Sportsman's Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Royal Fusiliers 23rd service battalion and 24th (Service) Battalion (2nd Sportsman's), better known as the Sportsmen's Battalions, were among the Pals battalion
s formed in the Great War. Rather than be taken from a small geographical area, these particular battalions were largely made up of men who had made their name in sports such as cricket, boxing and football or the media.
The 1st battalion, which accepted men up to the age of 45, was formed at the Hotel Cecil in the Strand on the 25th of September 1914 by E. Cunliffe-Owen after Mrs. E. Cunliffe-Owen gained permission from Lord Kitchener
. In June 1915 it was attached to 99th Brigade, 33rd Division, it landed at Boulogne in November 1915 and on the 25th of that month transferred with Brigade to 2nd Division . The battalion saw action at Vimy Ridge, the Somme and the battle for Delville Wood
. It included several first class cricketers, the lightweight boxing champion of England and the author John Chessire.
The 24th (Service) Battalion (2nd Sportsman's) was raised in London on the 20th of November 1914 by E.Cunliffe-Owen, became attached to 99th Brigade, 33rd Division in June 1915 and, transferred to 5th Brigade in 2nd Division in December 1915.
Pals battalion
The Pals battalions of World War I were specially constituted units of the British Army comprising men who had enlisted together in local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and work colleagues , rather than being arbitrarily...
s formed in the Great War. Rather than be taken from a small geographical area, these particular battalions were largely made up of men who had made their name in sports such as cricket, boxing and football or the media.
The 1st battalion, which accepted men up to the age of 45, was formed at the Hotel Cecil in the Strand on the 25th of September 1914 by E. Cunliffe-Owen after Mrs. E. Cunliffe-Owen gained permission from Lord Kitchener
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, ADC, PC , was an Irish-born British Field Marshal and proconsul who won fame for his imperial campaigns and later played a central role in the early part of the First World War, although he died halfway...
. In June 1915 it was attached to 99th Brigade, 33rd Division, it landed at Boulogne in November 1915 and on the 25th of that month transferred with Brigade to 2nd Division . The battalion saw action at Vimy Ridge, the Somme and the battle for Delville Wood
Delville Wood
The Battle of Delville Wood was one of the early engagements in the 1916 Battle of the Somme in the First World War. It took place between 14 July and 3 September, between the armies of the German Empire and allied British and South African forces...
. It included several first class cricketers, the lightweight boxing champion of England and the author John Chessire.
The 24th (Service) Battalion (2nd Sportsman's) was raised in London on the 20th of November 1914 by E.Cunliffe-Owen, became attached to 99th Brigade, 33rd Division in June 1915 and, transferred to 5th Brigade in 2nd Division in December 1915.
Sources
- Hard as Nails: The Sportsmen's Battalion of World War One: The Sportsman's Battalion of World War I by Michael Foley
- rd Bn (First Sportsmans) Royal Fusiliers - A record of its services in the Great War by Fred Ward