Lest We Forget

On Armistice Day, John Chambers reflects on the impact the First World War had on Tottenham Hotspur and pays tribute to the brave former Spurs players who sadly made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ during that 1914-18 conflict.

Let’s pause for a moment to recall the sombre words of our 1919/20 handbook...

“On the combined effort to achieve victory in the great game of war we can look with solemn pride. Naturally, our thoughts revert to those who fought and fell. It is a rather long list, this record of men associated with the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club who made the supreme sacrifice. They were – J Fleming, A Hobday, J Hebdon, J Jarvie, EJ Lightfoot, WHD Lloyd, A MacGregor, WD Tull, WF Weir, A Wilson and NA Wood. To their memories, we pay humble tribute, knowing full well that if they could send us a message today, it would be just this - “Carry on!”

In addition to the 11 named in the handbook, another six ex-Spurs men tragically lost their lives in the Great War that claimed an estimated 40 million souls worldwide: GH Badenoch, J Chalmers, A Glen, F J Griffiths, AR Haig-Brown and J Moles.

In 2018, Harry Kane, Mousa Dembélé and Michel Vorm were joined by representatives from the Woodland Trust to plant 16 trees at Hotspur Way in honour of our players that died during World War I. The planting was part of the National Football Museum’s ‘For Club and Country’ project that planted 100 trees for each of the Club’s that were professional when the war erupted in 1914.

Fearing a full European invasion after Belgium had been toppled, King George V declared war on Germany in August 1914, however the Football League carried on as the authorities thought it would be morale boosting. With no conscription until January 1916, when the Military Service Act was passed, the 17th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, known as the ‘Football Battalion,’ was formed in December 1914 at Fulham Town Hall. Commanded by Bradford City’s Major Frank Buckley, our ex-superstar Vivian Woodward was quick to enlist along with our brave lads George Bowler (Private F/27) and William Oliver (Private F/34).

With letters arriving from the front line enquiring why footballers were still at home while they were ankle deep in muddy trenches, the 10 Clapton Orient players who’d joined the 17th, adorned their Army uniforms to march around the pitch in a farewell parade as the season ended. The entire Orient staff, along with Hearts, enlisted causing the league to be suspended in 1915. The unit was deployed to the Western Front, suffering heavy casualties at the Battle of the Somme.

Having previously represented Douglas Wanderers, Hearts, Glossop and Watford, Scottish winger George Badenoch joined us in 1906, but a bout of appendicitis restricted him to a single Southern League outing.  He then assisted Northampton Town to the Southern League title in 1909 before injury forced retirement. He subsequently emigrated to Canada in 1910. Serving the 1st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (Ontario), Private Badenoch was killed in the Givenchy trenches on 15 June 1915, aged 33. His name is listed on the Vimy Memorial at Pas-de-Calais, France.

Hailing from Old Luce in Scotland, winger James Chalmers was signed in 1902 to understudy John Kirwan. A journeyman, who represented Greenock Morton, Sunderland, Preston North End, Notts County and Watford, Chalmers managed 10 Southern League outings and won the Western League in 1904. On the move after two years, he also featured for Swindon Town, Norwich City and Bristol Rovers. Joining the Royal Scots Fusiliers, Private Chalmers died in Gallipoli, Turkey on 12 July 1915, and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.

Another Scot to perish was striker John Fleming who joined from Newcastle United. After three goals in 19 league matches, he moved to Glasgow Rangers in 1915 before enlisting in the 8th Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. It is believed Lance Corporal Fleming took his own life at Richmond Camp in Yorkshire on 21 March 1916 – although some reports claim he died from pneumonia.

Welsh international goalkeeper Fred Griffiths joined in 1901. His performances gained the distinction of being Blackpool’s first capped player before moves to Stalybridge and Millwall Athletic. After nine Southern League and three FA Cup matches, he moved to Preston North End before successful stints at West Ham and New Brompton. His career wound down at Middlesbrough and Shirebrook, taking a job down a coal mine. Appointed to the 15th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, Sergeant Griffiths was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele on 30 October 1917, aged 44. He is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Having previously thought 16 of our finest made the ultimate sacrifice, it has since come to light that Alexander Glen tragically took his own life at Ripon Camp, Yorkshire on 21 September 1916 (thanks to Brentford historian Paul Briers for this information). The Scottish forward studied medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and served with the Scottish National Red Cross in the Second Boer War. He featured for Clyde, Grimsby and Notts County before joining us in 1904, and spent two seasons in N17, finishing as our Southern League top scorer in 1904/05. A Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps, the coroners’ report claimed, “Suicide when in a state of temporary insanity.” This would be classed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder today due to witnessing two separate wars.

Born at Charterhouse School where his father was headmaster, Alan Haig-Brown was destined for greatness. Tutored at the Dragon School, Oxford and Charterhouse, Alan graduated with a B.A. in the Classical Tripos in 1899. The sturdy but speedy winger excelled at all sports, earning a coveted ‘Cambridge Blue.’ Appointed Assistant Master at Lancing College, his Army career began in 1906, and by 1915, he was commanding the Lancing Officers’ Training Corps. A staunch amateur representing Old Carthusians and Corinthian FC, Haig-Brown was attracted to N17 in 1901, playing four Southern League matches when other commitments allowed. Also a celebrated author, he commanded the 23rd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, known as the 2nd Football Battalion. Promoted to Lieutenant-Commander, he was a well-respected officer, conscientious of his men’s welfare. He was wounded twice and mentioned in Despatches in May 1917. He was killed during the Spring Offensive by machine gun fire at Bapaume attempting to hold back the German advance on 25 March 1918 and is buried at Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery extension.

John Hebdon, Alf Hobday and John Jarvie, who all gave good reserve service, also lost their lives. Lance Corporal Hebdon enlisted to the 14th Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish) and was killed during the Battle of Arras on 9 April 1917, aged 22. He is listed on the London Cemetery, Neuville-Vitasse after his grave was destroyed by shellfire during later fighting.

Already an Army reservist when he joined us in 1913, Sergeant Hobday was called up to the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers. Recommended for a Victoria Cross after bringing in a wounded officer under fire, the 28-year-old was believed to have been wounded in Ypres Salient. His body was never recovered, and he was confirmed dead on 16 June 1915. He is commemorated at Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. Scottish Private Jarvie joined us from Glasgow’s Maryhill and left for Luton Town. At the outbreak of war, he joined the 2nd Battalion, Princess Louise’s Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders. He fell victim to an enemy mine in Flanders on 2 January 1916, aged 27, and is buried in the Cambrin Churchyard Extension.

Beginning his career at Harrowby before transferring to Southport Central, Ed Lightfoot signed in May 1911. Representing us 66 times, Gunner Lightfoot joined Royal Garrison Artillery in 1916 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1918. He was taken to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing station in Esquelbecq where he died from unknown causes on 20 July 1918. He is buried at Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France.

Harold Lloyd, Alexander MacGregor and James Moles were another three reserves who sadly never returned. Corporal Lloyd of the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards died in Flanders on 7th November 1914 and is remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

Signed from Glasgow-based Yoker Athletic in June 1914, teenager MacGregor joined the Gordon Highlanders and was killed on his first day in France.

After giving a false age while trying to join the army in 1900, Tottenham-born Moles was discharged after 48 days when discovered he was 16. Starting at Asplin Rovers, Moles represented our reserves before joining Leyton. He then spent two Football League seasons with Birmingham City before returning to Leyton, where his parents resided. A Lance Corporal in the 3rd and 11th Battalions, Duke of Cambridge’s Own, Middlesex Regiment, Moles, aged 30, died of wounds in Flanders on 7 November 1915. He is buried at Lillers Communal Cemetery.

Born to a Barbadian father and English mother, Walter Tull famously became the first outfield black player to feature in the Football League when he made his Tottenham debut at Sunderland in 1909. He scored two goals in 10 league appearances before moving to Northampton Town. Joining the Football Battalion alongside Woodward, Sergeant Tull was invalided from France with trench fever and while he was away the 17th suffered such bad losses at the Battle of the Somme they were disbanded. He was sent to Scotland for officer cadet training, where he arranged to play for Glasgow Rangers after the war – sadly, this never came to fruition, and we compete with Rangers for the Walter Tull Memorial Trophy in his honour. Now a Second Lieutenant, Walter became the first black officer in the British Army and was mentioned in Despatches for his ‘gallantry and coolness’ in the face of heavy fire. Just short of his 30th birthday, he was shot and died instantly in ‘No Man’s Land’ near Favreuil, in the Pas de Calais on 25 March 1918. His body was never found but he is remembered on the Arras memorial wall at Faubourg d’Amiens War Cemetery.

Glaswegian wing-half Findlay Weir arrived in May 1912 after spells at Maryhill and The Wednesday. A steady, reliable player, Weir was virtually ever-present in his three seasons, chalking up 101 appearances before enlisting as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers. Given the rank of Sergeant and posted to the Western Front in 1916, Weir was seriously wounded but recovered and was assigned at the RE Demolition Training Post Depot in Newark. He died in unknown circumstances on 9 July 1918 at 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton.

Two of our former players are commemorated at Thiepval Memorial after falling at the Battle of the Somme. Ayrshire-born Archie Wilson joined us in 1909 but moved to Southend without making a senior appearance. His speedy wing play was noted by Middlesbrough who signed him in July 1914. He guested for us during the war after joining the 14th Battalion, London Regiment, (London Scottish). Private Wilson was mortally wounded on 1 July 1916.

Signed from Bromley, Norman Wood spent two seasons between 1907 and 1909 in our reserves before featuring for a myriad of clubs, most notably Stockport County. Enlisted in the 17th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regiment (Football Battalion) Sergeant Wood was killed on 28 July 1916.

Mercifully, we suffered no casualties in World War II but please help the Royal British Legion in assisting soldiers who survived the horrors of war. Ordinary folk thrust into extraordinary situations like our own Scottish full-back Tom Collins, who returned from the Great War but lost an arm and a leg and never represented us again. There will always be a corner of a foreign field that is forever Tottenham Hotspur, who lost some fine upstanding men between 1914 and 1918.

Lest We Forget.  

For whom the bell Tulls

Our former Press Officer and Club Historian, John Fennelly, put together a special feature on Walter Tull in Hotspur Magazine back July, 2009 - marking a century since he'd signed for Spurs. Detailing Walter's life, the feature also looked at his family and what life in Tottenham was like in 1909, both on and off the pitch.

The feature is a reference point for Walter Tull - and can be read by using the link below.