1918-1919 ANECDOTES

1918 -1919 ANECDOTES

BATH CHRONICLE 14/12/1918
“Private Sidney Blanchard, Somerset L.I., of 6 Eldon Place, Larkhall, has also just reached home from internment. He was taken prisoner on March 23rd, and was working behind the German lines, with other English prisoners. Private Blanchard, who used to play forward for Bath ‘A’ Rugby team, belongs to Bailbrook, and has a brother, Edward, serving in the Royal Artillery in France.”

BATH CHRONICLE 21/12/1918
HOME AT LAST
PRIVATE WILLIAM FEAR REACHES BATH
OVER FOUR YEARS IN CAPTIVITY
“Of all the popular Rugby footballers who have worn the Bath jersey none is more esteemed than Private William Fear, of Spa College, Lower Swainswick. ‘Billy’ as a player, a man, and a soldier has always been rightly regarded as ‘real grit.’ He first played Rugger for the old Lansdown Swifts, but as far back as 1899 or 1900, came into the Bath XV, and in 1900 1901 was playing half-back for Somerset. He had then just entered the county regiment, and was in depot at Taunton. With the ‘Light Bobs’ he fought through the South African War and had many narrow escapes. After that campaign he went to India, and came home when his seven years with the Colours had ended. He was still keen, fit and skilful at the old game, and his many sterling games as scrum-working half for Bath are recalled with pleasure. It was remarkable after the long lapse due to military service that he should have been again played in the county team, but he was, and his last game for Somerset was against Middlesex at Wellington in March 1913, when his partner at half-back was J C W MacBryan, who then had retired as a Lieutenant in the Somerset L.I., and was a medical student at St. Barts. They met again on sterner duty. Private Fear was a Reservist and, after six years of peaceful life as a civilian, was called up when the war broke out, while Lieut. MacBryan, who was an officer of the special Reserve was posted to the platoon in which Fear was.
CAPTURED NEAR LE CATEAU
At Ligny, near Le Cateau, after fighting against the overwhelming odds of the Germans, they were both wounded on August 26th, 1914, by a shell, captured, and taken off in the same wagon by the Huns. Soon they were separated. Captain MacBryan – he was promoted to his third star after the action mentioned-returned to England in November, It was not until early this (Thursday) morning that Private Fear regained his home at Larkhall. His numerous friends will rejoice to know that he is in excellent health and looks hardly a day older, though his weight is a little less. Cheery and bright as ever, Private Fear wishes to forget the experiences of captivity in Germany. He was in hospital in Brunswick for some months while the wound in his right foot healed. For some weeks he was employed in Berlin at his trade as a butcher, but most of the dreary years in Germany have been spent working on the land. At one time he was grievously reduced in weight through want of food, but that was in the comparatively early days of his internment. He has been at practically two lagers only- Doberitz and Dyrotz. With him all the time were several of the old ‘dug-outs’ pals of the Somerset Regiment, taken on the same day at Ligny. Private Fear expresses himself in terms of deep gratitude for the parcels sent from home, through the instrumentality of the County Fund organised by Mrs. Waddy, and by a lady on Lansdown, Bath, who, we are sure, would prefer to remain anonymous, and others. He deeply appreciated a parcel of tobacco from the Bath Football Club which reached him just after Christmas 1916. There were six pounds of the brand it was known ‘Billy’ most enjoyed in this packet, and he says: ‘There were seventy of us to share it, and it tasted sweet.’ You can picture the scene! Private Fear prefers not to speak of his sufferings, but is prepared to give his evidence at any official inquiry.

BATH CHRONICLE 24/12/1918
Welcome to W Fear and J C W MacBryan.
“There was a very enjoyable gathering of officials and players of Bath Rugby Club at the Red House last evening to welcome home W Fear and J C W MacBryan, of the Somerset Light Infantry, members of the team who were prisoners of war in Germany from August 1914, to November, 1918. The two players had a most hearty welcome which touched them very much. The host was Mr. W F Long, who entertained the large party to dinner, those also present being Mr. A H W Taylor (Chairman of Bath Football Club), Mr G A Roberts (Hon. Treasurer), Messrs J T Piper and E F Simpkins (hon. Secretaries), who were in the vice-chairs, Captain Norman Coates, A.S.C., Major W Lewis, M.C., Captain W H Royal, Cadet Ben Hurst, R.E., D.C.M., Messrs J T Timmins, W Wills, A J Bennett, C C Wills, R R Stephenson, Alby Hatherill and E Russell, late R.F.A., ex-Sergt. G Parfitt, Somerset L.I., ex-Corporal S Holman, Somerset L I., ex-Pte. C. Wyer, Gloucesters, and Sergt. W. Rosenburg, R.A.S.C. The Mayor (Mr. A W Wills) intended to have been present, but owing to a sudden attack of malaria had had to go home.
The Chairman (Mr, W F Long) proposed the toast of “Our Guests” and said they were very pleased indeed to see them, and very thankful that they had come through their great trials without harm. (Applause) They felt it would not be befitting them as sportsmen and members of the Bath Football Club if they had not gathered to show Billy Fear and Captain MacBryan, after all their trials they had gone through, their appreciation and gratitude for the services they had rendered to the club, and to their country. (Applause) They had been through a great deal though they made light of it, and did not pull long faces. They were true sportsmen, and had met it all with smiling faces, as they had learnt on the football field to take hard knocks and a heavy beating and yet come up smiling.
The toast was drunk with musical honours. Pte. W Fear, in his response, expressed his great relief at being back, and what a joy it was to be among old faces and to receive such a warm welcome from his fellow members. At times everything had seemed hopeless, as if things would never be right again for them, but they thought much of the old days in England. The first parcel of tobacco and comforts he received came from the Bath Football Club, and to his fellow prisoners who congratulated him, he had proudly said, the old club did not forget.
Captain MacBryan also voiced his thanks for the welcome that had been given him, and told a story of his last football match. The ball was a lump of black bread, very hard and sour, served out to one of the officers as his day’s ration of bread. The bread was tossed about from one to another, and they ran about with it, and for that they were sent to prison in dark cells for seven days without a trial. It was a dear price to pay for a game of football, and a very bad one at that.
Responding to the toast of the “Bath Football Club,” proposed by Mr. Harold Lewis, Mr. A H W Taylor spoke hopefully of the future of Bath Rugby. The club had a fine name and a good record, some of its pre-war players were still available, and he had no doubt a good team could be got together. Promising young players were coming on, and it would be the task of the older men to watch for talent among the coming generation, foster it, and train it, and in a few years there would be again a fine XV. He hailed that gathering as the restart of Rugby, and was confident that with the enthusiasm shown that evening Rugby would soon return to its own.
In proposing “Our Chairman and Host,” Mr G A Roberts spoke of Mr W F Long’s distinguished career as a player and his help to the club since, and added a tribute to the players who would not be with them again,

Alf Cleall, L Hatherill, Lieut. E C MacBryan, and D Fisher.

The Chairman thought there was plenty of hope for Rugby in Bath. The old spirit was there, and the club handed down to the new players a record of success, sporting spirit and good and clean play.
Songs were sung by Cadet Ben Hurst, Messrs. S Holman, C Wyer, F Russell, E F Simpkins and G A Roberts.”

BATH CHRONICLE 24/12/1918
Welcome to W Fear and J C W MacBryan.
“There was a very enjoyable gathering of officials and players of Bath Rugby Club at the Red House last evening to welcome home W Fear and J C W MacBryan, of the Somerset Light Infantry, members of the team who were prisoners of war in Germany from August 1914, to November, 1918. The two players had a most hearty welcome which touched them very much. The host was Mr. W F Long, who entertained the large party to dinner, those also present being Mr. A H W Taylor (Chairman of Bath Football Club), Mr G A Roberts (Hon. Treasurer), Messrs J T Piper and E F Simpkins (hon. Secretaries), who were in the vice-chairs, Captain Norman Coates, A.S.C., Major W Lewis, M.C., Captain W H Royal, Cadet Ben Hurst, R.E., D.C.M., Messrs J T Timmins, W Wills, A J Bennett, C C Wills, R R Stephenson, Alby Hatherill and E Russell, late R.F.A., ex-Sergt. G Parfitt, Somerset L.I., ex-Corporal S Holman, Somerset L I., ex-Pte. C. Wyer, Gloucesters, and Sergt. W. Rosenburg, R.A.S.C. The Mayor (Mr. A W Wills) intended to have been present, but owing to a sudden attack of malaria had had to go home.
The Chairman (Mr, W F Long) proposed the toast of “Our Guests” and said they were very pleased indeed to see them, and very thankful that they had come through their great trials without harm. (Applause) They felt it would not be befitting them as sportsmen and members of the Bath Football Club if they had not gathered to show Billy Fear and Captain MacBryan, after all their trials they had gone through, their appreciation and gratitude for the services they had rendered to the club, and to their country. (Applause) They had been through a great deal though they made light of it, and did not pull long faces. They were true sportsmen, and had met it all with smiling faces, as they had learnt on the football field to take hard knocks and a heavy beating and yet come up smiling.
The toast was drunk with musical honours. Pte. W Fear, in his response, expressed his great relief at being back, and what a joy it was to be among old faces and to receive such a warm welcome from his fellow members. At times everything had seemed hopeless, as if things would never be right again for them, but they thought much of the old days in England. The first parcel of tobacco and comforts he received came from the Bath Football Club, and to his fellow prisoners who congratulated him, he had proudly said, the old club did not forget.
Captain MacBryan also voiced his thanks for the welcome that had been given him, and told a story of his last football match. The ball was a lump of black bread, very hard and sour, served out to one of the officers as his day’s ration of bread. The bread was tossed about from one to another, and they ran about with it, and for that they were sent to prison in dark cells for seven days without a trial. It was a dear price to pay for a game of football, and a very bad one at that.

Responding to the toast of the “Bath Football Club,” proposed by Mr. Harold Lewis, Mr. A H W Taylor spoke hopefully of the future of Bath Rugby. The club had a fine name and a good record, some of its pre-war players were still available, and he had no doubt a good team could be got together. Promising young players were coming on, and it would be the task of the older men to watch for talent among the coming generation, foster it, and train it, and in a few years there would be again a fine XV. He hailed that gathering as the restart of Rugby, and was confident that with the enthusiasm shown that evening Rugby would soon return to its own.
In proposing “Our Chairman and Host,” Mr G A Roberts spoke of Mr W F Long’s distinguished career as a player and his help to the club since, and added a tribute to the players who would not be with them again,

FROM A ARTICLE CHRONICLE 4/1/1919

ANOTHER FOOTBALLERS RETURN
FROM CAPTIVITY IN GERMANY
Lance-Corporal Bert Isaacs of 7 Larkhall Terrace, Bath arrived home on Saturday. Twice wounded, he had been a prisoner in German hands since 23rd March 1918. Corporal Isaacs was a regular “A” XV player. He returned by way of Denmark, sailing on Sunday 22nd December, and landed back in UK (albeit Leith in Scotland), at noon on Christmas Day 1918.

** BATH WEEKLY CHRONICLE
Australian Footballers Accident

A most unusual accident happened at the Bath v Kangaroos football match on the Recreation Ground on Saturday. One of the visitors Pte G Noble Australian ASC, instead of washing in the bath stood up in one of the white ware hand basins fixed in a slate slab in the dressing room of the Pavilion to have a swill. The bottom of the basin gave way under his weight and one of Nobles legs was severely cut.

Mr Curtis of the St Johns Ambulance, who was on duty, speedily as possible stopped the haemorrhage with a tourniquet and Captain Dr Worger, one of the Bath team supervised the injured man’s dispatch to the Bath War Hospital in the Fire Brigade Motor Ambulance, which came speedily in response to a telephone call. Today he was reported to be comfortable.

BATH CHRONICLE REPORT 17th September 1918 – Lord Alexander Thynne fell in action in command of a Wiltshire Battalion. He was a Vice President of the Bath Football Club.