simms, ErnieErnie Simms Flag of England England CF Luton Town 17th, 23rd — — — [106]
Pte Smith, CyrilCyril Smith Flag of Wales 2 Wales IL Croydon Common 17th, 23rd — — — [107]
Pte Frank Spencer n/a FB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [48]
Pte John Stephenson n/a GK Cardiff City 17th — — — [82]
Pte Stephenson, WilliamWilliam Stephenson Flag of England England RB Wingate Albion 17th — — — [108]
Pte Alexander Stewart Flag of Scotland Scotland FB Watford 17th — — — [nb 29] [109]
Pte Summers, PercyPercy Summers Flag of England England GK Grimsby Town 17th — — — [65]
Pte Frank Taylor n/a n/a Northampton Town 17th — — — [110]
Pte Tilley, ArthurArthur Tilley Flag of England England OR Clapton Orient 17th, 23rd — — — [nb 24] [111]
Pte Albert Tomkins Flag of England England HB/IF Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 30] [112]
Pte Alfred Tyler Flag of England England OL Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [113]
Pte Upex, DickDick Upex Flag of England England IL Croydon Common 17th — — — [114]
Pte Webster, JoeJoe Webster Flag of England England GK West Ham United 17th — — — [115]
Pte West, AlfAlf West Flag of England England FB Notts County 17th — — — [116]
Pte Whiting, BobBob Whiting Flag of England England GK Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 28 April 1917(1917-04-28) (aged 34) Oppy Wood, France — [nb 31] [78]
Pte Whittaker, FredFred Whittaker Flag of England England FW Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [25]
Pte Whitworth, GeorgeGeorge Whitworth Flag of England England CF Northampton Town 17th — — — [117]
Pte Wileman, ArthurArthur Wileman Flag of England England IR Luton Town 17th 28 April 1918(1918-04-28) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) West Flanders, Belgium MM [nb 14]
[nb 16] 		[118]
Pte Williams, JamesJames Williams Flag of Wales 2 Wales FW Millwall Athletic 17th 5 June 1916(1916-06-05) (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Pas-de-Calais, France — [3]
n/a Williams, SkillySkilly Williams Flag of England England GK Watford 17th — — — [119]
Pte Williamson, ErnestErnest Williamson Flag of England England GK Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 24] [120]
Pte T.T. Wilson n/a HB Luton Town 17th — — — [121]
Pte Woodhouse, JackJack Woodhouse Flag of England England HB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [78]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Appointed commanding officer of the 23rd Battalion on 16 September 1916.
  2. ↑ Transferred in from the King's Regiment (Liverpool).
  3. ↑ Commissioned on 31 October 1916.
  4. ↑ Also served as the battalion's adjutant.
  5. ↑ Previously served in the London Regiment prior to being commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment on 29 December 1914.
  6. ↑ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the 23rd Battalion on 4 August 1917.
  7. ↑ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry on 24 August 1918.
  8. ↑ Also served as a bomb-throwing instructor.
  9. ↑ Taken prisoner of war.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Taken prisoner of war on 27 April 1917.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Appointment, not rank.
  12. ↑ Medically discharged on 10 October 1917.
  13. ↑ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry on 24 July 1916.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Died while serving with another unit.
  15. ↑ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment on 28 August 1917.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Decorations were won while serving with another unit.
  17. ↑ Appointment, not rank. Medically discharged on 16 October 1918.
  18. ↑ Served as trainer of the battalion football team in June 1917.
  19. ↑ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the 21st Battalion on 25 June 1918.
  20. ↑ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) on 28 August 1917.
  21. ↑ Later transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps and was medically discharged on 26 June 1918.
  22. ↑ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 31 October 1917.
  23. ↑ Medically discharged on 10 April 1916 and later died of septic poisoning.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 Was released/discharged from the army before seeing active service.
  25. ↑ Taken prisoner of war on 13 November 1916.
  26. ↑ Taken prisoner of war on 28 April 1917.
  27. ↑ Medically discharged on 15 September 1916.
  28. ↑ Discharged on 18 August 1916.
  29. ↑ Medically discharged on 29 December 1916.
  30. ↑ Transferred to the Labour Corps in August 1918.
  31. ↑ Whiting attained the rank of lance sergeant prior to being demoted to private in December 1916 after a court-martial. He was serving as a private at the time of his death.

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Baker, Chris. "The Middlesex Regiment in 1914–1918". http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/the-duke-of-cambridges-own-middlesex-regiment/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Fraser, Alan (9 November 2011). "A reminder of what it's really all about... Officers and men of the 17th Middlesex". The Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2059660/Officers-men-17th-Middlesex--Football-Battalion.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Devine, Darren (8 October 2010). "Book tells wartime story of the 17th Middlesex – the "Football Battalion"". Western Mail. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/book-tells-wartime-story-17th-1890234. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Thomas, Ronan (10 November 2010). "Final Whistle: 'Pom Pom' Whiting". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9176000/9176774.stm. 
  5. ↑ "Football Battalion is Formed". 5 January 1915. p. 2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s5xXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qvMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4175,3998206&dq=football-battalion&hl=en. Retrieved 29 April 2012. 
  6. ↑ "Walter Tull – the Army years" (PDF). Black History 4 School. http://www.blackhistory4schools.com/20century/armyexploits.pdf. Retrieved 29 April 2012. 
  7. ↑ "The Manchester United star who died at the Somme – story of a true football hero". 13 November 2010. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/the-manchester-united-star-who-died-262292. Retrieved 29 April 2012. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Lancing College War Memorial". http://www.hambo.org/lancing/view_man.php?id=132. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Winter, Henry (21 October 2010). "Footballers' Battalions remembered on Somme battlefield". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/8079101/Footballers-Battalions-remembered-on-Somme-battlefield.html. 
  10. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (22 October 2010). "Somme ceremony puts football in perspective". http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2010/10/somme_ceremony_puts_football_i.html. Retrieved 29 April 2012. 
  11. ↑ Clements, Kate (22 July 2011). "Memorial to the ‘Football Battalion’ unveiled on the Somme". http://www.1914.org/news/memorial-to-the-%E2%80%98football-battalion%E2%80%99-unveiled-on-the-somme/. Retrieved 29 April 2012. 
  12. ↑ "Croydon Common FC – Biographies – Percy Barnfather". http://www.zen139857.zen.co.uk/BARNFATHER_Percy.pdf. 
  13. ↑ "Vivian Woodward | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/vivian-woodward/. 
  14. ↑ "Walter Tull | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/walter-tull-footballer/. 
  15. ↑ "Richard McFadden | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/richard-mcfadden-clapton-orient/. 
  16. ↑ Manchester, Reading Room. "CWGC – Casualty Details". http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/593864/SMITH,%20JOSEPH. 
  17. ↑ "Frederick Bartholomew | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/frederick-bartholomew-service-record/. 
  18. ↑ "Frederick William Parker | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/fred-parker-clapton-orient/. 
  19. ↑ "William James Baker | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/william-baker-service-record/. 
  20. ↑ "Ernest Coquet | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/ernest-coquet-service-record/. 
  21. ↑ "Robert Rodie Dalrymple | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/robert-dalrymple-clapton-orient/. 
  22. ↑ "Nolan Edwin Evans | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/nolan-evans-clapton-orient-2/. 
  23. ↑ "Harold Thomas Gibson | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/harry-gibson-clapton-orient/. 
  24. ↑ Greer, Stuart. "Macclesfield footballer's tour of South America featured in online exhibition". http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/local-news/macclesfield-footballers-tour-south-america-6376057. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "WW1's fighting footballers: Exeter City players go to war". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-28245503. 
  26. ↑ "Ted Hanney – Manchester City and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/ted-hanney/. 
  27. ↑ "James McCormick | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/james-mccormick-service-record/. 
  28. ↑ Royden, Mike. "Joe Mercer and the Football Battalion". http://www.roydenhistory.co.uk/eportwarmemorial/pows/mercer_joe/joemercer.pdf. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 53.
  30. ↑ "Croydon Common FC – Biographies – Charles Stewart". http://www.zen139857.zen.co.uk/STEWART_Charles_Harold.pdf. 
  31. ↑ "Arthur Whalley | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). Football and the First World War. http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/arthur-weller-service-record/. 
  32. ↑ "Croydon Common FC – Biographies – Norman Wood". http://www.zen139857.zen.co.uk/WOOD_Norman_Arthur.pdf. 
  33. ↑ City, Leicester. "Leicester Fosse And The First World War: Part 21". http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/leicester-fosse-and-the-first-world-war-part-21-2472399.aspx. 
  34. ↑ "Frederick Charles Keenor | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/frederick-charles-keenor-service-record/. 
  35. ↑ "John Gilbert Cock | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/jack-cock-service-record/. 
  36. ↑ "Albert Victor Butler | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/albert-ben-butler-service-record/. 
  37. ↑ "John Francis Doran | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/jack-doran-footballer/. 
  38. ↑ "George Ford – Arsenal and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/george-ford-2/. 
  39. ↑ "James Cockburn Hugall | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/james-hugall-clapton-orient/. 
  40. ↑ "George Woolston Pyke | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/george-woolston-pyke-service-record/. 
  41. ↑ "Lance Corporal Arthur Roe | Great War Stories". http://www.worldwar1luton.com/individual/lance-corporal-arthur-roe. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Jenkins, Steve (5 August 2011). "Clapton Orient's "Brothers In Arms"". leytonorient.com. Leyton Orient F.C.. http://www.leytonorient.com/news/article/history-somme-358384.aspx?pageView=full#anchored. 
  43. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 314.
  44. ↑ "The Story of Sandy Turnbull – A Manchester Football Hero" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/sandy-turnbull-manchester-united/. 
  45. ↑ "William Alfred Krug | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/william-alfred-krug-service-record/. 
  46. ↑ "Walter George Bailey | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). Football and the First World War. http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/joe-bailey-service-record/. 
  47. ↑ "The Manager Issue 22". pp. 17–18. http://www.leaguemanagers.com/pages/publications/themanager/issue22. 
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 48.4 48.5 48.6 Riddoch, Andrew. "The Story of the Footballers' Battalions in the First World War". http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/footballers-s/. 
  49. ↑ "Sky is Blue – Charlie Bunyan". http://www.cfchistory.com/charlie-bunyan. 
  50. ↑ Harris, Clive; Whippy, Julian (22 September 2008) (in en). The Greater Game: Sporting Icons Who Fell in The Great War. Pen and Sword. p. 172. ISBN 9781783831449. https://books.google.com/books?id=I4OCBAAAQBAJ. 
  51. ↑ "Patrick Gallacher | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/patrick-gallacher-service-record/. 
  52. ↑ "Norman Arnold Holmes | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/norman-holmes-footballer/. 
  53. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 297.
  54. ↑ "Thomas Henry Pearson | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/tom-pearson-clapton-orient/. 
  55. ↑ "Henry John Pennifer | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/henry-pennifer-service-record/. 
  56. ↑ "Sid Wheelhouse – Grimsby Town and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/sidney-wheelhouse/. 
  57. ↑ emilysarah2012. "What can service records reveal?". http://norfolkinworldwar1.org/2015/08/28/what-can-service-records-reveal/. 
  58. ↑ "Tom Barber Aston Villa" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/tom-barber/. 
  59. ↑ "Jasper Matthews Batey | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/jasper-batey-service-record/. 
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 Lloyd, Chris. "Match fit and ready to fight for their country". http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/11176519.Match_fit_and_ready_to_fight_for_their_country/. 
  61. ↑ "William Booth | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/william-booth-service-record/. 
  62. ↑ "John James Blacklaw Borthwick | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/jack-borthwick-footballer/. 
  63. ↑ "George Bowler | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/george-bowler-tottenham/. 
  64. ↑ "James Bowler | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/james-bowler-service-record/. 
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 65.2 Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 50.
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 66.2 City, Leicester. "Leicester Fosse and the First World War: Part 10". http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/leicester-fosse-and-the-first-world-war-part-10-2329328.aspx. 
  67. ↑ "John George Coleman | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/tim-coleman-footballer/. 
  68. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 107.
  69. ↑ Churchill, Alexandra; Holmes, Andrew (15 July 2015) (in en). Over Land and Sea: Chelsea FC in the Great War. The History Press. ISBN 9780750965422. https://books.google.com/books?id=WdHvCQAAQBAJ. 
  70. ↑ "Samuel George Davis | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/samuel-george-davis-service-record/. 
  71. ↑ "Charles Dexter | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/charles-dexter-service-record/. 
  72. ↑ "Private John Dunn | Great War Stories". http://www.worldwar1luton.com/individual/private-john-dunn. 
  73. ↑ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. pp. 51–52. ISBN 1 874427 57 7. 
  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 "Pitching into the battle". http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/pitching-into-the-battle-1-450681. 
  75. ↑ "Allen Foster | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/allen-foster-service-record/. 
  76. ↑ "Private Robert William Frith | Great War Stories". http://www.worldwar1luton.com/individual/private-robert-william-frith. 
  77. ↑ "William Webber Gerrish | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/william-gerrish-service-record/. 
  78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 78.2 "Bob Whiting of Brighton". http://www.photohistory-sussex.co.uk/Bob_Whiting_of_BHA.htm. 
  79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 McIsaac, Shona (15 March 2011). "Grimsby Town Football Club". Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110315235248/http://www.shonamcisaac.com/a53f092c-e248-eb94-a50d-23df9b0a06e7. Retrieved 2 January 2017. 
  80. ↑ Myerson, George (23 July 2014) (in en). Fighting for Football: From Woolwich Arsenal to the Western Front. Aurum Press. ISBN 9781781314197. https://books.google.com/books?id=0gsNBAAAQBAJ. 
  81. ↑ "England Players – Percy Humphreys". http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersH/BioHumphreysP.html. 
  82. ↑ 82.0 82.1 Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 63.
  83. ↑ "Nottingham Forest at 150: Footballers called to arms for the war" (in en-GB). 16 September 2015. http://www.nottinghampost.com/nottingham-forest-150-footballers-called-arms-war/story-27811506-detail/story.html. 
  84. ↑ "Private Frank Louis Lindley | Great War Stories". http://www.worldwar1luton.com/individual/private-frank-louis-lindley. 
  85. ↑ "Oscar Horace Stanley Linkson | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/oscar-linkson-footballer/. 
  86. ↑ "Thomas Stewart Lonsdale | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/thomas-lonsdale-service-record/. 
  87. ↑ "Joseph James Simpson McLauchlan | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/joseph-mclauchlan-service-record/. 
  88. ↑ "William Middleton | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/william-middleton-service-record/. 
  89. ↑ "The Footballers' Battalions". http://www.efl.com/news/article/2014/the-footballers-battalions-2145968.aspx. Retrieved 13 August 2015. 
  90. ↑ "Croydon Common FC – Biographies – Thomas Newton". http://www.zen139857.zen.co.uk/NEWTON_Thomas.pdf. 
  91. ↑ "Wilfred Nixon | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/wilfred-nixon-service-record/. 
  92. ↑ "Before The 'D'...Association Football around the world, 1863–1937.: 17th Middlesex (1st Football Battalion)". http://gottfriedfuchs.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/17th-middlesex-1st-football-battalion.html. 
  93. ↑ "William Oliver | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/william-oliver-tottenham/. 
  94. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 305.
  95. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 308.
  96. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 75.
  97. ↑ "Herbert Reason | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/harry-reason-clapton-orient/. 
  98. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 309.
  99. ↑ "Private Hugh Pierce Roberts | Great War Stories". http://www.worldwar1luton.com/individual/private-hugh-pierce-roberts. 
  100. ↑ "Harry Robotham – Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/harry-robotham-footballer/. 
  101. ↑ "Frederick Robson | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/frederick-robson-service-record/. 
  102. ↑ Doyle, Paul; Harris, Daniel. "The Joy of Six: curtailed football careers". https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/may/29/joy-of-six-curtailed-football-careers. Retrieved 29 December 2015. 
  103. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 213.
  104. ↑ "George Scott | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/george-scott-clapton-orient/. 
  105. ↑ "John Sheldon | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/jackie-sheldon-footballer/. 
  106. ↑ "Private Ernest Simms | Great War Stories". http://www.worldwar1luton.com/individual/private-ernest-simms. 
  107. ↑ "Croydon Common FC – Biographies – Cryril Smith". http://www.zen139857.zen.co.uk/SMITH_Cyril%20C..pdf. 
  108. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 64.
  109. ↑ "Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016 – Players – Smith to Strouts". http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/players/+Smith-Strouts.pdf. 
  110. ↑ "Footballing icons who became heroes of First World War". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/10565830/Footballing-icons-who-became-heroes-of-First-World-War.html. 
  111. ↑ "Arthur William Tilley | Service Record | Football and the First World War" (in en-US). http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/arthur-tilley-clapton-orient/. 
  112. ↑ "Croydon Common FC – Biographies – Albert Tomkins". http://www.zen139857.zen.co.uk/TOMKINS_Albert_J..pdf. 
  113. ↑ "Brighton and Hove Albion | News | Latest News | Latest News | Albion Back Memorial". http://www.seagulls.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/Latest/0%2C%2C10433~2149980%2C00.html. 
  114. ↑ "Croydon Common FC – Biographies – Dick Upex". http://www.zen139857.zen.co.uk/UPEX_Dick.pdf. 
  115. ↑ "Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016 – Players – Waugh to Williams". http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/players/+Waugh-Williams.pdf. 
  116. ↑ kjehan. "Alf West for the Footballers Battalion". http://playupliverpool.com/1915/02/23/alf-west-for-the-footballers-battalion/. 
  117. ↑ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 319.
  118. ↑ "Sergeant Arthur Harold Wileman MM | Great War Stories". http://www.worldwar1luton.com/individual/sergeant-arthur-harold-wileman-mm. 
  119. ↑ Riddoch, Andrew; Kemp, David (2010). When the Whistle Blows: The Story of the Footballers' Battalion in the Great War. Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 978-0857330772. 
  120. ↑ "Croydon Common FC – Biographies – Ernest Williamson". http://www.zen139857.zen.co.uk/WILLIAMSON_Ernest_Clarke.pdf. 
  121. ↑ "Private T T Wilson | Great War Stories". http://www.worldwar1luton.com/individual/private-t-t-wilson. 
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