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Football Battalion

January 06, 2023

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.

17th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Recruitment poster featuring the Football Battalion
Active12 December 1914
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeBattalion
RoleInfantry
Size600 troops
Nickname(s)"The Football Battalion"
"1st Football"

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] Northampton Town's Walter Tull became the first Black infantry officer in the British Army.[dubious – discuss][5][better source needed] The battalion suffered heavy losses, including at the Battle of Delville Wood and the Battle of Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] The ceremony was conducted by Father Owen Beament of Millwall and a two-minute silence was initiated by Gareth Ainsworth.[9]

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.[10]

Key

  • Players listed in bold won full international caps.

Playing positions

Soldiers

Officers

Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
Lt Col Alan Haig-Brown   England OR Clapton Orient 23rd 25 March 1918(1918-03-25) (aged 40) Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France DSO, MiD [nb 1] [7]
Maj Frank Buckley   England DF Bradford City 17th — — — [nb 2]
Cpt Percy Barnfather   England WH Croydon Common 17th — — MC [nb 3] [11]
Cpt Edward Bell   England OF South Farnborough 17th 24 March 1918(1918-03-24) (aged 31–32) Somme, France MC and Bar [nb 4] [8]
Cpt Vivian Woodward   England CF Chelsea 17th — — — [nb 5] [12]
2nd Lt Walter Tull   England IF/HB Northampton Town 17th, 23rd 25 March 1918(1918-03-25) (aged 29) Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France MiD [nb 6] [13]

Senior non-commissioned officers

Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
CSM Tommy Gibson   Scotland FB Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [14]
CSM Richard McFadden   Scotland FW Clapton Orient 17th 23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 26–27) Somme, France MM [15]
CSM Joe Smith   England HB Chesterfield 17th 13 November 1916(1916-11-13) (aged 26–27) Pas-de-Calais, France MiD [16]
CSM Lyndon Sandoe   Wales FB Cardiff City 17th — — DCM and Bar, MM [2]
CSgt Fred Bartholomew   England OR Reading 17th — — — [17]
CSgt Fred Parker   England FW Clapton Orient 17th — — — [18]
Sgt William Baker   England WH Plymouth Argyle 17th 22 October 1916(1916-10-22) (aged 32–33) Somme, France MM [19]
Sgt Ernie Coquet   England FB Fulham 17th — — — [nb 7] [20]
Sgt Robert Dalrymple   Scotland IF Clapton Orient 17th — — — [21]
Sgt Nolan Evans   England LB Clapton Orient 17th — — — [22]
Sgt Harry Gibson   England LH Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 8] [23]
Sgt Fred Goodwin   England OL Exeter City 17th — — — [nb 9]
[nb 10]		 [24]
[25]
Sgt Ted Hanney   England CH Manchester City 17th — — — [26]
Sgt Jimmy McCormick   England RH Plymouth Argyle 17th — — — [nb 11] [27]
Sgt Joe Mercer   England CH Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [nb 12] [28]
Sgt Sam Morris   England WH Bristol Rovers 17th — — — [29]
Sgt Charles Stewart   England IF Croydon Common 17th — — — [30]
Sgt Arthur Whalley   England WH Manchester United 23rd — — — [31]
Sgt Norman Wood   England IL Stockport County 17th 28 July 1916(1916-07-28) (aged 26–27) Delville Wood, France — [32]
Sgt Maurice Woodward   England HB/LB Southend United 17th — — — [33]
Act Sgt George Beech   England LB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [nb 13] [34]
Act Sgt Fred Keenor   Wales DF Cardiff City 17th — — — [nb 13] [35]
Lce Sgt Jack Cock   England CF Huddersfield Town 17th — — — [nb 13] [36]
Lce Sgt George McDonald   Scotland OR Norwich City 17th — — — [37]

Junior non-commissioned officers

Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
Cpl Ben Butler   England CH Queens Park Rangers 17th 13 May 1916(1916-05-13) (aged 27–28) Bruay-la-Buissière, France — [38]
Cpl Jack Doran   Ireland CF Coventry City 17th — — MM [39]
Cpl George Ford   England LB Woolwich Arsenal 17th — — — [nb 14] [40]
Cpl David Gray   Scotland FW St Mirren 17th — — — [29]
Cpl Jimmy Hugall   England GK Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 15] [41]
Cpl George Pyke   England CF Newcastle United 17th — — — [42]
Cpl Arthur Roe   England HB Luton Town 17th — — — [43]
Cpl George Saunders n/a n/a Clapton Orient 17th — — — [44]
Cpl Billy Spittle   England IF Woolwich Arsenal 17th — — — [nb 16] [45]
Cpl Sandy Turnbull   Scotland IF Manchester United 23rd 3 May 1917(1917-05-03) (aged 32) Chérisy, France — [nb 17] [46]
Act Cpl William Krug   England GK Chelsea 17th — — — [47]
Lce Cpl Joe Bailey   England IF Reading 17th — — DSO, MC and Two Bars, MiD [nb 18]
[nb 19]		 [48]
Lce Cpl Charlie Bell   Scotland FW Chesterfield 17th — — — [49]
Lce Cpl Fred Bullock   England DF Huddersfield Town 17th — — — [50]
Lce Cpl Charles Bunyan, Sr.   England GK Standard Liège (manager) 17th — — — [51]
Lce Cpl Herbert Dersley   England n/a Croydon Common 17th 1 June 1916 Pas-de-Calais, France — [52]
Lce Cpl Edward Foord   England FW Chelsea 17th — — — [nb 20] [50]
Lce Cpl Pat Gallacher   Scotland OF Ton Pentre 17th, 23rd — — — [nb 13]
[nb 21]
[nb 22]		 [53]
Lce Cpl Norman Holmes   England DF Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 23] [54]
Lce Cpl Robert Houston n/a n/a Woolwich Arsenal 17th — — — [55]
Lce Cpl Tom Pearson n/a n/a Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 24] [56]
Lce Cpl Henry Pennifer   England HB Queens Park Rangers 17th 24 March 1918 Somme, France — [nb 13]
[nb 17]		 [57]
Lce Cpl Sidney Wheelhouse   England RB Grimsby Town 17th 19 September 1916(1916-09-19) (aged 27–28) Somme, France — [58]

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] [59]
Pte Tommy Barber   England HB/IL Aston Villa 17th — — — [60]
Pte Jasper Batey   England LH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 25) Pas-de-Calais, France — [nb 17] [61]
Pte Billy Booth   England CH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [62]
Pte Jack Borthwick   Scotland CH Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [63]
Pte George Bowler   England RH Tottenham Hotspur 17th, 23rd — — — [64]
Pte James Bowler   England DF Crystal Palace 17th — — — [65]
Pte David Chalmers   Scotland CF Grimsby Town 17th — — — [66]
Pte Tommy Codd   England OL Leicester Fosse 17th — — — [nb 25] [67]
Pte Tim Coleman   England FW Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [68]
Pte George Crowther   England FW Hurst 17th — — — [69]
Pte William Daley   England n/a Chelsea 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 30–31) Guillemont, France — [70]
Pte Sam Davis   England RB Plymouth Argyle 17th — — MM [nb 26] [71]
Pte Charles Dexter   England FB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 27 June 1917(1917-06-27) (aged 26–27) Derby, England — [nb 27] [72]
Pte John Dunn   England IR Luton Town 17th — — — [nb 28] [73]
Pte Jack Dodds   England FW Oldham Athletic 17th — — — [50]
Pte Jack Durston   England GK Queens Park Rangers 17th — — — [74]
Pte Joe Fidler   England FB Port Vale 17th — — — [75]
Pte Allen Foster   England IF Reading 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28–29) Corbie, France — [76]
Pte Robert Frith   England HB Luton Town 17th — — — [nb 28] [77]
Pte Hugh Gallacher   Scotland LH Bristol Rovers 17th — — — [29]
Pte Billy Gerrish   England IF Unattached 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 31) Delville Wood, France — [78]
n/a David Girdwood n/a FB Chelsea 17th — — — [50]
Pte Charles Green   England RB Millwall Athletic 17th 28 April 1917 (aged 35) Oppy Wood, France — [79]
Pte Alf Gregson   England FW Grimsby Town 17th — — — [80]
Pte Albert Holmes   England OL Coventry City 17th — — — [81]
Pte Henry Hogarth   England HB Burnley 17th — — — [29]
Pte Percy Humphreys   England IR FC Basel (manager) 17th — — — [nb 28] [82]
Pte Hunter n/a FW Gainsborough Trinity 17th — — — [83]
Pte Harry Iremonger   England GK Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [84]
Pte William Jonas   England FW Clapton Orient 17th 27 July 1916(1916-07-27) (aged 25) Delville Wood, France — [44]
Pte Billy Jones   England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [85]
Pte David Kenny   Scotland CH Grimsby Town 17th — — — [80]
— Eddie King   England RH Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 29] [86]
Pte John Lamb   England HB The Wednesday 17th — — — [75]
Pte Frank Lindley   England OR Luton Town 17th — — — [87]
Pte Oscar Linkson   England FB Shelbourne 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28) Somme, France — [88]
Pte Tommy Lonsdale   England GK West Ham United 17th — — — [89]
Pte Frank Martin   England DF Grimsby Town 17th — — — [80]
Pte Tom McKenna   Ireland FB Grimsby Town 17th — — — [66]
Pte Joe McLauchlan   Scotland CF Watford 17th — — — [nb 30] [90]
Pte Billy Middleton   England FW Crystal Palace 17th — — — [91]
Pte Arthur Mounteney   England IF Hinckley Athletic 17th — — — [67]
Pte Archie Needham   England U Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [92]
Pte Thomas Newton   England GK Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 31] [93]
Pte Wilf Nixon   England GK Fulham 17th — — — [nb 32] [94]
Pte John Nuttall   England HB Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [95]
Pte William Oliver   England OL Tottenham Hotspur 17th — — — [nb 33] [96]
Pte Joseph Orme   England GK Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [97]
Pte Alonzo Poulton   England IR West Bromwich Albion 17th — — — [98]
Pte Thomas Ratcliff n/a n/a Woolwich Arsenal (trainer) 17th — — — [50]
Pte Joseph Raw n/a FB Clapton Orient 17th — — — [99]
Pte Jumbo Reason   England LB Clapton Orient 17th — — — [100]
Pte William Reed   England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [101]
Pte Stan Ripley   England HB Stoke City 17th 10 March 1917(1917-03-10) (aged 23–24) Sunderland, England — [nb 17] [29]
Pte Hugh Roberts   Wales OR Luton Town 17th — — — [102]
Pte George Robertson   Scotland LH/IL Birmingham 17th — — — [29]
Pte Harry Robotham   England RH Retired 23rd 12 September 1916(1916-09-12) (aged 37) Somme, France — [103]
Pte Fred Robson   England FB Southend United 17th — — — [104]
Pte Charles Romain   England U Croydon Common 17th — — — [105]
Pte Peter Roney   Scotland GK Bristol Rovers 17th — — — [nb 34] [106]
Pte Ralph Routledge   England n/a Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [nb 35] [50]
Pte Ernest Russ n/a n/a Chelsea 17th — — — [107]
Pte George Scott   England CH Clapton Orient 17th 16 August 1916(1916-08-16) (aged 30) Nord, France — [nb 36] [108]
Pte Angus Seed   England RB Leicester Fosse 17th — — MM [67]
Pte Jackie Sheldon   England OR Liverpool 17th — — — [109]
Pte Ernie Simms   England CF Luton Town 17th, 23rd — — — [110]
Pte Cyril Smith   Wales IL Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 37] [111]
Pte Frank Spencer n/a FB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [50]
Pte John Stephenson n/a GK Cardiff City 17th — — — [83]
Pte William Stephenson   England RB Wingate Albion 17th — — — [112]
Pte Alexander Stewart   Scotland FB Watford 17th — — — [nb 38] [113]
Pte Percy Summers   England GK Grimsby Town 17th — — — [66]
Pte Frank Taylor n/a n/a Northampton Town 17th — — — [114]
Pte Arthur Tilley   England OR Clapton Orient 17th, 23rd — — — [nb 28] [115]
Pte Albert Tomkins   England HB/IF Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 39] [116]
Pte Alfred Tyler   England OL Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [117]
Pte Dick Upex   England IL Croydon Common 17th — — — [118]
Pte Joe Webster   England GK West Ham United 17th — — — [119]
Pte Alf West   England FB Notts County 17th — — — [120]
Pte Bob Whiting   England GK Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 28 April 1917(1917-04-28) (aged 34) Oppy Wood, France — [nb 40] [79]
Pte Fred Whittaker   England FW Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [25]
Pte George Whitworth   England CF Northampton Town 17th — — — [121]
Pte Arthur Wileman   England IR Luton Town 17th 28 April 1918(1918-04-28) (aged 31–32) West Flanders, Belgium MM [nb 17]
[nb 19]		 [122]
Pte James Williams   Wales FW Millwall Athletic 17th 5 June 1916(1916-06-05) (aged 32) Pas-de-Calais, France — [2]
n/a Skilly Williams   England GK Watford 17th — — — [123]
Pte Ernest Williamson   England GK Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 28] [124]
Pte T. T. Wilson n/a HB Luton Town 17th — — — [125]
Pte Jack Woodhouse   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. ^ a b Taken prisoner of war on 27 April 1917.
  13. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b 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. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 31 October 1917.
  27. ^ Medically discharged on 10 April 1916 and later died of septic poisoning.
  28. ^ a b c d e Was released/discharged from the army before seeing active service.
  29. ^ Transferred to The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
  30. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion before transferring to the Suffolk Regiment prior to June 1916. Medically discharged in 1917.
  31. ^ Taken prisoner of war on 13 November 1916.
  32. ^ Taken prisoner of war on 28 April 1917.
  33. ^ Medically discharged on 15 September 1916.
  34. ^ Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in December 1916.
  35. ^ Discharged on 18 August 1916.
  36. ^ Taken prisoner of war.
  37. ^ Later transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps.
  38. ^ Medically discharged on 29 December 1916.
  39. ^ Transferred to the Labour Corps in August 1918.
  40. ^ 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

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January 06, 2023
football, battalion, 17th, service, battalion, middlesex, regiment, infantry, battalion, middlesex, regiment, part, british, army, which, formed, pals, battalion, during, great, core, battalion, group, professional, footballers, which, reason, most, commonly, . 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 17th Service Battalion Middlesex RegimentRecruitment poster featuring the Football BattalionActive12 December 1914Country United KingdomBranch British ArmyTypeBattalionRoleInfantrySize600 troopsNickname s The Football Battalion 1st Football Contents 1 History 1 1 17th Service Battalion 1 2 23rd Service Battalion 2 Legacy 3 Key 3 1 Playing positions 4 Soldiers 4 1 Officers 4 2 Senior non commissioned officers 4 3 Junior non commissioned officers 4 4 Ranks 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesHistory Edit17th Service Battalion Edit 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 Northampton Town s Walter Tull became the first Black infantry officer in the British Army dubious discuss 5 better source needed The battalion suffered heavy losses including at the Battle of Delville Wood and the Battle of Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme 6 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 Edit 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 7 The 23rd was assigned to the 123rd Brigade part of the 41st Division Legacy EditA 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 8 The ceremony was conducted by Father Owen Beament of Millwall and a two minute silence was initiated by Gareth Ainsworth 9 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 10 Key EditPlayers listed in bold won full international caps Playing positions Edit GK Goalkeeper RB Right back RW Right winger DF Defender HB Half back IF Inside forward DM Defensive midfielderOL Outside left LB Left back LW Left winger CB Centre back FW Forward FB Full back RM Right midfielderW Winger MF Midfielder ST Striker WH Wing half AM Attacking midfielder CM Central midfielder LM Left midfielderU Utility player OR Outside right SW Sweeper LH Left half RH Right halfSoldiers EditOfficers Edit This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items September 2014 Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion s Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes RefLt Col Alan Haig Brown England OR Clapton Orient 23rd 25 March 1918 1918 03 25 aged 40 Nord Pas de Calais France DSO MiD nb 1 7 Maj Frank Buckley England DF Bradford City 17th nb 2 Cpt Percy Barnfather England WH Croydon Common 17th MC nb 3 11 Cpt Edward Bell England OF South Farnborough 17th 24 March 1918 1918 03 24 aged 31 32 Somme France MC and Bar nb 4 8 Cpt Vivian Woodward England CF Chelsea 17th nb 5 12 2nd Lt Walter Tull England IF HB Northampton Town 17th 23rd 25 March 1918 1918 03 25 aged 29 Nord Pas de Calais France MiD nb 6 13 Senior non commissioned officers Edit This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items September 2014 Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion s Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes RefCSM Tommy Gibson Scotland FB Nottingham Forest 17th 14 CSM Richard McFadden Scotland FW Clapton Orient 17th 23 October 1916 1916 10 23 aged 26 27 Somme France MM 15 CSM Joe Smith England HB Chesterfield 17th 13 November 1916 1916 11 13 aged 26 27 Pas de Calais France MiD 16 CSM Lyndon Sandoe Wales FB Cardiff City 17th DCM and Bar MM 2 CSgt Fred Bartholomew England OR Reading 17th 17 CSgt Fred Parker England FW Clapton Orient 17th 18 Sgt William Baker England WH Plymouth Argyle 17th 22 October 1916 1916 10 22 aged 32 33 Somme France MM 19 Sgt Ernie Coquet England FB Fulham 17th nb 7 20 Sgt Robert Dalrymple Scotland IF Clapton Orient 17th 21 Sgt Nolan Evans England LB Clapton Orient 17th 22 Sgt Harry Gibson England LH Clapton Orient 17th nb 8 23 Sgt Fred Goodwin England OL Exeter City 17th nb 9 nb 10 24 25 Sgt Ted Hanney England CH Manchester City 17th 26 Sgt Jimmy McCormick England RH Plymouth Argyle 17th nb 11 27 Sgt Joe Mercer England CH Nottingham Forest 17th nb 12 28 Sgt Sam Morris England WH Bristol Rovers 17th 29 Sgt Charles Stewart England IF Croydon Common 17th 30 Sgt Arthur Whalley England WH Manchester United 23rd 31 Sgt Norman Wood England IL Stockport County 17th 28 July 1916 1916 07 28 aged 26 27 Delville Wood France 32 Sgt Maurice Woodward England HB LB Southend United 17th 33 Act Sgt George Beech England LB Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th nb 13 34 Act Sgt Fred Keenor Wales DF Cardiff City 17th nb 13 35 Lce Sgt Jack Cock England CF Huddersfield Town 17th nb 13 36 Lce Sgt George McDonald Scotland OR Norwich City 17th 37 Junior non commissioned officers Edit This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items September 2014 Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion s Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes RefCpl Ben Butler England CH Queens Park Rangers 17th 13 May 1916 1916 05 13 aged 27 28 Bruay la Buissiere France 38 Cpl Jack Doran Ireland CF Coventry City 17th MM 39 Cpl George Ford England LB Woolwich Arsenal 17th nb 14 40 Cpl David Gray Scotland FW St Mirren 17th 29 Cpl Jimmy Hugall England GK Clapton Orient 17th nb 15 41 Cpl George Pyke England CF Newcastle United 17th 42 Cpl Arthur Roe England HB Luton Town 17th 43 Cpl George Saunders n a n a Clapton Orient 17th 44 Cpl Billy Spittle England IF Woolwich Arsenal 17th nb 16 45 Cpl Sandy Turnbull Scotland IF Manchester United 23rd 3 May 1917 1917 05 03 aged 32 Cherisy France nb 17 46 Act Cpl William Krug England GK Chelsea 17th 47 Lce Cpl Joe Bailey England IF Reading 17th DSO MC and Two Bars MiD nb 18 nb 19 48 Lce Cpl Charlie Bell Scotland FW Chesterfield 17th 49 Lce Cpl Fred Bullock England DF Huddersfield Town 17th 50 Lce Cpl Charles Bunyan Sr England GK Standard Liege manager 17th 51 Lce Cpl Herbert Dersley England n a Croydon Common 17th 1 June 1916 Pas de Calais France 52 Lce Cpl Edward Foord England FW Chelsea 17th nb 20 50 Lce Cpl Pat Gallacher Scotland OF Ton Pentre 17th 23rd nb 13 nb 21 nb 22 53 Lce Cpl Norman Holmes England DF Clapton Orient 17th nb 23 54 Lce Cpl Robert Houston n a n a Woolwich Arsenal 17th 55 Lce Cpl Tom Pearson n a n a Clapton Orient 17th nb 24 56 Lce Cpl Henry Pennifer England HB Queens Park Rangers 17th 24 March 1918 Somme France nb 13 nb 17 57 Lce Cpl Sidney Wheelhouse England RB Grimsby Town 17th 19 September 1916 1916 09 19 aged 27 28 Somme France 58 Ranks Edit This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items September 2014 Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion s Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes RefPte Charles Abbs n a n a Norwich City 17th nb 12 59 Pte Tommy Barber England HB IL Aston Villa 17th 60 Pte Jasper Batey England LH Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 23 October 1916 1916 10 23 aged 25 Pas de Calais France nb 17 61 Pte Billy Booth England CH Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 62 Pte Jack Borthwick Scotland CH Millwall Athletic 17th 63 Pte George Bowler England RH Tottenham Hotspur 17th 23rd 64 Pte James Bowler England DF Crystal Palace 17th 65 Pte David Chalmers Scotland CF Grimsby Town 17th 66 Pte Tommy Codd England OL Leicester Fosse 17th nb 25 67 Pte Tim Coleman England FW Nottingham Forest 17th 68 Pte George Crowther England FW Hurst 17th 69 Pte William Daley England n a Chelsea 17th 8 August 1916 1916 08 08 aged 30 31 Guillemont France 70 Pte Sam Davis England RB Plymouth Argyle 17th MM nb 26 71 Pte Charles Dexter England FB Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 27 June 1917 1917 06 27 aged 26 27 Derby England nb 27 72 Pte John Dunn England IR Luton Town 17th nb 28 73 Pte Jack Dodds England FW Oldham Athletic 17th 50 Pte Jack Durston England GK Queens Park Rangers 17th 74 Pte Joe Fidler England FB Port Vale 17th 75 Pte Allen Foster England IF Reading 17th 8 August 1916 1916 08 08 aged 28 29 Corbie France 76 Pte Robert Frith England HB Luton Town 17th nb 28 77 Pte Hugh Gallacher Scotland LH Bristol Rovers 17th 29 Pte Billy Gerrish England IF Unattached 17th 8 August 1916 1916 08 08 aged 31 Delville Wood France 78 n a David Girdwood n a FB Chelsea 17th 50 Pte Charles Green England RB Millwall Athletic 17th 28 April 1917 aged 35 Oppy Wood France 79 Pte Alf Gregson England FW Grimsby Town 17th 80 Pte Albert Holmes England OL Coventry City 17th 81 Pte Henry Hogarth England HB Burnley 17th 29 Pte Percy Humphreys England IR FC Basel manager 17th nb 28 82 Pte Hunter n a FW Gainsborough Trinity 17th 83 Pte Harry Iremonger England GK Nottingham Forest 17th 84 Pte William Jonas England FW Clapton Orient 17th 27 July 1916 1916 07 27 aged 25 Delville Wood France 44 Pte Billy Jones England CF Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 85 Pte David Kenny Scotland CH Grimsby Town 17th 80 Eddie King England RH Clapton Orient 17th nb 29 86 Pte John Lamb England HB The Wednesday 17th 75 Pte Frank Lindley England OR Luton Town 17th 87 Pte Oscar Linkson England FB Shelbourne 17th 8 August 1916 1916 08 08 aged 28 Somme France 88 Pte Tommy Lonsdale England GK West Ham United 17th 89 Pte Frank Martin England DF Grimsby Town 17th 80 Pte Tom McKenna Ireland FB Grimsby Town 17th 66 Pte Joe McLauchlan Scotland CF Watford 17th nb 30 90 Pte Billy Middleton England FW Crystal Palace 17th 91 Pte Arthur Mounteney England IF Hinckley Athletic 17th 67 Pte Archie Needham England U Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 92 Pte Thomas Newton England GK Croydon Common 17th nb 31 93 Pte Wilf Nixon England GK Fulham 17th nb 32 94 Pte John Nuttall England HB Millwall Athletic 17th 95 Pte William Oliver England OL Tottenham Hotspur 17th nb 33 96 Pte Joseph Orme England GK Millwall Athletic 17th 97 Pte Alonzo Poulton England IR West Bromwich Albion 17th 98 Pte Thomas Ratcliff n a n a Woolwich Arsenal trainer 17th 50 Pte Joseph Raw n a FB Clapton Orient 17th 99 Pte Jumbo Reason England LB Clapton Orient 17th 100 Pte William Reed England CF Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 101 Pte Stan Ripley England HB Stoke City 17th 10 March 1917 1917 03 10 aged 23 24 Sunderland England nb 17 29 Pte Hugh Roberts Wales OR Luton Town 17th 102 Pte George Robertson Scotland LH IL Birmingham 17th 29 Pte Harry Robotham England RH Retired 23rd 12 September 1916 1916 09 12 aged 37 Somme France 103 Pte Fred Robson England FB Southend United 17th 104 Pte Charles Romain England U Croydon Common 17th 105 Pte Peter Roney Scotland GK Bristol Rovers 17th nb 34 106 Pte Ralph Routledge England n a Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th nb 35 50 Pte Ernest Russ n a n a Chelsea 17th 107 Pte George Scott England CH Clapton Orient 17th 16 August 1916 1916 08 16 aged 30 Nord France nb 36 108 Pte Angus Seed England RB Leicester Fosse 17th MM 67 Pte Jackie Sheldon England OR Liverpool 17th 109 Pte Ernie Simms England CF Luton Town 17th 23rd 110 Pte Cyril Smith Wales IL Croydon Common 17th nb 37 111 Pte Frank Spencer n a FB Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 50 Pte John Stephenson n a GK Cardiff City 17th 83 Pte William Stephenson England RB Wingate Albion 17th 112 Pte Alexander Stewart Scotland FB Watford 17th nb 38 113 Pte Percy Summers England GK Grimsby Town 17th 66 Pte Frank Taylor n a n a Northampton Town 17th 114 Pte Arthur Tilley England OR Clapton Orient 17th 23rd nb 28 115 Pte Albert Tomkins England HB IF Croydon Common 17th nb 39 116 Pte Alfred Tyler England OL Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 117 Pte Dick Upex England IL Croydon Common 17th 118 Pte Joe Webster England GK West Ham United 17th 119 Pte Alf West England FB Notts County 17th 120 Pte Bob Whiting England GK Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 28 April 1917 1917 04 28 aged 34 Oppy Wood France nb 40 79 Pte Fred Whittaker England FW Millwall Athletic 17th 25 Pte George Whitworth England CF Northampton Town 17th 121 Pte Arthur Wileman England IR Luton Town 17th 28 April 1918 1918 04 28 aged 31 32 West Flanders Belgium MM nb 17 nb 19 122 Pte James Williams Wales FW Millwall Athletic 17th 5 June 1916 1916 06 05 aged 32 Pas de Calais France 2 n a Skilly Williams England GK Watford 17th 123 Pte Ernest Williamson England GK Croydon Common 17th nb 28 124 Pte T T Wilson n a HB Luton Town 17th 125 Pte Jack Woodhouse England HB Brighton amp Hove Albion 17th 126 See also EditMcCrae s Battalion the 16th Service Battalion of the Royal ScotsNotes Edit Appointed commanding officer of the 23rd Battalion on 16 September 1916 Transferred in from the King s Regiment Liverpool Commissioned on 31 October 1916 Also served as the battalion s adjutant Previously served in the London Regiment prior to being commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment on 29 December 1914 Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the 23rd Battalion on 4 August 1917 Later served in the Army Cyclist Corps and the Royal Engineers Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry on 24 August 1918 Also served as a bomb throwing instructor Later served in the London Regiment Taken prisoner of war on 8 August 1916 a b Taken prisoner of war on 27 April 1917 a b c d e Appointment not rank Medically discharged on 10 October 1917 Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry on 24 July 1916 Medically discharged on 3 May 1918 a b c d e Died while serving with another unit Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment on 28 August 1917 a b Decorations were won while serving with another unit Appointment not rank Medically discharged on 16 October 1918 Served as trainer of the battalion football team in June 1917 Transferred to the Rifle Brigade on 27 May 1918 Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the 21st Battalion on 25 June 1918 Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Queen s Own Royal West Kent Regiment on 28 August 1917 Transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps and was medically discharged on 26 June 1918 Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Duke of Cornwall s Light Infantry on 31 October 1917 Medically discharged on 10 April 1916 and later died of septic poisoning a b c d e Was released discharged from the army before seeing active service Transferred to The Queen s Royal West Surrey Regiment Served in the 17th Battalion before transferring to the Suffolk Regiment prior to June 1916 Medically discharged in 1917 Taken prisoner of war on 13 November 1916 Taken prisoner of war on 28 April 1917 Medically discharged on 15 September 1916 Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in December 1916 Discharged on 18 August 1916 Taken prisoner of war Later transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps Medically discharged on 29 December 1916 Transferred to the Labour Corps in August 1918 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 Edit a b c Baker Chris The Middlesex Regiment in 1914 1918 www 1914 1918 net Retrieved 1 August 2015 a b c d e f g h i Devine Darren 8 October 2010 Book tells wartime story of the 17th Middlesex the Football Battalion Western Mail Retrieved 29 April 2012 a b c 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 Walter Tull the Army years PDF Black History 4 School Retrieved 29 April 2012 The Manchester United star who died at the Somme story of a true football hero Daily Mirror 13 November 2010 Retrieved 29 April 2012 a b Lancing College War Memorial www hambo org Retrieved 8 January 2016 a b 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 Riddoch amp Kemp 2010 p 78 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 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53 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 Riddoch amp Kemp 2010 p 302 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 a b Jenkins Steve 5 August 2011 Clapton Orient s Brothers In Arms leytonorient com Leyton Orient F C 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 a b c d e f g 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 Riddoch amp Kemp 2010 p 297 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 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 a b c Riddoch amp Kemp 2010 p 50 a b c 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 Riddoch amp Kemp 2010 p 107 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 a b 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 a b Bob Whiting of Brighton www photohistory sussex co uk Retrieved 27 February 2016 a b c McIsaac Shona 15 March 2011 Grimsby Town Football Club Archived from the original on 15 March 2011 Retrieved 2 January 2017 Myerson George 23 July 2014 Fighting for Football From Woolwich Arsenal to the Western Front Aurum Press ISBN 9781781314197 England Players Percy Humphreys www englandfootballonline com Retrieved 27 February 2016 a b Riddoch amp Kemp 2010 p 63 Nottingham Forest at 150 Footballers called 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2010 p 213 George Scott Service Record Football and the First World War Retrieved 26 February 2016 John Sheldon Service Record Football and the First World War Retrieved 26 February 2016 Private Ernest Simms Great War Stories www worldwar1luton com Retrieved 27 February 2016 Cyril Smith Service Record Football and the First World War Retrieved 19 April 2020 Riddoch amp Kemp 2010 p 64 Players Smith to Strouts PDF Watford Football Club archive 1881 2016 p 35 Footballing icons who became heroes of First World War Telegraph co uk Retrieved 15 December 2015 Arthur William Tilley Service Record Football and the First World War Retrieved 27 February 2016 Biographies Albert Tomkins PDF Croydon Common Football Club Retrieved 15 May 2018 Albion Back Memorial seagulls co uk Archived from the original on 11 March 2016 Retrieved 10 March 2016 Biographies Dick Upex PDF Croydon Common Football Club Retrieved 15 May 2018 Players Waugh to Williams PDF Watford Football Club archive 1881 2016 p 3 kjehan Alf West for the Footballers Battalion The history of Liverpool Football Club Retrieved 25 February 2016 Riddoch amp Kemp 2010 p 319 Sergeant Arthur Harold Wileman MM Great War Stories www worldwar1luton com Retrieved 27 February 2016 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 Biographies Ernest Williamson PDF Croydon Common Football Club Retrieved 15 May 2018 Private T T Wilson Great War Stories www worldwar1luton com Retrieved 27 February 2016 John Woodhouse Service Record Football and the First World War Retrieved 8 October 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Football Battalion amp oldid 1128729144, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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