Lets Remember our fallen Players and Fans together.

11th November 2020 - Armistice Day - marks 102 years since the end of the First World War.
In remembrance of those Millwall players and Fans who gave their all in both the First and Second World Wars, Micky And Neil recall some of those heroes who gave their today for our tomorrow.
John 'Ginger' Williams
John, or Jack as he was commonly known, was born in Buckley, North Wales - the same place as future Lion Johnny Lyons - in 1885, and was Millwall's most prominent loss in the Great War.
He began his senior career with Atherton Church Street, Lancashire, in around 1906, before signing for Accrington in October the following year. Jack's stay there lasted less than a year when a move to Birmingham beckoned before a transfer back to Stanley, as they became known, occured in February 1909.
However, his return to Lancashire lasted a mere four months before Crystal Palace secured his signature in June. Jack's form at Palace over the next couple of seasons brought him to the attention of the Welsh selectors. He was rewarded with two appearances in 1912, against Scotland where he replaced Ted Vizard of Bolton, and was Billy Meredith's deputy for the match with Ireland. Observers described 'Ginger' as plucky, fearless and clever, while another concluded that he was full of fire and his shooting was generally on target.
It was Ginger's excellent performances against The Lions that probably persuaded the club to sign him for their biggest-ever fee at the time. He enlisted in the Footballer's Battalion in November 1915, only to be killed in action the following June.
Joe Dines
Probably the most illustrious of Lions casulties at the front, Joe was an amateur for the whole of his career and assisted the club throughout the First World War when available.
Joe found fame as a member of Great Britain's Olympic winning side of 1912 and, on top of this accolade, he also won 24 amateur caps for England from 1910-1914 inclusive. His one Football League appearance came for Liverpool against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in September 1912.
A teacher by profession, Joe originally came from Kings Lynn and, when his job brought him to London, he became a member of Ilford FC.
Joe was commissioned as 2nd Lt in the King's (Liverpool) Regiment and was killed on 27th September 1918, less than two weeks after playing his last game for The Lions.
----------------------
Some other men with Millwall connections lost at the front were David Glen, whose sole Southern League game came in a 1-0 home defeat to Croydon Common in September 1909. Davie, a sergeant in the Royal Scots, was killed in action at Arras, nine days after his 36th birthday in 1917.
George Porter, from Bow, served as a Lance Corporal with Somerset Light Infantry. Like Dines, Porter remained an amateur player. He made two Southern League appearances for Millwall, but it was in a reserve team game at Highbury that George suffered a broken leg. He had only come into the team because Jack Williams was indisposed and how ironic was it that both the selected player and then his replacement were to lose their lives in the ensuing war. George did, however, have the consolation of a return to England before drawing his last breath.
Fred Griffiths, a giant goalkeeper standing at 6'2" tall and weighing 15 stone, was another Welsh international who also gained two caps. His sheer physical presence must have worried the life out of any onrushing forward who was brave enough to challenge him, and in one season with Millwall made 34 appearances. Fred later became a coalminer in Derbyshire and, following the declaration of war, would enlist in the Sherwood Foresters. At the relatively senior age of 44, he was to lose his life 1917.
Another Lion added to the number killed in action was Charles Green, of whom nothing is known, other than that he was a Londoner and performed at right-back. He, along with Williams, Dines and Porter, are remembered on a memorial plaque, which is in the possession of Millwall to this day.
While we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Millwall did have many combatants who returned the country safe and sound. One surviving casualty, however, was Johnny Borthwick; so traumatic were his wounds he was forced the hang up his boots as a result.
John, like Green, was a member of the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (1st Footballers), as were locally born outside-right Teddy Bassett, Joe Orme, who kept goal, winger Fred Whittaker, full-back Joe Kirkwood and half-back John Nuttall, most of whom got to play for the Battalion when they were not fighting.
A future player and manager of The Lions belonging to the same outfit was Jack Cock, who, at one stage, was reported as killed in action. Eventually he came through unscathed with a Military Medal to his name.
Another recipient of the same gong was Arthur 'Nippy' Wileman, who served as Sergeant with the Royal Sussex Regiment, but was to lose his life in the spring of 1918.
A post WWI team-mate of Jack was another free-scoring performer named Bob Parker, who served with the Northumberland Fusiliers.
Welsh international Wally Davis was another prolific goal-scorer who, while playing for Bedfordshire Regiment, sustained such a serious injury it forced his retirement from the game.
Two of Millwall's finest full-back pairings, Jack Fort and Dick Hill, served with gallantry in the 5th Dragoon Guards and the Grenadier Guards respectively. The two others to see service with Royal Artillery were goalkeeper Joe Lansdale and the highly-decorated Billy 'Banger' Voisey.
In World War Two, Millwall, like many other clubs, saw their players enlist or call up to serve their conuntry. But the loss of just two players, outside-right Freddie Fisher and Harry Salmon, who left Millwall in 1936, hardly lessened the blow. Fred was a pocket dynamo standing at 5'5" and was signed for £1,600 from Chesterfield. Before his tragic death as a tail-end, Charlie, with RAFVR, won an unofficial cap against Wales in 1941.
Harry, who came to The Den as an inside-forward from Stoke City in 1934, and whose excellent passing was matched by his prodigous heading, was switched to centre-half when regular Frank Hancock was injured. Both Fred and Harry were to die within four days of each other in July 1944, Harry at Caen whilst serving as sergeant with Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
We will remember them.
17th Service (Football) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. 
Cricket and rugby competitions stopped almost immediately after the outbreak of the First World War. However, the Football League continued with the 1914-15 season. Most football players were professionals and were tied to clubs through one-year renewable contracts. Players could only join the armed forces if the clubs agreed to cancel their contracts.
On 12th December 1914 William Joynson Hicks established the 17th Service (Football) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. This became known as the Football Battalion. According to Frederick Wall, the secretary of the Football Association, the England international centre-half, Frank Buckley, was the first person to join the Football Battalion. At first, because of the problems with contracts, only amateur players like Vivian Woodward, and Evelyn Lintott were able to sign-up.
As Frank Buckley had previous experience in the British Army he was given the rank of Lieutenant. He eventually was promoted to the rank of Major. Within a few weeks the 17th Battalion had its full complement of 600 men. However, few of these men were footballers. Most of the recruits were local men who wanted to be in the same battalion as their football heroes. For example, a large number who joined were supporters of Chelsea and Queen's Park Rangers who wanted to serve with Vivian Woodward and Evelyn Lintott.
According to Ian Nannestad of Soccer History: "The organisers hoped to enlist a full battalion of 1,350 men apparently from the ranks of both amateur and professional players and staunch supporters of senior clubs... Recruitment at the time was principally aimed at unmarried men, of whom there were estimated to be around 600 amongst the ranks of professional footballers. A significant proportion of these were based in the north of England, although the battalion announced it would only recruit men from clubs south of the River Trent. Initial interest was high, with 4-500 present at the meeting, but of these only 35 enlisted on the day, and by the end of the year The Sportsman recorded just 34 additional names."
(Source 4) Recruitment Poster (December, 1914)
By March 1915, it was reported that 122 professional footballers had joined the battalion. This included the whole of the Clapton Orient (later renamed Leyton Orient) first team. Three of them were later killed on the Western Front. At the end of the year Walter Tull who had played for Tottenham Hotspur, Northampton Town and Glasgow Rangers joined the battalion. Major Frank Buckley soon recognised Tull's leadership qualities and he was quickly promoted to the rank of sergeant.
Three members of the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee visited Upton Park and made an appeal for volunteers during half-time. Joe Webster, the West Ham United goalkeeper, was one of those who joined the Football Battalion as a result of this appeal.
On 15th January 1916, the Football Battalion reached the front-line. During a two-week period in the trenches four members of the Football Battalion were killed and 33 were wounded. This included Vivian Woodward who was hit in the leg with a hand grenade. The injury to his right thigh was so serious that he was sent back to England to recover. Woodward did not return to the Western Front until August 1916.
The Football Battalion had taken heavy casualties during the Somme offensive in July. This included the death of England international footballer, Evelyn Lintott. The battle was still going on when Woodward arrived but the fighting was less intense. However, on 18th September a German attack involving poison gas killed 14 members of the battalion.
Major Frank Buckley was also seriously injured during this offensive when metal shrapnel had hit him in the chest and had punctured his lungs. George Pyke, who played for Newcastle United, later wrote: "A stretcher party was passing the trench at the time. They asked if we had a passenger to go back. They took Major Buckley but he seemed so badly hit, you would not think he would last out as far as the Casulalty Clearing Station." Buckley was sent to a military hospital in Kent and after operating on him, surgeons were able to remove the shrapnel from his body. However, his lungs were badly damaged and was never able to play football again.
Members of the Hearts team in France in 1916.
Walter Tull also took part in the major Somme offensive. Tull survived this experience but in December 1916 he developed trench fever and was sent home to England to recover. Tull had impressed his senior officers and recommended that he should be considered for further promotion. When he recovered from his illness, instead of being sent back to France, he went to the officer training school at Gailes in Scotland. Despite military regulations forbidding "any negro or person of colour" being an officer, Tull received his commission in May, 1917. Lieutenant Tull was sent to the Italian front. This was an historic occasion because Tull was the first ever black officer in the British Army. He led his men at the Battle of Piave and was mentioned in dispatches for his "gallantry and coolness" under fire.
In January 1917 Major Frank Buckley was back on the Western Front. The Football Battalion attacked German positions at Argenvillers. Buckley was "mentioned in dispatches" as a result of the bravery he showed during the hand-to-hand fighting that took place during the offensive. The Germans used poison gas during this battle and Buckley's already damaged lungs were unable to cope and he was sent back home to recuperate.
Walter Tull stayed in Italy until 1918 when he was transferred to France to take part in the attempt to break through the German lines on the Western Front. On 25th March, 1918, 2nd Lieutenant Tull was ordered to lead his men on an attack on the German trenches at Favreuil. Soon after entering No Mans Land Tull was hit by a German bullet. Tull was such a popular officer that several of his men made valiant efforts under heavy fire from German machine-guns to bring him back to the British trenches. These efforts were in vain as Tull had died soon after being hit. Tull's body was never found.
Major Frank Buckley kept a record of what happened to the men under his command. He later wrote that by the mid-1930s over 500 of the battalion's original 600 men were dead, having either been killed in action or dying from wounds suffered during the fighting.
Above Text taken from
https://spartacus-educational.com/FWWfootballBN.htm

PRIVATE Thomas P Mahoney Service Number: 2436 ​
Regiment: London Regiment 22nd Bn. ​
Date of Death: Died 09 July 1916 Age 19 years old ​
Buried: TRANCHEE DE MECKNES CEMETERY, AIX-NOULETTE G. 5. France ​
Country of Service: United Kingdom ​
Son of Joseph and Theresa Mahoney, of 3, Sedan St., Walworth, London.

f you could give a mention on the podcast for my great uncle (nans brother on my dad's side) James Vallance who died at The Battle of JUTLAND 31st May/1st June on HMS DEFENSE. WW1
Ships boy 1, coal shoveler I think.
17yrs of age. Out of Walworth.
There's another from WW2 on my mums side but only just found out recently about my grandads twin brother he never spoke of him or his own Dunkirk experience (complete mystery) who flew for the Canadian Royal force (again a mystery) but died on a mission, we think in Egypt but enquiries ongoing.
My Grandad was a right Herbert by the way out of Clerkenwell who was orphaned as a kid and taken in off the streets by a family so possibly he lost contact with his brother. My grandad was John Bromhead sometimes Johnson he fought bare nuckle as John Johnson his brother was Donald Bromhead.
In some way very lucky that my family didn't suffer any casualties - deaths or injuries in WW2. I'm sure there are many on here whose families suffered a lot with these both armed forces and civilians
My great grandfather perished at the Battle of Jutland WW1 .
I suppose we shouldn' laugh but my Middle Name ('Richardson' - i know :)) was asked for by my Nan in memory of her father who she hardly knew.
So yes the legacy of that day lives on.

My Grandad George Emerson Markham private E Yorkshire Regiment
Killed in Action St George's day 23rd April 1917.
no known grave commemorated Arras Memorial
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11th November 2020 - Armistice Day - marks 102 years since the end of the First World War.

In remembrance of those Millwall players and Fans who gave their all in both the First and Second World Wars, Micky And Neil recall some of those heroes who gave their today for our tomorrow.

John 'Ginger' Williams

John, or Jack as he was commonly known, was born in Buckley, North Wales - the same place as future Lion Johnny Lyons - in 1885, and was Millwall's most prominent loss in the Great War.

He began his senior career with Atherton Church Street, Lancashire, in around 1906, before signing for Accrington in October the following year. Jack's stay there lasted less than a year when a move to Birmingham beckoned before a transfer back to Stanley, as they became known, occured in February 1909.

However, his return to Lancashire lasted a mere four months before Crystal Palace secured his signature in June. Jack's form at Palace over the next couple of seasons brought him to the attention of the Welsh selectors. He was rewarded with two appearances in 1912, against Scotland where he replaced Ted Vizard of Bolton, and was Billy Meredith's deputy for the match with Ireland. Observers described 'Ginger' as plucky, fearless and clever, while another concluded that he was full of fire and his shooting was generally on target.

It was Ginger's excellent performances against The Lions that probably persuaded the club to sign him for their biggest-ever fee at the time. He enlisted in the Footballer's Battalion in November 1915, only to be killed in action the following June.

Joe Dines

Probably the most illustrious of Lions casulties at the front, Joe was an amateur for the whole of his career and assisted the club throughout the First World War when available.

Joe found fame as a member of Great Britain's Olympic winning side of 1912 and, on top of this accolade, he also won 24 amateur caps for England from 1910-1914 inclusive. His one Football League appearance came for Liverpool against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in September 1912.

A teacher by profession, Joe originally came from Kings Lynn and, when his job brought him to London, he became a member of Ilford FC.

Joe was commissioned as 2nd Lt in the King's (Liverpool) Regiment and was killed on 27th September 1918, less than two weeks after playing his last game for The Lions.

----------------------

Some other men with Millwall connections lost at the front were David Glen, whose sole Southern League game came in a 1-0 home defeat to Croydon Common in September 1909. Davie, a sergeant in the Royal Scots, was killed in action at Arras, nine days after his 36th birthday in 1917.

George Porter, from Bow, served as a Lance Corporal with Somerset Light Infantry. Like Dines, Porter remained an amateur player. He made two Southern League appearances for Millwall, but it was in a reserve team game at Highbury that George suffered a broken leg. He had only come into the team because Jack Williams was indisposed and how ironic was it that both the selected player and then his replacement were to lose their lives in the ensuing war. George did, however, have the consolation of a return to England before drawing his last breath.

Fred Griffiths, a giant goalkeeper standing at 6'2" tall and weighing 15 stone, was another Welsh international who also gained two caps. His sheer physical presence must have worried the life out of any onrushing forward who was brave enough to challenge him, and in one season with Millwall made 34 appearances. Fred later became a coalminer in Derbyshire and, following the declaration of war, would enlist in the Sherwood Foresters. At the relatively senior age of 44, he was to lose his life 1917.

Another Lion added to the number killed in action was Charles Green, of whom nothing is known, other than that he was a Londoner and performed at right-back. He, along with Williams, Dines and Porter, are remembered on a memorial plaque, which is in the possession of Millwall to this day.

While we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Millwall did have many combatants who returned the country safe and sound. One surviving casualty, however, was Johnny Borthwick; so traumatic were his wounds he was forced the hang up his boots as a result.

John, like Green, was a member of the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (1st Footballers), as were locally born outside-right Teddy Bassett, Joe Orme, who kept goal, winger Fred Whittaker, full-back Joe Kirkwood and half-back John Nuttall, most of whom got to play for the Battalion when they were not fighting.

A future player and manager of The Lions belonging to the same outfit was Jack Cock, who, at one stage, was reported as killed in action. Eventually he came through unscathed with a Military Medal to his name.

Another recipient of the same gong was Arthur 'Nippy' Wileman, who served as Sergeant with the Royal Sussex Regiment, but was to lose his life in the spring of 1918.

A post WWI team-mate of Jack was another free-scoring performer named Bob Parker, who served with the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Welsh international Wally Davis was another prolific goal-scorer who, while playing for Bedfordshire Regiment, sustained such a serious injury it forced his retirement from the game.

Two of Millwall's finest full-back pairings, Jack Fort and Dick Hill, served with gallantry in the 5th Dragoon Guards and the Grenadier Guards respectively. The two others to see service with Royal Artillery were goalkeeper Joe Lansdale and the highly-decorated Billy 'Banger' Voisey.

In World War Two, Millwall, like many other clubs, saw their players enlist or call up to serve their conuntry. But the loss of just two players, outside-right Freddie Fisher and Harry Salmon, who left Millwall in 1936, hardly lessened the blow. Fred was a pocket dynamo standing at 5'5" and was signed for £1,600 from Chesterfield. Before his tragic death as a tail-end, Charlie, with RAFVR, won an unofficial cap against Wales in 1941.

Harry, who came to The Den as an inside-forward from Stoke City in 1934, and whose excellent passing was matched by his prodigous heading, was switched to centre-half when regular Frank Hancock was injured. Both Fred and Harry were to die within four days of each other in July 1944, Harry at Caen whilst serving as sergeant with Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

We will remember them.

17th Service (Football) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. 

Cricket and rugby competitions stopped almost immediately after the outbreak of the First World War. However, the Football League continued with the 1914-15 season. Most football players were professionals and were tied to clubs through one-year renewable contracts. Players could only join the armed forces if the clubs agreed to cancel their contracts.

On 12th December 1914 William Joynson Hicks established the 17th Service (Football) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. This became known as the Football Battalion. According to Frederick Wall, the secretary of the Football Association, the England international centre-half, Frank Buckley, was the first person to join the Football Battalion. At first, because of the problems with contracts, only amateur players like Vivian Woodward, and Evelyn Lintott were able to sign-up.

As Frank Buckley had previous experience in the British Army he was given the rank of Lieutenant. He eventually was promoted to the rank of Major. Within a few weeks the 17th Battalion had its full complement of 600 men. However, few of these men were footballers. Most of the recruits were local men who wanted to be in the same battalion as their football heroes. For example, a large number who joined were supporters of Chelsea and Queen's Park Rangers who wanted to serve with Vivian Woodward and Evelyn Lintott.

According to Ian Nannestad of Soccer History: "The organisers hoped to enlist a full battalion of 1,350 men apparently from the ranks of both amateur and professional players and staunch supporters of senior clubs... Recruitment at the time was principally aimed at unmarried men, of whom there were estimated to be around 600 amongst the ranks of professional footballers. A significant proportion of these were based in the north of England, although the battalion announced it would only recruit men from clubs south of the River Trent. Initial interest was high, with 4-500 present at the meeting, but of these only 35 enlisted on the day, and by the end of the year The Sportsman recorded just 34 additional names."

(Source 4) Recruitment Poster (December, 1914)

By March 1915, it was reported that 122 professional footballers had joined the battalion. This included the whole of the Clapton Orient (later renamed Leyton Orient) first team. Three of them were later killed on the Western Front. At the end of the year Walter Tull who had played for Tottenham Hotspur, Northampton Town and Glasgow Rangers joined the battalion. Major Frank Buckley soon recognised Tull's leadership qualities and he was quickly promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Three members of the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee visited Upton Park and made an appeal for volunteers during half-time. Joe Webster, the West Ham United goalkeeper, was one of those who joined the Football Battalion as a result of this appeal.

On 15th January 1916, the Football Battalion reached the front-line. During a two-week period in the trenches four members of the Football Battalion were killed and 33 were wounded. This included Vivian Woodward who was hit in the leg with a hand grenade. The injury to his right thigh was so serious that he was sent back to England to recover. Woodward did not return to the Western Front until August 1916.

The Football Battalion had taken heavy casualties during the Somme offensive in July. This included the death of England international footballer, Evelyn Lintott. The battle was still going on when Woodward arrived but the fighting was less intense. However, on 18th September a German attack involving poison gas killed 14 members of the battalion.

Major Frank Buckley was also seriously injured during this offensive when metal shrapnel had hit him in the chest and had punctured his lungs. George Pyke, who played for Newcastle United, later wrote: "A stretcher party was passing the trench at the time. They asked if we had a passenger to go back. They took Major Buckley but he seemed so badly hit, you would not think he would last out as far as the Casulalty Clearing Station." Buckley was sent to a military hospital in Kent and after operating on him, surgeons were able to remove the shrapnel from his body. However, his lungs were badly damaged and was never able to play football again.

Members of the Hearts team in France in 1916.

Walter Tull also took part in the major Somme offensive. Tull survived this experience but in December 1916 he developed trench fever and was sent home to England to recover. Tull had impressed his senior officers and recommended that he should be considered for further promotion. When he recovered from his illness, instead of being sent back to France, he went to the officer training school at Gailes in Scotland. Despite military regulations forbidding "any negro or person of colour" being an officer, Tull received his commission in May, 1917. Lieutenant Tull was sent to the Italian front. This was an historic occasion because Tull was the first ever black officer in the British Army. He led his men at the Battle of Piave and was mentioned in dispatches for his "gallantry and coolness" under fire.

In January 1917 Major Frank Buckley was back on the Western Front. The Football Battalion attacked German positions at Argenvillers. Buckley was "mentioned in dispatches" as a result of the bravery he showed during the hand-to-hand fighting that took place during the offensive. The Germans used poison gas during this battle and Buckley's already damaged lungs were unable to cope and he was sent back home to recuperate.

Walter Tull stayed in Italy until 1918 when he was transferred to France to take part in the attempt to break through the German lines on the Western Front. On 25th March, 1918, 2nd Lieutenant Tull was ordered to lead his men on an attack on the German trenches at Favreuil. Soon after entering No Mans Land Tull was hit by a German bullet. Tull was such a popular officer that several of his men made valiant efforts under heavy fire from German machine-guns to bring him back to the British trenches. These efforts were in vain as Tull had died soon after being hit. Tull's body was never found.

Major Frank Buckley kept a record of what happened to the men under his command. He later wrote that by the mid-1930s over 500 of the battalion's original 600 men were dead, having either been killed in action or dying from wounds suffered during the fighting.

Above Text taken from

https://spartacus-educational.com/FWWfootballBN.htm

PRIVATE Thomas P Mahoney Service Number: 2436 ​

Regiment: London Regiment 22nd Bn. ​

Date of Death: Died 09 July 1916 Age 19 years old ​

Buried: TRANCHEE DE MECKNES CEMETERY, AIX-NOULETTE G. 5. France ​

Country of Service: United Kingdom ​

Son of Joseph and Theresa Mahoney, of 3, Sedan St., Walworth, London.

f you could give a mention on the podcast for my great uncle (nans brother on my dad's side) James Vallance who died at The Battle of JUTLAND 31st May/1st June on HMS DEFENSE. WW1

Ships boy 1, coal shoveler I think.

17yrs of age. Out of Walworth.

There's another from WW2 on my mums side but only just found out recently about my grandads twin brother he never spoke of him or his own Dunkirk experience (complete mystery) who flew for the Canadian Royal force (again a mystery) but died on a mission, we think in Egypt but enquiries ongoing.

My Grandad was a right Herbert by the way out of Clerkenwell who was orphaned as a kid and taken in off the streets by a family so possibly he lost contact with his brother. My grandad was John Bromhead sometimes Johnson he fought bare nuckle as John Johnson his brother was Donald Bromhead.

In some way very lucky that my family didn't suffer any casualties - deaths or injuries in WW2. I'm sure there are many on here whose families suffered a lot with these both armed forces and civilians

My great grandfather perished at the Battle of Jutland WW1 .

I suppose we shouldn' laugh but my Middle Name ('Richardson' - i know :)) was asked for by my Nan in memory of her father who she hardly knew.

So yes the legacy of that day lives on.

My Grandad George Emerson Markham private E Yorkshire Regiment

Killed in Action St George's day 23rd April 1917.

no known grave commemorated Arras Memorial

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