The Football battalions in WW1.

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During the First World War, over 2,000 professional footballers from Britain volunteered to serve their country.

Hundreds formed the core of their own Pals battalions.
They inspired thousands of fans to join them too.

Many of these working class sportsmen eventually became officers.
Many were decorated for valour, with two receiving the Victoria Cross.
And 364 made the ultimate sacrifice, laying down their lives for their country.


This is the story of both those Football Battalions and some of the footballers who left the playing fields to fight on the battlefields during World War 1.

In November 1914, Edinburgh MP, George McCrae, instigated the formation of a Pal's battalion of footballers in Scotland. The 16th battalion, Royal Scots, had at its core the first and reserve teams of his local club, Heart of Midlothian. They were swiftly joined by players from other clubs as well as supporters.
Seven Hearts players gave their lives for their country during the First World War and they are remembered in a landmark memorial at Haymarket, Edinburgh.

The Scottish example, galvanised the professional players in England into action.
Two Footballer's battalions were formed, as part of the Middlesex Regiment.

They were commanded by Major Frank Buckley (England & Derby County) and Alain Haig-Brown (Tottenham Hotspur and Clapton Orient), respectively.
Haig-Brown was awarded the DSO and was killed in action in 1918.

Other players in the Footballer's battalions included:

William Jonas (Clapton Orient), KIA at the battle of the Somme.
Richard McFadden (also Clapton Orient), awarded the Military Medal and KIA 1916
Captain Edward Inkerman Bell (Southampton FC), Military Cross. KIA 1918
Walter Tull (Northampton Town) KIA 1918
Joe Bailey (Reading FC), DSO and Military Cross (3 times!)
Percy Barnfather (Croydon Common) , Victoria Cross
Fred Bullock (Huddersfiled Town)
Joe Mercer (Nottingham Forest)

Not all footballer's joined the Footballers battalions.
William Angus, formerly of Celtic, joined the Highland Light Infantry, and was awarded the Victoria Cross for resuing a stricken comrade in nomansland.
In the process he lost an eye and part of his right foot. He never played football again.


Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:35 Pal's Battalions
1:50 Football in Crisis
4:04 McCrae's Battalion
5:00 The Football Battalions
7:21 Battle of the Somme
9:00 Walter Tull
10:14 The Khaki Final
10:57 Medals for Valour
14:05 Casualties
16:04 Lest We Forget

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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.

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Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.

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