IN NOVEMBER 1914, Sir George McCrae, chairman of the Local Government Board in Edinburgh, called for volunteers for his new army unit. They became the 16th Battalion of the Royal Scots.

Among the first recruits were the entire Hearts first team. At the time, Hearts were top of the Scottish League – and this sent a powerful message to other footballers and supporters. In addition to Hearts, volunteers enlisted from Raith Rovers, Hibs, Dunfermline Athletic and Falkirk.

Following the recruitment success in Scotland, McCrea went on England to assist in raising the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment.

Clapton Orient (now Leyton Orient FC) were the first English Football League club to enlist together to do their patriotic duty. Following the example of team captain, Fred Parker, 40 players and staff joined the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment – like the 16th Royal Scots, the 17th Middlesex became known as the Footballers’ Battalion.

In 1915, the Army launched a recruiting drive among the footballers of the nation to persuade them to enlist.

Thousands of players and tens of thousands of supporters were encouraged to join up – aided by propaganda. Recruiting posters suggested to players that the Germans believed that the young men of Britain preferred to stretch their legs on the football pitch rather than the battlefield.

But just because they were stars on the pitch didn't exempt the players from the horrors of war.

Clapton Orient’s leading goal scorers, Richard McFadden and William Jonas, were among the men killed during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

The 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment's second in command, Major Frank Buckley, was wounded in the shoulder and lung in 1917. He recovered and went on to become manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers after the war.

Eleven members of Tottenham Hotspur were killed during the war. One former Spurs player who survived was Vivian Woodward, who played for Clacton, Harwich and Parkestone and Chelmsford before joining Tottenham in 1902. With 19 goals in 27 matches, he was Spurs top scorer in the 1908 season when they were promoted to Division One. Woodward won 16 of his 23 full international caps while playing non-league football. He also played in 44 amateur internationals, including the 1908 and 1912 Olympics, scoring 58 goals. Woodward later joined Chelsea and played for them until the outbreak of war.

In 1914, he joined the Rifle Brigade, but later became a Captain in the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. However, he was wounded in 1916 and never played football again.

In October 1916, the Hearts right back, Pat Crossan, was wounded. Taken to a field hospital, his foot was labelled for amputation. A captured German surgeon, working as an orderly, was called on and saved the limb. Crossan returned to duty and, unlike Chelsea's Woodward later, resumed his football career.

In all, players from around 80 or so modern clubs enlisted to fight in the First World War, including Grimsby Town Football Club.

In an effort to stimulate recruitment in Grimsby, Second Lieutenant Arthur Ticker – the son of the Grimsby MP – was given the task of persuading the players and supporters to enlist. With two club officials, Tickler went to Blundell Park on 24 February 1915 to interview the players.

Sid Wheelhouse, Frank Martin, Alf Gregson, David Kenny and David Chalmers expressed their willingness to join at once and left to attest and have their medicals. Soon after, Percy Summer and Thomas McKenna signed up.

Tickler then went on to make an appeal for recruits at the Prince of Wales Theatre and another 25 joined up for the battalion.

Others, too, joined up. Grimsby-born winger, Ralph Thompson, joined the Grimsby Chums (10th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment) rather than the Middlesex Regiment.

Former players, Harry Springthorpe and Tom Lonsdale also enlisted.

At the beginning of the First World War, matches continued because no one expected the war to continue for long. However, come the summer of 1915, it was decided to suspend league games until the end of the war.

So in August 1915, the 17th Middlesex Battalion moved to Perham Down on Salisbury Plain, where they interspersed training with football matches.

On 4 September 1915, the 17th played Reading at Elm Park in front of 3,000 spectators, included 200 wounded soldiers who were admitted free. The 17th Middlesex won 1-0. The winning team included Grimsby Town players and ex players – Tommy Lonsdale (in goal – former GTFC player who was with Southend United), Frank Martin (back) and Alf Gregson (forward).

The 17th played Cardiff City at Ninian Park a month later on 2 Octber and again won 1-0 – Sid Wheelhouse and Frank Martin were on the winning side. However, the good run ended when, the following week, they lost to Luton Town. Once more Alf Gregson was in the team.

Eventually, mobilisation for France came and, in November, the batallion crossed the Channel to France.

Although away from home, football was still part of the life of the battalion and on, 1 December 1915, the 17th Middlesex team played a team from the Northampton Regiment – and won 7-0.

Later in December 1915, the battalion had their first experience of trench warfare. But by Christmas, they were back in billets. Following their Christmas lunch, a match was played against the Royal Engineers with the astonishing score line of 17-1 - to the professional players, of course.

Army big-wigs thought that football had a role to play in keeping up the moral of the troops – by the different battalions competing for the Divisional Cup.

So in poor weather on 7 January 1916, the 17th Middlesex played the 13th Essex battalion ‘at home’ - 500 spectators walked the four miles to where the Essex billets for the game. Grimsby Town captain, Sid Wheelhouse, wrote that it was ‘gusting and raining hard’. In spite of the poor weather, it was 9-0 to the 17th when the whistle blew. Tommy Lonsdale and Sid Wheelhouse were on the team that day.

On 10 January, an unchanged 17th side played the 6th Brigade Final against the 2nd South Staffordshire – again winning (6-0).

Sid Wheelhouse is reported in the Grimsby News as saying:

‘The ground we played on was awful. It was over the boot tops in mud and the ball would not bounce. It put me in mind of the Huddersfield ground when we played them two seasons ago, when the ball would not bounce and we had to hook it out of the mud before we could kick it.

‘I nearly forgot to tell you that we had a penalty and they shouted Tommy Lonsdale up to take it, as he has nothing to do in both matches, for he only got a kick when Fred Bullock or myself passed back to him to let him know he was in the game. Well, Tommy took the kick and put it out of the goalkeeper’s reach all right – right over the bar! And before he got back into the goal, the whistle blew for time.’

The next few weeks saw alternating periods on the front line and in billets. Summers of Grimsby – who was in the rifle brigade was injured during this period.

The next significant match in the Divisonal Cup was the semi-final played on 30 March 1915 against the 1st King’s Royal Corp (the winners of the 99th Brigade final).

Frank Martin of Grimsby joined the team that played against the Essexes in January – replacing Major Buckley. Again a win for the 17th  –  6-0 with Grimsby’s Frank Martin scoring.

The cup final was set for 11 April 1915 when the 17th were due to meet the 34th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. The game was took place at Hersin, 5km south of the town of Bethune. The 17th were decisive winners with a score of 11-0. Tommy Lonsdale, Sid Wheelhouse and Dave Kenny were in the wining side.

In the course of the tournament, the 17th scored 44 goals and kept a clean sheet. A special silver medal was struck for each member of the team. The medal bore the name of the player and the inscription:

‘B.E.F France, Association Football Cup’

But by the time the medals were ready, four members of the team were no longer alive.

Of the Mariners who enlisted, two lost their lives in the battlefields of France – Town captain Sid Wheelhouse and winger Ralph Thompson.

Former player, Harry Springfield, lost his life when the troop ship on which he was on board was attacked.

In early May 1916, Alf Gregson was wounded and on 11 May 1916, Lance Corporal Arthur Wass, one of the Grimsby men recruited by Tickler and a close friend of Sid Wheelhouse, was hit by a shell fragment and killed instantly.

On 17 September 1916, the 17th were back in the front line near Serre and came under sustained German bombardment. On 18 September, it rained constantly and men were put to work repairing the damage caused by the Germans the  previous day.

At dusk, some of the men were still hard at work when more German bombs began to fall, so they took cover at the entrance to Grey Sap – a mineshaft which was being prepared for detonation by the British under the German lines. However, the Germans had detected the British mining activity and planned to detonate the mine under the British lines. A few minutes after the men had taken shelter at the entrance, the German blew up Grey Sap. An escape of mine gases overcame those sheltering by the entrance.

Six men died and two were dragged out alive – Sid Wheelhouse and Lance Corporal Ernest Bowman.

At first, it was thought that Sid hadn’t been seriously injured as he managed to walk unaided to the dressing station, but the next day he was dead. Lance Corporal Bowman also died. 

Grimsby Town team mate, Frank Martin, wrote to Mr Hickson, the club secretary:

‘Sid Wheelhouse got gassed up the line on Sunday night (17th) and I am sorry to tell you that he died in hospital on Monday. I was going to see his grave today but I could not get away, but I am going to see it one day this week. I can tell you we feel cut up about it.

A few days later, Frank and Tommy Lonsdale – another Grimsby player – visited Sid’s grave.

Tommy wrote home:

‘Frankie and I walked over to the British Cemetery today to see where he was buried…Almost opposite Sid’s grave rests Captain Basil Hallam of ‘Gilbert the Filbert’ song fame. Sid has a cross up with his name and date of death, and we shall see that he has a wreath as soon as possible. We all feel this loss very much as he was a universal favourite with us. There are only myself and two others left of the battalion team that won the Divisional Cup out here…

‘I am not much in a mood for letter writing at present. I am a bit too much shaken up as yet to think and write as I should like. I don’t seem to be able to realise yet that Sid has gone. We were, as you know, from the same town before we came away to pro-football and had practically always been together.’

A columnist commented in the local news that Sid was ‘one of the most popular players who ever donned the Town’s colours – perhaps the most popular with the players during the past few year’ 

A memorial in St Aidan's Church Lady Chapel records the names of the many, many men who lived in north Cleethorpes - or New Cleethorpes as it was then - who lost their life in the First World War. Among the names listed is the the former GTFC captain - simply recorded as S. Wheelhouse.

 LOST MARINERS

SIDNEY ‘SID’ WHEELHOUSE
Lance Cpl F/909, 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment
Died of wounds: 19 September 1917 aged 28 years, from injuries sustained on 18 September
Born in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, 1888
Son of Christopher and Maria Wheelhouse, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. Husband of Agnes Annie Sorensen (formerly Wheelhouse), 32 Neville Street, Cleethorpes
Resident of Cleethorpes
Enlisted in Cleethorpes
Buried: Couin British Cemetery, France

Also buried at Couin is Richard McFadden who had 142 appearance with Clapton Orient (now Leyton Orient), scoring 68 goals. Sid Wheelhouse ‘guested’ as a player for Clapton Orient while waiting to be called up.

During the war, it was common for players to ‘guest’ for other clubs while they were in training or waiting to be called up. So while Sid Wheelhouse guested for Clapton Orient, Blundell Park saw guest appearances by players who had signed up to the Manchester Regiment who were in billets in Cleethorpes and Grimsby.

Inscription on Sid Wheelhouse’s headstone:

900 LANCE CPL
S. WHEELHOUSE
MIDDLESEX REGIMENT
19TH SEPTEMBER 1916 AGE 28

MISSED BY HIS WIFE
AND CHILDREN

Background
Grimsby Town defender (right back) and captain, Sid Wheelhouse, a hero of early 20th century football, was born in Bishop Auckland near Darlington in 1888.

Showing early promise, he started out at the age of 13 with his local team, Bishop Auckland, helping them to win the Darlington and District League Cup. At 16, he joined another Co Durham team - Shildon Athletic.

Sid signed for Grimsby as an 18-year-old in 1907 - he is reputed to have turned down a place with Sunderland to join Grimsby. His debut with Town came on 3 September 1907 in a match against Gainsborough.

A strong right back - he was 5ft 11in tall - Sid was popular with players and fans alike and went on to become captain during his nine years with Grimsby. Newspapers describe him as being fair, a good captain and a gentleman.

In 1909, just two years after joining the Mariners, Sid married a local lass, Grimsby-born, Agnes Annie Munter.

Agnes was the eldest daughter of Dutch-born steam ship engineer, Jacob Munter, and his wife, Annie Munter, who hailed from Louth. Agnes was born in 1888. Two years later, in 1890, Agnes was joined by a sister, Adlina.

At the time of the 1891 census, the Munter family lived at 93 Hildyard Street in Grimsby. In the same year, a son, John George Munter was born. Two years later in 1893, another son, Fred was born. Sadly, Fred died that same year. Four years later in 1895, John also died.

By 1896, the Munter family had moved to ‘New Cleethorpes’. Another daughter, Esmeraldia, was born that year and, in 1898, the three sisters, Agnes, Adlina and Esmeraldia, were joined by another girl, Mercia Munter.

When the 1901 census was taken, the Munter family had moved to 53 Barcroft Street in Cleethorpes. Sadly, Esmeraldia died at the age of seven in 1903.

So in spite of the untimely deaths of her two brothers and a sister, 21-year-old young Agnes Annie Munter married Grimsby Town hero, Sid Wheelhouse, in 1909.

The couple went on to have four children – daughter Ida was born in 1909 and Ettie in 1910.

When the 1911 census was taken on 2 April 1911, Sid and Agnes were living at 25 Combe Street in New Cleethorpes. They census says that they had been married for about a year. Sid records his occupation as a professional footballer. But there is only one daughter recorded.

Grimsby Town goalkeeper, Tommy Lonsdale, was living up the street from Sid - in lodgings at 13 Combe Street.

The Wheelhouse's first son – named Sidney after his footballing father – was born at the end of 1911.

Football-wise, Sid lead Town to 1910-1911 Midland League Champions.

But tragedy struck at home and baby Sidney died in 1912 before his first birthday. A year later in 1913, however, another son was born – Ronald.

In contrast to today’s players, Sid and his young family lived a stone’s throw from Blundell Park. He made 235 plus appearances for the Mariners, yet, flat cap on head, would still walk to matches.

However, tragedy never seemed to be far away from the Wheelhouse family - in 1914, Sid’s sister-in-law, Mercia Munter, died at the age of 17.

During the 1914-1915 season, Sid also had a long bout of injury.

In the same year as Mercia Munter’s death, war was declared and, following persuasion from the Arthur Tickler (the son of the Grimsby MP), Sid signed up to the 17th Middlesex Regiment - the Footballers' Batallion.

Sid played his last game for Town in May 1916. The match was against a joint Army and Navy team in aid of the 3rd Manchester Regiment Memorial Fund.

Just weeks before, on 1 April 1916, in a horrific incident, 31 members of the 3rd Manchester Regiment died in a zeppelin raid on their billets in Cleethorpes Baptist Church, Alexandra Road. Many others were injured and were taken to the Red Cross based in St Aidan's Church, Grimsby Road, opposite the Mariners' ground and close to Sid's home. The last resting place of those who died in the raid and their is located in Cleethorpes Cemetery close to the boundary fence with The Beacon Hill allotments.

A week after this last game for town, Sid Wheelhouse was selected as a reserve for England against Scotland.

While waiting to be called up for active service, Sid made guest appearances for London team, Clapton Orient. The 17th team also played against league clubs while they were in training.

Finally in 1916, Sid joined the British Expiditionary Force and embarked for France. While in France, he played in the Divisional Cup and was a member of the winning team in 1916.

Lance Corporal Wheelhouse’s machine gun unit contained fellow Mariner, David Kenny, and former team member, Tom Lonsdale.

Sid was wounded, gassed and shell shocked near Beaumont Hamel in France on 18 November 1916. At first, it was thought that the wounds and gassing weren't serious, as he walked to the first aid station. However, he died in a military hospital the next day. 

Town's captain was buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery close to Couin Chateau in Northern France.

The chateau served as the divisional headquarters during the war. In the village, there is also a memorial to the animals that died in the war.

Shona is pictured paying her respects at Sid's grave, after laying a tribute to him on behalf of all Town supporters, past and present.

For 3d per letter, families of the men who had lost thier lives could have the headstones engraved with a personal message.

Agnes duly paid her 3d per letter to have the following message on her late husband’s headstone:

‘Missed by his wife and children’

In 1918, Sid’s widow, Agnes, married Arthur Sorensen. She moved to 32 Neville Street in Cleethorpes. She had at least two children with her new husband, Evelyn P Sorensen, born in 1919, and Cherry S Sorensen, born in 1926.

Leyton Orient supporters have visited Couin cemetery to pay their respects to Clapton Orient player Richard McFadden, who is buried near Sid, by laying a wreath of poppies by his headstone.

The Leyton Orient supporters also placed a wreath in memory of Sid Wheelhouse (see below) – who guested for Clapton Orient while waiting to be called up.

The dedication on the wreath reads:

Lance Corporal
Sid Wheelhouse
F/909
17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment
Died 19th September 1916
Captain & full Back
Grimsby Town Football Club
Played for Clapton Orient Football Club
whilst waiting call up to France
On behalf of Grimsby Town and Leyton Orient supporters around the world

RALPH MOTSON THOMPSON
Private 180, 10th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (Grimsby Chums)
Killed in action: 1 July 1916
Born in Grimsby 1892
Son of Grimsby Town chairman, JH Thompson,
Resident of Grimsby
Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial

Background
One of the sons of one of Town's chairman, builder John Henry Thompson, winger Ralph was born in Grimsby in 1892. The 1901 Census reveals that he was a boarder at school at Gosberton near Boston. However, Ralph Motson Thompson is also commemorated on the Silcoates School memorial in Wakefield. The Thompson family had strong connections with Grimsby Town - as we have seen, Ralph's father was one of the club's chairmen. As well as this, his elder brother, Albert - known as 'Ab' - played twice for the Mariners in the 1904-1905 season as an amateur. In 1911, Ralph was working as a trainee autioneer - most likely a fish auctioneer. He was still living at home with his parents, John Henry and Harriet Thompson (nee Bowers), at Park View, Welholme Road, Grimsby. In Ralph's 12 appearaces for the club, he never managed to score a goal. Being a Grimbarian, he enlisted with the Chums rather than the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. And like so many other Chums, he met his death in the fighting that occurred on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Ralph has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. His name also appears in the St James’s Book of Remembrance. Using the pen name, Onlooker, older brother, Albert, filed football stories for the Grimsby News for around 40 years after he stopped playing. Unlike Ralph who died in the Battle of the Somme, Albert didn't join the Chums, deciding instead to serve with the Navy. He survived the war and went on to become a director of Ross Group. He died in 1956.

HAROLD ‘HARRY’ THOMAS SPRINGTHORPE
Lance Corporal 1803, Lincolnshire Yeomanry
Died: 3 November 1915 and buried at sea
Born in Rutland, 1886
Commemorated: Helles Memorial

Background
Harry was born in Tinwell, Rutland (near Stamford), on 24 April 1886 and trained as a bank clerk, securing work for Barclays Bank. As a scholboy, be played for the Stamford Grammar School XI. A gifted young player, he also played for Stamford Football Club while he was still at school. Following this, he played for Northampton Town.

On joining Grimsby Town, Harry transferred to the Grimsby branch of Barclays and found lodgings with the family of fishing gear agent, Henry Atkinson, at 29 Ainslie Street in Grimsby.

Playing as an inside forward, Harry’s debut game for Town took place on 1 September 1908 in a game against Stockport.

By 1909, in the same year that captain, Sid Wheelhouse married, Harry became vice captain of the team. However, as an amateur, unlike Sid who listed his occupation as professional footballer, Harry listed his as bank clerk (1911 census).

As well as playing for Grimsby, Harry also played for his country as an amateur and, in February 1910, he scored for England in their 6-0 win over Wales. In April 1912, he put away a hat trick for the England Wanderers in an 8-1 win against Milan.

Harry played for town until May 1913 and in his 26 appearances scored six goals.

In October 1914, he enlisted into the Lincolnshire Yeomanry.

Come October 1915, the Lincolnshire Yeomanry were told that they were being sent to Salonika. They boarded the transport SS Mercian - a former fruit ship - at Southampton. She was largely unarmed, save for machine guns at the front and back.  

The ship endured rough seas following her departure and had to put in at Gibraltar, although the troops weren't allowed ashore. She put to sea again and, on 3 November 1915, she was attacked in the Mediterranean by a German submarine U38 using 21-pound canon. After more than an hour being bombarded, the Mercian escaped. However, in that time 78 men were wounded, 23 were dead, 22 troops and eight crew members were missing. Later 13 of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry and five crew members were rescued. MOD reports at the time state that 23 men were killed, thirty were missing and 50 were wounded. The dead were buried at sea.

Following the attack, the ship docked in Oran in Algeria, where the wounded were taken to hospital. Seven more members of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry died and were buried in the Le Petit Lac Cemetery in Oran, Algeria.

As well as Harry Springthorpe, another person who died as a result of the attack on 3 November was Eton-educated Lincolnshire Yeomanry Captain, Sir Thomas Carew Trollope - Lord Kesteven. Cpt Trollope died in Oran on 5 November, but his family had hid body repatriated and buried in the family vaults at Crowcombe Church in the West Country. The title died with the death of the 24-year-old captain.  

After putting in at Oran, the Mercian and her troops were then rerouted to Egypt.

The following account of the fate of SS Mercian is recorded in the Grimsby Roll of Honour.

From the Grimsby Roll of Honour

Lincolnshire Yeomanry

Of all our local forces, the least has been heard during the war of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry, the D Squadron of which, under the command of Major Roland Sleight, had headquarters at Grimsby; yet they had a stirring history. Mobilised on the outbreak of war with other Territorial units, they were first utilised in the defence of the East Coast, but in August of 1915 were equipped for Gallipoli as infantry. This order was countermanded, and later they embarked in the S.S. Mercian for Salonica as infantry.

All went well with the transport until nine hours out from Gibraltar, when she was attacked by submarine -- the first case, we believe, of a transport being attacked. The story of the incident in the Mediterannean Sea is fairly well-known in Grimsby. The Mercian had no guns, and some of the troops, under Major J. W. Wintringham, M.C., brought up their machine guns, but were outranged. Still the men made a fight for it. The captain handled his vessel with skill. Private Thompson, a Lincolnshire man, taking the wheel under his direction and men of the Yeomanry going down in the stokehold and keeping up steam after the crew had left the vessel.

The vessel was hit several times, and the casualties numbered about a hundred, Capt. Lord Kesteven being among the killed, but the Mercian eventually got clear and made for Oran, in Algeria, where the French treated them very kindly. Lord Kesteven and about 30 N.C.O.'s and men who were killed were buried at sea or at Oran, and five days later the troops again set sail, calling at Malta, and then proceeding to Alexandria. Whilst in camp there, news was received of the Senussi rising, and the regiment was dispatched to Fayoum, where they remained as a garrison, patrolling the province and the surrounding desert until December.

MARINERS WHO RETURNED

DAVID ‘DAVE’ CHALMERS
1891-1920

Background
Dave was born in the mining town of Buckhaven in Fife on 22 July 1891. A successful centre forward, he played for a succession of Scottish teams - Leven Celtic, Buckhaven, Third Lanark, Raith Rovers (where he played in six different positions!) and East Fife before transferring to York Town in 1913. The next season, he joined Grimsby Town and his first appearance for Mariners took place on 4 April 1914 in a match against Birmingham. Like other Town team mates, he served in the soldier’s battalion, the 17th Middlesex Regiment. Although, he has scored well for East Fife, he failed to fulfill his early promise in his five appearances with Grimsby as a centre forward. However, to be fair to Chalmers, he spent most of his five years with Town from 1914-1919 serving in the Army. Chalmers died at the age of 28 on 24 April 1920.

ALFRED ‘ALF’ GREGSON
1889-1968

Background
Lancashire lad, Alf, was born in Bury in 1889. Alf began his footballing career playing in the Bury Sunday School League - as a member of the Bethel, Trinity and Unitarian teams. In February 1911, he signed for Rochdale, where he stayed until joining Grimsby in 1913.

The inside forward played his first game for Grimsby in a match against Leicester Fosse on 13 September 1913. In his time with Grimsby, he scored 12 goals in 49 matches.

In September 1914, Alf married Emily.

In February 1915 at the age of 24, Alf enlisted in Grimsby and joined the Footballers’ Battalion. At the time, he was living at 24 Oole Road in Cleethorpes and gave his trade as a tin smith. He was 5ft 5¼ in tall. Although he gave his trade as a tin smith, in later Army records, he’s described as a pro-footballer.

Alf and Emily’s daughter, Ella, was born in 1915.

While he was at Richmond Barracks in south west of London waiting to be called up, he guested as a player for Brentford.

During the war, he served in the British Expeditionary Force from 17 November 1915 to 29 April 1916. He was wounded in his left thigh on 25 April 1916, so was based ‘at home’ from 30 April 1916 until 14 October 1917. During his time in England recovering from being shot, a son, George, was born on 22 May 1917. Sadly, George was premature and lived for just one hour. When George was born, the family’s address was 26 Halton Street, Heywood, Lancashire. Alf was again away on active service from 15 October 1917 until 27 October 1918.

After the war, Alf played for Bury, but had lost his scoring touch.

He received his medals in 1920 – they were posted to 25 West Street, Heywood, Lancashire. 

He left Bury FC in 1921.
 
DAVID BROWN KENNY
1890-?

Background
Dave Kenny was born in Maybole, Ayrshire, in 1890. The Scottish centre half was the son of James and Jane Kenny. By trade, he was a shoemaker like his father.

He first played for his home team, Maybole FC, before moving on to play for Girvan, Falkirk and Barrow Town. Kenny was Barrow's top scorer in the 1912-1913 season.

The 5ft 10in tall 23-year-old made his debut for the Mariners on 6 September 1913 in a match against Nottingham County. He was on Town's books until 1920.

On 22 February 1915 at the age of 23, he enlisted and like other players joined the Footballer’s Battalion. On enlistment, he gave his address as 13 Combe Street, Cleethorpes.

He embarked for France on 17 November 1915 and served in the same machine gun unit as town captain, Sid Wheelhouse, and former Mariner, Tom Lonsdale. In fact, he played alongside former Mariner Tom Lonsdale when the 17th Battalion beat the Royal Field Artillery in the Army Cup!

Although he was wounded in 1916, he survived and finished the war as a Lance Corporal. However, his widowed mother died during the war.

On his discharge papers, he gave his address as 63 Barcroft Street, New Cleethorpes. He resumed his playing career after the war as skipper of Bristol Rovers. After this, he emigrating to Canada.

THOMAS ‘TOM’ STEWART LONSDALE
1882-1973

Background
Goalie Tom Lonsdale was born at Fence Houses, Newbottle, Co Durham, on 21 September 1882, to Martin Lonsdale (a coal miner) and Mary Lonsdale. Stewart was his mother’s maiden name. As a youngster, he played for West Auckland and then Bishop Auckland. Tom had been recommended to Town by fellow North Easterner and Town captain, Sid Wheelhouse. He played his debut match against Hull on 5 December 1908. Originally, Lonsdale didn’t play in goal, he was more of a centre half, but then settled in as a goalie with Town where he had 87 appearances. Tom lived in Cleethorpes close to captain Sid Wheelhouse. Tom took lodings in the house of widow Sarah Graves and her family at 13 Combe Street, New Cleethorpes. Sid lived with his wife and children at number 25. Tom was sold to West Ham in October 1913 so Town could raise money to buy other players. In the summer of 1914, he transferred to Southend United. He enlisted in the Footballers’ Battalion and served alongside Sid Wheelhouse. In fact, Tom was with Wheelhouse when Town’s captain was fatally wounded and gassed. After the war, Lonsdale played with Stalybridge Celtic and then Port Vale, finally retiring in his forties. He died on 17 March 1973

FRANCIS 'FRANKIE' MARTIN
1887-1967

Background
Francis Martin was born in Gateshead on 3 January 1887. He started his footballing life with Gateshead Rodsley before joining Hull City, where he spent seven years captaining the reserves.

On 10 May 1909, he married Mary Kathryn Martin in Hull. Their daughter, Margaret Martin, was born in 20 April in Hull.

Martin joined Town for a fee of £85 Francis Martin’s first game for Town was against Wolves on 2 September 1911. A stonemason by trade, the fast, yet sometimes hot-headed wing half, played in 159 league games with the Mariners, scoring one goal. 

Martin enlisted as a private with the 17th Middlesex Regiment on 24 February 1915. At the time, he was 27 years old and gave his address as 59 Hart Street, New Cleethorpes. He named his wife, Mary, as next of kin. She was living in Hull at the time. Martin's service number was F/908 (Sid Wheelhouse’s was F/909).

While ‘at home’ awaiting call up for France, Martin worked in supplies.

On 12 October 1915, a son, William Francis, was born.

However, just a few weeks later – on 17 November 1915 – he was posted to France with the British Expeditionary Force.

Martin was shot in his lower jaw on 24 April 1916 during the action at Beaumont Hamel. He remained in France until November that year and was then returned to Cleethorpes to recover from his injuries. During this time, he was the club’s captain.

The Army declared him medically unfit and he was discharged on 24 August 1917.

After the war, he played briefly for Aberdare Athletic.


On 6 July 1920, his medals were sent to him at 28 St Heliers Road, Cleethorpes.

He lived in the Grimsby-Cleethorpes area for the rest of his life. Francis Martin died on 5 July 1967.

THOMAS PATRICK McKENNA
1891-1974

Background
The half back was born in Belfast in October 1891. He played for a succession of clubs before joining Grimsby in 1913 - Lansdowne United in Dublin, Shelbourne, Garston in Liverpool, Colne, Burnley and Barrow. His debut with Grimsby took place on 13 December 1913 in a game against Leeds. In total, he played in 16 games for the Mariners. In 1915, Tom returned to Ireland to play for Belfast United. However, he was suspended by the Irish FA in August 1916 following an inquiry into the employment of players. The early years of the century were marked by continuing rows about amateurs and professionals. Many felt that paying players did not show proper sporting spirit. Just a couple of months later, he enlisted n the Footballers’ Battalion. Following the war, he joined Barrow. Tom died in 1974. 

PERCY SUMMERS
1889-?

Background
Percy was born in Chesterfield in 1889 and, as a junior, played in South Wales - where he also worked as a mechanic in a Rhondda coal mine. After this, he joined Chesterfield Town and became one of the most respected goalkeepers in the Midland League. Summers debut game as Town's keeper was on 1 September 1914 in a match against Preston. He went on to play as Town's keeper for 34 games. Like other Mariners, Summers joined the Footballers’ Battalion. During this time, he was a guest player for both Reading and Sheffield Wednesday. Summers received hand and stomach injuries in the fighting on the Somme and was discharged as unfit. He played just one more game for Town – in 1919 against Notts County - before playing one season for Luton Town.

Sources:
Ancestry.co.uk
A Who's Who is Grimsby Town AFC 1890-1985 by Douglas Lamming
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Leyton Orient FC
Mariner Men by Rob Briggs and Dave Wherry, 2007
National Army Museum
Navy History.com
The Mariners by Charles Ekberg and Sid Woodhead
When the Whistle Blows - the story of the footballers' battalion in the Great War by Andrew Riddoch and John Kemp, Haynes Publishing 2008

I want to say a special thank you to Andrew Riddoch, who on reading this posting on the website, emailed me with some excellent addtional information. His book, When the Whistle Blows, was on my Christmas List. It's a fascinating read and I highly recommend it.