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.
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 March 1915, 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 41 players, staff and supporters of Clapton Orient (later to be known as Leyton Orient) and 16 Heart of Midlothian players signed up for the 16th Royal Scots ('McCrae's Battalion ').[ 5] [ 6] 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 .[ 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 .[ 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.[ 8]
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 .[ 9] The ceremony was conducted by Father Owen Beament of Millwall and a two-minute silence was initiated 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 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 .[ 11] 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
Players listed in bold won full international caps.
Playing positions
Soldiers
Officers
Senior non-commissioned officers
Junior non-commissioned officers
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 12]
[ 60]
Pte
Tommy Barber
File:Flag of England.svg England
HB/IL
Aston Villa
17th
—
—
—
[ 61]
Pte
Jasper Batey
File:Flag of England.svg England
LH
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 25)
Pas-de-Calais , France
—
[ nb 17]
[ 62]
Pte
Billy Booth
File:Flag of England.svg England
CH
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
—
—
—
[ 63]
Pte
Jack Borthwick
File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
CH
Millwall Athletic
17th
—
—
—
[ 64]
Pte
George Bowler
File:Flag of England.svg England
RH
Tottenham Hotspur
17th, 23rd
—
—
—
[ 65]
Pte
James Bowler
File:Flag of England.svg England
DF
Crystal Palace
17th
—
—
—
[ 66]
Pte
David Chalmers
File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
CF
Grimsby Town
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Tommy Codd
File:Flag of England.svg England
OL
Leicester Fosse
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 25]
[ 68]
Pte
Tim Coleman
File:Flag of England.svg England
FW
Nottingham Forest
17th
—
—
—
[ 69]
Pte
George Crowther
File:Flag of England.svg England
FW
Hurst
17th
—
—
MM
[ nb 26]
[ 70]
Pte
William Daley
File:Flag of England.svg England
n/a
Chelsea
17th
8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 30–31)
Guillemont , France
—
[ 71]
Pte
Sam Davis
File:Flag of England.svg England
RB
Plymouth Argyle
17th
—
—
MM
[ nb 27]
[ 72]
Pte
Charles Dexter
File:Flag of England.svg England
FB
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
27 June 1917(1917-06-27) (aged 26–27)
Derby , England
—
[ nb 28]
[ 73]
Pte
John Dunn
File:Flag of England.svg England
IR
Luton Town
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 29]
[ 74]
Pte
Jack Dodds
File:Flag of England.svg England
FW
Oldham Athletic
17th
—
—
—
[ 51]
Pte
Jack Durston
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
Queens Park Rangers
17th
—
—
—
[ 75]
Pte
Joe Fidler
File:Flag of England.svg England
FB
Port Vale
17th
—
—
—
[ 76]
Pte
Allen Foster
File:Flag of England.svg England
IF
Reading
17th
8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28–29)
Corbie , France
—
[ 77]
Pte
Robert Frith
File:Flag of England.svg England
HB
Luton Town
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 29]
[ 78]
Pte
Hugh Gallacher
File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
LH
Bristol Rovers
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Billy Gerrish
File:Flag of England.svg England
IF
Unattached
17th
8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 31)
Delville Wood , France
—
[ 79]
n/a
David Girdwood
n/a
FB
Chelsea
17th
—
—
—
[ 51]
Pte
Charles Green
File:Flag of England.svg England
RB
Millwall Athletic
17th
28 April 1917 (aged 35)
Oppy Wood , France
—
[ 80]
Pte
Haydn Green
File:Flag of England.svg England
IR
Reading
17th
—
—
—
[ 81]
Pte
Alf Gregson
File:Flag of England.svg England
FW
Grimsby Town
17th
—
—
—
[ 82]
Pte
Albert Holmes
File:Flag of England.svg England
OL
Coventry City
17th
—
—
—
[ 83]
Pte
Henry Hogarth
File:Flag of England.svg England
HB
Burnley
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Percy Humphreys
File:Flag of England.svg England
IR
FC Basel (manager)
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 29]
[ 84]
Pte
Hunter
n/a
FW
Gainsborough Trinity
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Harry Iremonger
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
Nottingham Forest
17th
—
—
—
[ 86]
Pte
William Jonas
File:Flag of England.svg England
FW
Clapton Orient
17th
27 July 1916(1916-07-27) (aged 25)
Delville Wood , France
—
[ 45]
Pte
Billy Jones
File:Flag of England.svg England
CF
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
—
—
—
[ 87]
Pte
David Kenny
File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
CH
Grimsby Town
17th
—
—
—
[ 82]
—
Eddie King
File:Flag of England.svg England
RH
Clapton Orient
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 30]
[ 88]
Pte
John Lamb
File:Flag of England.svg England
HB
The Wednesday
17th
—
—
—
[ 76]
Pte
Frank Lindley
File:Flag of England.svg England
OR
Luton Town
17th
—
—
—
[ 89]
Pte
Oscar Linkson
File:Flag of England.svg England
FB
Shelbourne
17th
8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28)
Somme , France
—
[ 90]
Pte
Tommy Lonsdale
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
West Ham United
17th
—
—
—
[ 91]
Pte
Frank Martin
File:Flag of England.svg England
DF
Grimsby Town
17th
—
—
—
[ 82]
Pte
Tom McKenna
Ireland Ireland
FB
Grimsby Town
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Joe McLauchlan
File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
CF
Watford
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 31]
[ 92]
Pte
Billy Middleton
File:Flag of England.svg England
FW
Crystal Palace
17th
—
—
—
[ 93]
Pte
Arthur Mounteney
File:Flag of England.svg England
IF
Hinckley Athletic
17th
—
—
—
[ 68]
Pte
Archie Needham
File:Flag of England.svg England
U
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
—
—
—
[ 94]
Pte
Thomas Newton
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
Croydon Common
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 32]
[ 95]
Pte
Wilf Nixon
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
Fulham
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 33]
[ 96]
Pte
John Nuttall
File:Flag of England.svg England
HB
Millwall Athletic
17th
—
—
—
[ 97]
Pte
William Oliver
File:Flag of England.svg England
OL
Tottenham Hotspur
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 34]
[ 98]
Pte
Joseph Orme
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
Millwall Athletic
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Alonzo Poulton
File:Flag of England.svg England
IR
West Bromwich Albion
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Thomas Ratcliff
n/a
n/a
Woolwich Arsenal (trainer)
17th
—
—
—
[ 51]
Pte
Joseph Raw
n/a
FB
Clapton Orient
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Jumbo Reason
File:Flag of England.svg England
LB
Clapton Orient
17th
—
—
—
[ 102]
Pte
William Reed
File:Flag of England.svg England
CF
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Stan Ripley
File:Flag of England.svg England
HB
Stoke City
17th
10 March 1917(1917-03-10) (aged 23–24)
Sunderland , England
—
[ nb 17]
Pte
Hugh Roberts
File:Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales
OR
Luton Town
17th
—
—
—
[ 104]
Pte
George Robertson
File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
LH/IL
Birmingham
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Harry Robotham
File:Flag of England.svg England
RH
Retired
23rd
12 September 1916(1916-09-12) (aged 37)
Somme , France
—
[ 105]
Pte
Fred Robson
File:Flag of England.svg England
FB
Southend United
17th
—
—
—
[ 106]
Pte
Charles Romain
File:Flag of England.svg England
U
Croydon Common
17th
—
—
—
[ 107]
Pte
Peter Roney
File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
GK
Bristol Rovers
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 35]
[ 108]
Pte
Ralph Routledge
File:Flag of England.svg England
n/a
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 36]
[ 51]
Pte
Ernest Russ
n/a
n/a
Chelsea
17th
—
—
—
Pte
George Scott
File:Flag of England.svg England
CH
Clapton Orient
17th
16 August 1916(1916-08-16) (aged 30)
Nord , France
—
[ nb 37]
[ 110]
Pte
Angus Seed
File:Flag of England.svg England
RB
Leicester Fosse
17th
—
—
MM
[ 68]
Pte
Jackie Sheldon
File:Flag of England.svg England
OR
Liverpool
17th
—
—
—
[ 111]
Pte
Ernie Simms
File:Flag of England.svg England
CF
Luton Town
17th, 23rd
—
—
—
[ 112]
Pte
Cyril Smith
File:Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales
IL
Croydon Common
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 38]
[ 113]
Pte
Frank Spencer
n/a
FB
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
—
—
—
[ 51]
Pte
John Stephenson
n/a
GK
Cardiff City
17th
—
—
—
Pte
William Stephenson
File:Flag of England.svg England
RB
Wingate Albion
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Alexander Stewart
File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
FB
Watford
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 39]
[ 115]
Pte
Percy Summers
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
Grimsby Town
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Frank Taylor
n/a
n/a
Northampton Town
17th
—
—
—
[ 116]
Pte
Arthur Tilley
File:Flag of England.svg England
OR
Clapton Orient
17th, 23rd
—
—
—
[ nb 29]
[ 117]
Pte
Albert Tomkins
File:Flag of England.svg England
HB/IF
Croydon Common
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 40]
[ 118]
Pte
Alfred Tyler
File:Flag of England.svg England
OL
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
—
—
—
[ 119]
Pte
Dick Upex
File:Flag of England.svg England
IL
Croydon Common
17th
—
—
—
[ 120]
Pte
Joe Webster
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
West Ham United
17th
—
—
—
[ 121]
Pte
Alf West
File:Flag of England.svg England
FB
Notts County
17th
—
—
—
[ 122]
Pte
Bob Whiting
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
28 April 1917(1917-04-28) (aged 34)
Oppy Wood , France
—
[ nb 41]
[ 80]
Pte
Fred Whittaker
File:Flag of England.svg England
FW
Millwall Athletic
17th
—
—
—
[ 26]
Pte
George Whitworth
File:Flag of England.svg England
CF
Northampton Town
17th
—
—
—
Pte
Arthur Wileman
File:Flag of England.svg England
IR
Luton Town
17th
28 April 1918(1918-04-28) (aged 31–32)
West Flanders , Belgium
MM
[ nb 17] [ nb 19]
[ 124]
Pte
James Williams
File:Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales
FW
Millwall Athletic
17th
5 June 1916(1916-06-05) (aged 32)
Pas-de-Calais , France
—
[ 2]
n/a
Skilly Williams
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
Watford
17th
—
—
—
[ 125]
Pte
Ernest Williamson
File:Flag of England.svg England
GK
Croydon Common
17th
—
—
—
[ nb 29]
[ 126]
Pte
T. T. Wilson
n/a
HB
Luton Town
17th
—
—
—
[ 127]
Pte
Jack Woodhouse
File:Flag of England.svg England
HB
Brighton & Hove Albion
17th
—
—
—
[ 128]
See also
Notes
References
↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Baker, Chris. "The Middlesex Regiment in 1914–1918" . www.1914-1918.net . Retrieved 1 August 2015 .
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Devine, Darren (8 October 2010). "Book tells wartime story of the 17th Middlesex – the "Football Battalion" " . Western Mail . Retrieved 29 April 2012 .
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thomas, Ronan (10 November 2010). "Final Whistle: 'Pom Pom' Whiting" . BBC News . Retrieved 29 April 2012 .
↑ "Football Battalion is Formed" . The Spokesman-Review . Vol. XXXIV, no. 70. 5 January 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 29 April 2012 .
↑ "The Story of Clapton Orient in World War One" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 20 April 2024 .
↑ "The Sporting Battalion" . McCraes Battalion Trust . 18 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2024 .
↑ "The Manchester United star who died at the Somme – story of a true football hero" . Daily Mirror . 13 November 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2012 .
↑ 8.0 8.1 "Lancing College War Memorial" . www.hambo.org . Retrieved 8 January 2016 .
↑ 9.0 9.1 Winter, Henry (21 October 2010). "Footballers' Battalions remembered on Somme battlefield" . The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 29 April 2012 .
↑ Fletcher, Paul (22 October 2010). "Somme ceremony puts football in perspective" . BBC Blogs . Retrieved 29 April 2012 .
↑ Clements, Kate (22 July 2011). "Memorial to the 'Football Battalion' unveiled on the Somme" . First World War Centenary (Imperial War Museum) . Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012 .
↑ "Biographies – Percy Barnfather" (PDF) . Croydon Common Football Club . Retrieved 15 May 2018 .
↑ "Vivian Woodward" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Walter Tull" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Richard McFadden | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Casualty Details: Joe Smith" . Commonwealth War Graves Commission . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Frederick Bartholomew | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Frederick William Parker | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "William James Baker | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Ernest Coquet | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 25 February 2016 .
↑ "Robert Rodie Dalrymple | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Nolan Edwin Evans | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Harold Thomas Gibson | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ Greer, Stuart (5 December 2013). "Macclesfield footballer's tour of South America featured in online exhibition" . macclesfield . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ 26.0 26.1 "WW1's fighting footballers: Exeter City players go to war" . BBC News . 10 August 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2016 .
↑ "Ted Hanney – Manchester City and the First World War" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ "James McCormick | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ Royden, Mike. "Joe Mercer and the Football Battalion" (PDF) . Retrieved 15 May 2018 .
↑ "Biographies – Charles Stewart" (PDF) . Croydon Common Football Club . Retrieved 15 May 2018 .
↑ "Arthur Whalley | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 30 November 2017 .
↑ "Biographies – Norman Wood" (PDF) . Croydon Common Football Club . Retrieved 15 May 2018 .
↑ City, Leicester. "Leicester Fosse And The First World War: Part 21" . www.lcfc.com . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ "Our her-O's: Introducing the Orient players and staff that saw action in WWI" . www.leytonorient.com . Retrieved 11 March 2019 .
↑ "Frederick Charles Keenor | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ "John Gilbert Cock | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Albert Victor Butler | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "John Francis Doran | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "George Ford – Arsenal and the First World War" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 25 February 2016 .
↑ "James Cockburn Hugall | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "George Woolston Pyke | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ "Lance Corporal Arthur Roe | Great War Stories" . www.worldwar1luton.com . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ 45.0 45.1 Jenkins, Steve (5 August 2011). "Clapton Orient's "Brothers In Arms" " . Leyton Orient F.C. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2024 .
↑ "William Spittle | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 1 October 2021 .
↑ "The Story of Sandy Turnbull – A Manchester Football Hero" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ "William Alfred Krug | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ "Walter George Bailey | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 28 November 2017 .
↑ "The Manager Issue 22" . www.themanager-magazine.com . pp. 17–18. Retrieved 15 December 2015 .
↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 51.5 51.6 Riddoch, Andrew. "The Story of the Footballers' Battalions in the First World War" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 12 December 2015 .
↑ "Charlie Bunyan" . Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ Harris, Clive; Whippy, Julian (22 September 2008). The Greater Game: Sporting Icons Who Fell in The Great War . Pen and Sword. p. 172. ISBN 9781783831449 .
↑ "Patrick Gallacher | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Norman Arnold Holmes | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Thomas Henry Pearson | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ "Henry John Pennifer | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
↑ "Sid Wheelhouse – Grimsby Town and the First World War" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ emilysarah2012. "What can service records reveal?" . Norfolk in World War One . Retrieved 26 February 2016 . {{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link )
↑ "Tom Barber Aston Villa" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Jasper Matthews Batey | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "William Booth | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "John James Blacklaw Borthwick | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "George Bowler" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "James Bowler | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ 68.0 68.1 68.2 City, Leicester. "Leicester Fosse and the First World War: Part 10" . www.lcfc.com . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "John George Coleman" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "George Lisle Crowther | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 8 May 2023 .
↑ Churchill, Alexandra; Holmes, Andrew (15 July 2015). Over Land and Sea: Chelsea FC in the Great War . The History Press. ISBN 9780750965422 .
↑ "Samuel George Davis | Service Record" . Retrieved 5 October 2016 .
↑ "Charles Dexter | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Private John Dunn | Great War Stories" . www.worldwar1luton.com . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia . Yore Publications. pp. 51–52. ISBN 1-874427-57-7 .
↑ 76.0 76.1 "Pitching into the battle" . www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk . Retrieved 15 December 2015 .
↑ "Allen Foster | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "Private Robert William Frith | Great War Stories" . www.worldwar1luton.com . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ "William Webber Gerrish | Service Record" . Football and the First World War . Retrieved 26 February 2016 .
↑ 80.0 80.1 "Bob Whiting of Brighton" . www.photohistory-sussex.co.uk . Retrieved 27 February 2016 .
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