1933-1934 ANECDOTES

1933-1934 ANECDOTES

TWO BATH PLAYERS IN DRAMATIC RESCUE

MANCOM 5/7/1933

Players – P.C. Dan Thomas and W E (Bill) Hancock received Committee congratulations for conspicuous bravery in rescuing and saving two drowning women.

The incident was graphically reported in the July 14 th edition of the Chronicle and Herald.

It resulted from a 60 year old Bathwick woman’s alleged attempt to drown her own 24 tear old daughter in the murky waters of a Widcombe canal lock. It was alleged that after a struggle, the mother and daughter fell down 11 foot into the water, and the mother, it was alleged, resisted attempts to rescue her daughter with the aid of a grappling iron. At this point, rugby player P.C. Daniel Thomas jumped down to effect rescue, closely followed by team-mate W E (Bill) Hancock). The mother was reported to have left a note: “Can’t sleep, can’t work. Head blank. All creepy. I can’t care for Dolly and you can’t.

God forgive me my son. Bad wicked woman. Pay rent.”

In court: “I want to go to Jesus and take little Dolly with me. My husband is giving me hell.”

After both men’s heroic efforts, both the unfortunate women were eventually pulled to the bank.  Court officials recorded that the conduct of the rescuers was :”deserving of the highest possible praise.”

P.C. Thomas and Bill Hancock eventually received Civic Recognition for their bravery.

Bath Chronicle 18^th August 1933

BATH RUGBY PRACTICE

THE SAD TALE OF AN OVER-KEEN PRESSMAN.

When the Editor informed me that he particularly wanted a nice little article about Bath Football Club’s training on the Recreation Ground, I decided that the job should be ‘tackled’ properly.

I determined to train with them! In spite of the sarcastic comments by my colleague’s penchant for snakes-and -ladders, marbles and kindred pastimes, I adhered to my resolution.

As soon as I approached the Club officials on the subject, I realised that it was going to be difficult, but after much cajoling, a little bluff and a telephone conversation with the Rugby Union, I managed to get permission to turn out.

‘Donning’ a nice new jersey, beautifully cut shorts and well studded footwear, I strolled on to the field trying hard to appear unaware of the admiration of the spectators.

Unfortunately I had been able to secure the loan of an international cap-both ‘Consi’ and Gerrard refused to part with theirs, even on loan to an honest journalist.

That I had never before handled a Rugger ball did not worry me, for it was obvious, from the matches I had seen, that the game was ‘dead’ easy.

THE FIRST BLOW

It seems you have to be a pretty tough guy to play Rugger. Anyway, nobody but a Sampson could have given me such a good clout in the ear with the ball as I got some three and a half seconds after we, i.e., they-started training.

I believe the perpetrator of the fell deed was Leslie Moore, or possibly Peter Moon; either of them can be unpleasantly accurate when it comes to hurling a ball about.

When I regained consciousness it was explained to me with the politeness characteristic of ‘Rugby gentlemen,’ that the projection of the ball towards me was a pass and that I should have gathered it.

The first-aid squad having departed, I took courage, the field, and my life in both hands.

It was disappointing to find that kicking wasn’t allowed. I was rather proud of my boots and-I hope, Mervyn Shaw doesn’t miss them from his locker.

AS the practice went on I had a vague idea that I wasn’t too popular with the he-men. ‘Gerry’ gave me a distinctly nasty look when I made a practice tackle on him from behind. In my enthusiasm I did not notice that at the time he was doing up a recalcitrant bootlace.

There was one great moment when I gathered a loose ball brilliantly and made a thrilling run the whole length of the ground to score ‘the try of the season’ under the bar-or where the bar would have been if the posts were up.

Disillusionment came when I discovered that the ball was not oval, but had been hit over the netting from a neighbouring tennis court.

KNITTING PREFERRED

Visions of Twickenham were now rapidly receding, and I swear I heard ‘Skipper’ Barber inquiring of Derek Wilson: “Hasn’t that poor mut a keeper?”

What finally decided me that I was not cut out for Rugby, was the portion of the training devoted to what are popularly described as ‘forward rushes.’

They were far too forward for my liking, and the only rushing that appealed to me was in the direction of the pavilion.

If you found yourself with a few tons on Bath Football Club on top of you, you would come to the same conclusion as I did-to concentrate on your knitting!

As I said to Messrs. Bascombe, Davis, Scott Reid, Wills and one or two other pitying officials afterwards, I would cheerfully go into the ring against Carnera, but when it comes to playing at ball with Rugby people-well, it’s more comfortable in the stand.

Club trials were held on St. Stephen’s R.F.C. ground on Kensington Meadows. Players changed at the Rec. pavilion and were ‘motored’ to Kensington.

Bath Chronicle September 16^th reported sound position of the Bath and District Combination, following a meeting at the Y.M.C.A. “Representatives of the clubs at Trowbridge, Melksham, and Frome were welcomed by the Chairman, who announced that the newly-formed St. James’s Club, The Exciles, and The Nomads were joining the Combination.”

Twenty-four players from Combination clubs made 156 appearances for Bath United, and 5 put in 31 appearances between them for the 1^st XV. Some were now recognised as regular Bath F.C. members.”

The Hon. Sec. Of the Bath Club confirmed that the Horse Show Ground, Lambridge was available to local clubs, and in particular, those with no ground of their own.

1. A . GERRARD MOVE ?

News that R A Gerrard might be moving away from Bath for a career step with British Reinforced Concrete Co., at Stafford. “In his 22^nd year, Gerrard’s career in Rugby has been meteoric. He was born in Hong Kong of Scotch parents ,and was educated privately until he came to England at the age of 15, and entered Taunton School. Up to then he had neither seen nor played Rugby football, and proof that he was a born player is evident from the fact that, whilst still a schoolboy, he had made such good progress that the County claimed his services. In 1931 the English Selectors awoke to the fact very nearly the prefect centre-strong, heavy (he weighs 13 stone), fast, clever, and resourceful, with a terrific hand-off – was to be found in the West, and accordingly they put him in both the English Trials that season.

They soon decided he was a ‘find’ and he made his debut in International football, playing for England against the South African Tourists at Twickenham on January 2^nd 1932.

Up to date, Gerrard had scored 120 points for Bath, with a first try against Weston-super-Mare on November 15^th1930  At this time, he had played 62 games for Bath, scored 15 goals, 5 penalties and 25 tries.

THANKFULLY, the headline a few days later read:-

R.A. GERRARD CHANGES HIS MIND

INTERNATIONAL NOT LEAVING THE CITY

NORTHERN POST DECLINED

The Man in Blue

“There was one man at the Newport-Bath match of whom I could not help thinking. He was H.Curtis a Bathonian, who came in hospital blue on crutches. Wounded internally in 1917 by shrapnel, he has been in and out of hospital ever since and has undergone 30 operations-his legacy of war.

Now he is at Rookwood Hospital Llandaff. After being in bed for three months, he implored the doctors to let him get up to see Bath play at Rodney Avenue.

After thinking it over they said: ‘Yes, if it’s fine.’ It was fine, and he came straight from his sick bed, and he went back to it when the game was over.

But it gave him a world of pleasure to shout ‘Bath’ and to wander into the dressing room and shake a few hands.

Curtis is shortly going to the Star and Garter Home for ex-servicemen. But he is happy reading and talking about football and keeping in touch The Man in Blue

with Bath news.

He knows the cruel blow Fate has dealt him, but he keeps on smiling.

A brother was, I believe, a Bath half-back, and his father a St. John Ambulance man.”

Editor’s Note. C Curtis, his father, was indeed a long serving St. John’s Ambulance man, and appeared in many of the team photographs in the 1910’s and 1920’s. During the latter period he had acquired a corporal’s stripe and a medal.