Football Battalion

Last updated
17th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Football Battalion.jpg
Recruitment poster featuring the Football Battalion
Active12 December 1914
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
Type Battalion
Role Infantry
Size600 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 (also the footballers' or players' 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 among others. Soldiers who fought in the 17th and 23rd Battalions included Second Lieutenant Walter Tull, who was possibly the first black infantry officer in the British Army.

Contents

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. 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. [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. [2] [3] England international Frank Buckley became the first player to join, out of thirty players who signed up at its formation. [2] The formation was announced to the general public on 1 January 1915. [4]

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. [2]

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. [3] 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.[ citation needed ] In addition to footballers, officials and referees also joined the 17th, along with football fans themselves. [2] Many football players deliberately chose to avoid the battalion by joining other regiments, causing the War Office to initially have difficulties filling the battalion. [2]

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. [2] The battalion suffered heavy losses, including at the Battle of Delville Wood and the Battle of Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme. [5] 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. [3]

The 17th was assigned to the 6th Infantry Brigade, part of the 2nd Infantry Division. [1]

23rd (Service Battalion)

A second football 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. [6]

The 23rd was assigned to the 123rd Brigade, part of the 41st Division.

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. [7] The ceremony was conducted by Father Owen Beament of Millwall and a two-minute silence was initiated by Gareth Ainsworth. [8]

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 the village of Flers, Northern France. Over 200 Leyton Orient supporters travelled for the unveiling, which commemorated the lives of Richard McFadden, William Jonas and George Scott. [9] A second memorial to commemorate the Clapton Orient side that served on the Somme, was installed and dedicated at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday, 23 October 2022. The memorial was unveiled by former O's captain Dean Smith and Stephen Jenkins, chairman of the O's Somme Memorial Fund.

Key

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

RankNameNationalityPositionClub prior to enlistmentBattalion(s)Wartime death dateWartime death placeDecorationsNotesRef
Lt Col Alan Haig-Brown Flag of England.svg  England OR Clapton Orient 23rd25 March 1918(1918-03-25) (aged 40) Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France DSO, MiD [nb 1] [6]
Maj Frank Buckley Flag of England.svg  England DF Bradford City 17th [nb 2]
Cpt Percy Barnfather Flag of England.svg  England WH Croydon Common 17th MC [nb 3] [10]
Cpt Edward Bell Flag of England.svg  England OFSouth Farnborough17th24 March 1918(1918-03-24) (aged 31–32) Somme, France MC and Bar [nb 4] [7]
Cpt Vivian Woodward Flag of England.svg  England CF Chelsea 17th [nb 5] [11]
2nd Lt Walter Tull Flag of England.svg  England IF/HB Northampton Town 17th, 23rd25 March 1918(1918-03-25) (aged 29) Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France MiD [nb 6] [12]

Senior non-commissioned officers

RankNameNationalityPositionClub prior to enlistmentBattalion(s)Wartime death dateWartime death placeDecorationsNotesRef
CSM Tommy Gibson Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FB Nottingham Forest 17th [13]
CSM Richard McFadden Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FW Clapton Orient 17th23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 26–27) Somme, France MM [14]
CSM Joe Smith Flag of England.svg  England HB Chesterfield 17th13 November 1916(1916-11-13) (aged 26–27) Pas-de-Calais, France MiD [15]
CSM Lyndon SandoeFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales FB Cardiff City 17th DCM and Bar, MM [2]
CSgt Fred Bartholomew Flag of England.svg  England OR Reading 17th [16]
CSgt Fred Parker Flag of England.svg  England FW Clapton Orient 17th [17]
Sgt William Baker Flag of England.svg  England WH Plymouth Argyle 17th22 October 1916(1916-10-22) (aged 32–33) Somme, France MM [18]
Sgt Ernie Coquet Flag of England.svg  England FB Fulham 17th [nb 7] [19]
Sgt Robert Dalrymple Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IF Clapton Orient 17th [20]
Sgt Nolan Evans Flag of England.svg  England LB Clapton Orient 17th [21]
Sgt Harry Gibson Flag of England.svg  England LH Clapton Orient 17th [nb 8] [22]
Sgt Fred Goodwin Flag of England.svg  England OL Exeter City 17th [nb 9]
[nb 10]
[23]
[24]
Sgt Ted Hanney Flag of England.svg  England CH Manchester City 17th [25]
Sgt Jimmy McCormick Flag of England.svg  England RH Plymouth Argyle 17th [nb 11] [26]
Sgt Joe Mercer Flag of England.svg  England CH Nottingham Forest 17th [nb 12] [27]
Sgt Sam Morris Flag of England.svg  England WH Bristol Rovers 17th [28]
Sgt Charles StewartFlag of England.svg  England IF Croydon Common 17th [29]
Sgt Arthur Whalley Flag of England.svg  England WH Manchester United 23rd [30]
Sgt Norman Wood Flag of England.svg  England IL Stockport County 17th28 July 1916(1916-07-28) (aged 26–27) Delville Wood, France [31]
Sgt Maurice Woodward Flag of England.svg  England HB/LB Southend United 17th [32]
Act Sgt George Beech Flag of England.svg  England LB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [nb 13] [33]
Act Sgt Fred Keenor Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales DF Cardiff City 17th [nb 13] [34]
Lce Sgt Jack Cock Flag of England.svg  England CF Huddersfield Town 17th [nb 13] [35]
Lce Sgt George McDonaldFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland OR Norwich City 17th [36]

Junior non-commissioned officers

RankNameNationalityPositionClub prior to enlistmentBattalion(s)Wartime death dateWartime death placeDecorationsNotesRef
Cpl Ben Butler Flag of England.svg  England CH Queens Park Rangers 17th13 May 1916(1916-05-13) (aged 27–28) Bruay-la-Buissière, France [37]
Cpl Jack Doran Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Ireland CF Coventry City 17th MM [38]
Cpl George Ford Flag of England.svg  England LB Woolwich Arsenal 17th [nb 14] [39]
Cpl David GrayFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FW St Mirren 17th [28]
Cpl Jimmy Hugall Flag of England.svg  England GK Clapton Orient 17th [nb 15] [40]
Cpl George Pyke Flag of England.svg  England CF Newcastle United 17th [41]
Cpl Arthur Roe Flag of England.svg  England HB Luton Town 17th [42]
Cpl George Saundersn/an/a Clapton Orient 17th [43]
Cpl Billy Spittle Flag of England.svg  England IF Woolwich Arsenal 17th [nb 16] [44]
Cpl Sandy Turnbull Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IF Manchester United 23rd3 May 1917(1917-05-03) (aged 32) Chérisy, France [nb 17] [45]
Act Cpl William KrugFlag of England.svg  England GK Chelsea 17th [46]
Lce Cpl Joe Bailey Flag of England.svg  England IF Reading 17th DSO, MC and Two Bars, MiD [nb 18]
[nb 19]
[47]
Lce Cpl Charlie Bell Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FW Chesterfield 17th [48]
Lce Cpl Fred Bullock Flag of England.svg  England DF Huddersfield Town 17th [49]
Lce Cpl Charles Bunyan, Sr. Flag of England.svg  England GK Standard Liège (manager)17th [50]
Lce Cpl Herbert DersleyFlag of England.svg  England n/a Croydon Common 17th1 June 1916 Pas-de-Calais, France [51]
Lce Cpl Edward FoordFlag of England.svg  England FW Chelsea 17th [nb 20] [49]
Lce Cpl Pat Gallacher Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland OF Ton Pentre 17th, 23rd [nb 13]
[nb 21]
[nb 22]
[52]
Lce Cpl Norman Holmes Flag of England.svg  England DF Clapton Orient 17th [nb 23] [53]
Lce Cpl Robert Houstonn/an/a Woolwich Arsenal 17th [54]
Lce Cpl Tom Pearsonn/an/a Clapton Orient 17th [nb 24] [55]
Lce Cpl Henry Pennifer Flag of England.svg  England HB Queens Park Rangers 17th24 March 1918 Somme, France [nb 13]
[nb 17]
[56]
Lce Cpl Sidney Wheelhouse Flag of England.svg  England RB Grimsby Town 17th19 September 1916(1916-09-19) (aged 27–28) Somme, France [57]

Ranks

RankNameNationalityPositionClub prior to enlistmentBattalion(s)Wartime death dateWartime death placeDecorationsNotesRef
Pte Charles Abbsn/an/a Norwich City 17th [nb 12] [58]
Pte Tommy Barber Flag of England.svg  England HB/IL Aston Villa 17th [59]
Pte Jasper Batey Flag of England.svg  England LH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 25) Pas-de-Calais, France [nb 17] [60]
Pte Billy Booth Flag of England.svg  England CH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [61]
Pte Jack Borthwick Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CH Millwall Athletic 17th [62]
Pte George Bowler Flag of England.svg  England RH Tottenham Hotspur 17th, 23rd [63]
Pte James BowlerFlag of England.svg  England DF Crystal Palace 17th [64]
Pte David Chalmers Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CF Grimsby Town 17th [65]
Pte Tommy Codd Flag of England.svg  England OL Leicester Fosse 17th [nb 25] [66]
Pte Tim Coleman Flag of England.svg  England FW Nottingham Forest 17th [67]
Pte George Crowther Flag of England.svg  England FW Hurst 17th MM [nb 26] [68]
Pte William DaleyFlag of England.svg  England n/a Chelsea 17th8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 30–31) Guillemont, France [69]
Pte Sam Davis Flag of England.svg  England RB Plymouth Argyle 17th MM [nb 27] [70]
Pte Charles DexterFlag of England.svg  England FB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th27 June 1917(1917-06-27) (aged 26–27) Derby, England [nb 28] [71]
Pte John Dunn Flag of England.svg  England IR Luton Town 17th [nb 29] [72]
Pte Jack Dodds Flag of England.svg  England FW Oldham Athletic 17th [49]
Pte Jack Durston Flag of England.svg  England GK Queens Park Rangers 17th [73]
Pte Joe Fidler Flag of England.svg  England FB Port Vale 17th [74]
Pte Allen Foster Flag of England.svg  England IF Reading 17th8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28–29) Corbie, France [75]
Pte Robert Frith Flag of England.svg  England HB Luton Town 17th [nb 29] [76]
Pte Hugh Gallacher Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland LH Bristol Rovers 17th [28]
Pte Billy Gerrish Flag of England.svg  England IFUnattached17th8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 31) Delville Wood, France [77]
n/aDavid Girdwoodn/aFB Chelsea 17th [49]
Pte Charles GreenFlag of England.svg  England RB Millwall Athletic 17th28 April 1917 (aged 35) Oppy Wood, France [78]
Pte Haydn Green Flag of England.svg  England IR Reading 17th [79]
Pte Alf Gregson Flag of England.svg  England FW Grimsby Town 17th [80]
Pte Albert Holmes Flag of England.svg  England OL Coventry City 17th [81]
Pte Henry HogarthFlag of England.svg  England HB Burnley 17th [28]
Pte Percy Humphreys Flag of England.svg  England IR FC Basel (manager)17th [nb 29] [82]
Pte Huntern/aFW Gainsborough Trinity 17th [83]
Pte Harry Iremonger Flag of England.svg  England GK Nottingham Forest 17th [84]
Pte William Jonas Flag of England.svg  England FW Clapton Orient 17th27 July 1916(1916-07-27) (aged 25) Delville Wood, France [43]
Pte Billy Jones Flag of England.svg  England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [85]
Pte David Kenny Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CH Grimsby Town 17th [80]
Eddie King Flag of England.svg  England RH Clapton Orient 17th [nb 30] [86]
Pte John Lamb Flag of England.svg  England HB The Wednesday 17th [74]
Pte Frank Lindley Flag of England.svg  England OR Luton Town 17th [87]
Pte Oscar Linkson Flag of England.svg  England FB Shelbourne 17th8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28) Somme, France [88]
Pte Tommy Lonsdale Flag of England.svg  England GK West Ham United 17th [89]
Pte Frank Martin Flag of England.svg  England DF Grimsby Town 17th [80]
Pte Tom McKenna Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Ireland FB Grimsby Town 17th [65]
Pte Joe McLauchlan Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CF Watford 17th [nb 31] [90]
Pte Billy Middleton Flag of England.svg  England FW Crystal Palace 17th [91]
Pte Arthur Mounteney Flag of England.svg  England IF Hinckley Athletic 17th [66]
Pte Archie Needham Flag of England.svg  England U Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [92]
Pte Thomas Newton Flag of England.svg  England GK Croydon Common 17th [nb 32] [93]
Pte Wilf Nixon Flag of England.svg  England GK Fulham 17th [nb 33] [94]
Pte John NuttallFlag of England.svg  England HB Millwall Athletic 17th [95]
Pte William Oliver Flag of England.svg  England OL Tottenham Hotspur 17th [nb 34] [96]
Pte Joseph Orme Flag of England.svg  England GK Millwall Athletic 17th [97]
Pte Alonzo Poulton Flag of England.svg  England IR West Bromwich Albion 17th [98]
Pte Thomas Ratcliffn/an/a Woolwich Arsenal (trainer)17th [49]
Pte Joseph Rawn/aFB Clapton Orient 17th [99]
Pte Jumbo Reason Flag of England.svg  England LB Clapton Orient 17th [100]
Pte William ReedFlag of England.svg  England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [101]
Pte Stan RipleyFlag of England.svg  England HB Stoke City 17th10 March 1917(1917-03-10) (aged 23–24) Sunderland, England [nb 17] [28]
Pte Hugh Roberts Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales OR Luton Town 17th [102]
Pte George Robertson Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland LH/IL Birmingham 17th [28]
Pte Harry Robotham Flag of England.svg  England RHRetired23rd12 September 1916(1916-09-12) (aged 37) Somme, France [103]
Pte Fred Robson Flag of England.svg  England FB Southend United 17th [104]
Pte Charles RomainFlag of England.svg  England U Croydon Common 17th [105]
Pte Peter Roney Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland GK Bristol Rovers 17th [nb 35] [106]
Pte Ralph RoutledgeFlag of England.svg  England n/a Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [nb 36] [49]
Pte Ernest Russn/an/a Chelsea 17th [107]
Pte George Scott Flag of England.svg  England CH Clapton Orient 17th16 August 1916(1916-08-16) (aged 30) Nord, France [nb 37] [108]
Pte Angus Seed Flag of England.svg  England RB Leicester Fosse 17th MM [66]
Pte Jackie Sheldon Flag of England.svg  England OR Liverpool 17th [109]
Pte Ernie Simms Flag of England.svg  England CF Luton Town 17th, 23rd [110]
Pte Cyril Smith Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales IL Croydon Common 17th [nb 38] [111]
Pte Frank Spencern/aFB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [49]
Pte John Stephensonn/aGK Cardiff City 17th [83]
Pte William Stephenson Flag of England.svg  England RBWingate Albion17th [112]
Pte Alexander StewartFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FB Watford 17th [nb 39] [113]
Pte Percy Summers Flag of England.svg  England GK Grimsby Town 17th [65]
Pte Frank Taylorn/an/a Northampton Town 17th [114]
Pte Arthur Tilley Flag of England.svg  England OR Clapton Orient 17th, 23rd [nb 29] [115]
Pte Albert TomkinsFlag of England.svg  England HB/IF Croydon Common 17th [nb 40] [116]
Pte Alfred TylerFlag of England.svg  England OL Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [117]
Pte Dick Upex Flag of England.svg  England IL Croydon Common 17th [118]
Pte Joe Webster Flag of England.svg  England GK West Ham United 17th [119]
Pte Alf West Flag of England.svg  England FB Notts County 17th [120]
Pte Bob Whiting Flag of England.svg  England GK Brighton & Hove Albion 17th28 April 1917(1917-04-28) (aged 34) Oppy Wood, France [nb 41] [78]
Pte Fred Whittaker Flag of England.svg  England FW Millwall Athletic 17th [24]
Pte George Whitworth Flag of England.svg  England CF Northampton Town 17th [121]
Pte Arthur Wileman Flag of England.svg  England IR Luton Town 17th28 April 1918(1918-04-28) (aged 31–32) West Flanders, Belgium MM [nb 17]
[nb 19]
[122]
Pte James Williams Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales FW Millwall Athletic 17th5 June 1916(1916-06-05) (aged 32) Pas-de-Calais, France [2]
n/a Skilly Williams Flag of England.svg  England GK Watford 17th [123]
Pte Ernest Williamson Flag of England.svg  England GK Croydon Common 17th [nb 29] [124]
Pte T. T. Wilsonn/aHB Luton Town 17th [125]
Pte Jack Woodhouse Flag of England.svg  England HB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [126]

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. Later served in the Army Cyclist Corps and the Royal Engineers.
  8. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry on 24 August 1918.
  9. Also served as a bomb-throwing instructor.
  10. Later served in the London Regiment.
  11. Taken prisoner of war on 8 August 1916.
  12. 1 2 Taken prisoner of war on 27 April 1917.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Appointment, not rank.
  14. Medically discharged on 10 October 1917.
  15. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry on 24 July 1916.
  16. Medically discharged on 3 May 1918.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Died while serving with another unit.
  18. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment on 28 August 1917.
  19. 1 2 Decorations were won while serving with another unit.
  20. Appointment, not rank. Medically discharged on 16 October 1918.
  21. Served as trainer of the battalion football team in June 1917.
  22. Transferred to the Rifle Brigade on 27 May 1918.
  23. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the 21st Battalion on 25 June 1918.
  24. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) on 28 August 1917.
  25. Transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps and was medically discharged on 26 June 1918.
  26. Transferred to the Labour Corps.
  27. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 31 October 1917.
  28. Medically discharged on 10 April 1916 and later died of septic poisoning.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 Was released/discharged from the army before seeing active service.
  30. Transferred to The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
  31. Served in the 17th Battalion before transferring to the Suffolk Regiment prior to June 1916. Medically discharged in 1917.
  32. Taken prisoner of war on 13 November 1916.
  33. Taken prisoner of war on 28 April 1917.
  34. Medically discharged on 15 September 1916.
  35. Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in December 1916.
  36. Discharged on 18 August 1916.
  37. Taken prisoner of war.
  38. Later transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps.
  39. Medically discharged on 29 December 1916.
  40. Transferred to the Labour Corps in August 1918.
  41. 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.

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