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[Misc] Festival Of Remembrance
- Thread starter Frutos
- Start date
jakarta
Well-known member
Todays event going as well as ever, interviews with veterans, whether WW2 or Afghanistan, make it for me.
- Oct 20, 2022
- 4,888
A day to give thanks for all those who have fallen in the ultimate sacrifice through service in our Commonwealth and British armed forces since WWI so that we might live free from tyranny and terror - for those too, who sacrificed their lives in WWII in the underground resistance that helped so many escape to freedom, for the allied troops that liberated my grandparents from nazi concentration camps in Poland, and for all the medics and chaplains and journalists that have been killed in the line of duty in wars fought since.
For my Uncle George (on the right) who attended every Remembrance Day at The Cenotaph without fail until he died in 2010:
Thank you
Fignon's Ponytail
Well-known member
A day late, but saw this article on the Folkestone Baseball Gazzette FB page over the weekend, and thought it interesting...especially as a baseball & BHAFC fan. I never knew Whiting was involved in baseball. Does anyone know if his name is on the memorial stone at the Amex...Ive never looked for it tbh, but assume it is?
This time of year civic memory turns to remembering the dead from previous military conflicts especially WW1 and WW2. Particularly in those two conflicts, no single walk of life was unaffected and baseball was no exception.
One of the most interesting British Baseballers to have lost his life in WW1 was Bob “Pom Pom” Whiting, better known these days for his exploits as a goalkeeper for Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion, he was also among the footballing pioneers of the 1906-11 British Baseball Association.
Chelsea has a long association with British Baseball, Stamford Bridge hosting Major League teams on a number of occasions, and for a long time being the playing headquarters of the game (1920’s to mid 1930s) – but the Chelsea football club also had a Baseball division, and upon the foundation of the British Baseball Association in 1906, representatives from the club were present and formed part of the governing body.
Bob Whiting got his first taste for senior football at Tunbridge Wells Rangers, a gifted and brave goalkeeper with a tremendous kick out, he was in 1907 the first choice goalkeeper for Chelsea and reckoned to be the best in his position in the country.
On 7th June 1907 the Kent & Sussex Courier reported that the Tunbridge Wells Club had started a baseball team and that a number of well known footballers had signed up. The first signatatory to the new club, Bob Whiting (still on Chelsea’s books) returning to his old stomping ground and bringing a touch of star quality.
In the football offseason he called Tunbridge Wells home, not only as the location of his break into professional football, but also being the home town of his wife. Whiting’s enthusiastic signing up to Tunbridge Wells Rangers Baseball Club was almost certainly the result of his exposure to baseball at Chelsea.
Outside of Baseball, Bob Whiting’s life was a mixed bag, one poor game for Chelsea saw him dropped as first choice keeper and in 1909 he moved to Brighton and Hove Albion in an effort to resurrect his career. Still revered at the club to this day, he saw some success winning 1909-1910 Southern League, and the 1910 FA Charity Shield.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, along with a good number of his Brighton teammates. Letters home tell of raucous challenge games in France behind the lines as every battalion wanted to pit their best players against the Footballers.
The unsanitary conditions of trench warfare took its toll, and Whiting fell ill with Scabies. Sent back to Brighton to convalesce he was among his adoring fans, but the death of his brother on the Somme and the pregnancy of his wife took its toll on his mental health. Just prior to returning to France he went AWOL.
Captured in October 1916, he was Court martialled and lucky to not face the firing squad. Sentenced to 9 months hard labour, his punishment was commuted after just 1 week - so dire was the manpower shortage in France he was desperately needed. Shamed in the public eye, he had a chance to redeem himself.
On 28th April 1917 he was killed in the attack on Oppy Wood (part of the Battle of Arras); buried in an unmarked grave near Vimy Ridge his body was never recovered.
Shortly after the announcement of his death, rumours spread around Brighton that he had been shot for desertion. His mortified wife pleaded with the editor of the Brighton Argus to help, who in turn made the unprecedented decision to publish private and official correspondence from Whiting's commanding officer testifying to his death in battle and his bravery.
Today his reputation has been rehabilitated and his sporting memory is cherished by a large number of people – but very few of them know he was also the first star signing of Kent's first homegrown Baseball Club.
This time of year civic memory turns to remembering the dead from previous military conflicts especially WW1 and WW2. Particularly in those two conflicts, no single walk of life was unaffected and baseball was no exception.
One of the most interesting British Baseballers to have lost his life in WW1 was Bob “Pom Pom” Whiting, better known these days for his exploits as a goalkeeper for Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion, he was also among the footballing pioneers of the 1906-11 British Baseball Association.
Chelsea has a long association with British Baseball, Stamford Bridge hosting Major League teams on a number of occasions, and for a long time being the playing headquarters of the game (1920’s to mid 1930s) – but the Chelsea football club also had a Baseball division, and upon the foundation of the British Baseball Association in 1906, representatives from the club were present and formed part of the governing body.
Bob Whiting got his first taste for senior football at Tunbridge Wells Rangers, a gifted and brave goalkeeper with a tremendous kick out, he was in 1907 the first choice goalkeeper for Chelsea and reckoned to be the best in his position in the country.
On 7th June 1907 the Kent & Sussex Courier reported that the Tunbridge Wells Club had started a baseball team and that a number of well known footballers had signed up. The first signatatory to the new club, Bob Whiting (still on Chelsea’s books) returning to his old stomping ground and bringing a touch of star quality.
In the football offseason he called Tunbridge Wells home, not only as the location of his break into professional football, but also being the home town of his wife. Whiting’s enthusiastic signing up to Tunbridge Wells Rangers Baseball Club was almost certainly the result of his exposure to baseball at Chelsea.
Outside of Baseball, Bob Whiting’s life was a mixed bag, one poor game for Chelsea saw him dropped as first choice keeper and in 1909 he moved to Brighton and Hove Albion in an effort to resurrect his career. Still revered at the club to this day, he saw some success winning 1909-1910 Southern League, and the 1910 FA Charity Shield.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, along with a good number of his Brighton teammates. Letters home tell of raucous challenge games in France behind the lines as every battalion wanted to pit their best players against the Footballers.
The unsanitary conditions of trench warfare took its toll, and Whiting fell ill with Scabies. Sent back to Brighton to convalesce he was among his adoring fans, but the death of his brother on the Somme and the pregnancy of his wife took its toll on his mental health. Just prior to returning to France he went AWOL.
Captured in October 1916, he was Court martialled and lucky to not face the firing squad. Sentenced to 9 months hard labour, his punishment was commuted after just 1 week - so dire was the manpower shortage in France he was desperately needed. Shamed in the public eye, he had a chance to redeem himself.
On 28th April 1917 he was killed in the attack on Oppy Wood (part of the Battle of Arras); buried in an unmarked grave near Vimy Ridge his body was never recovered.
Shortly after the announcement of his death, rumours spread around Brighton that he had been shot for desertion. His mortified wife pleaded with the editor of the Brighton Argus to help, who in turn made the unprecedented decision to publish private and official correspondence from Whiting's commanding officer testifying to his death in battle and his bravery.
Today his reputation has been rehabilitated and his sporting memory is cherished by a large number of people – but very few of them know he was also the first star signing of Kent's first homegrown Baseball Club.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
It is.
Attachments
I watched the Festival of Remembrance last Saturday evening, as I do every year.
As always, a hugely moving and dignified occasion, perfectly honouring the memories of the fallen whilst also recognising the sacrifices that our armed forces still make today. Just a pity that this year the dignified tone the Festival always manages to strike was partially spoilt by some complete goon who thought it was an appropriate occasion to emit piercing wolf whistles, rather than simply applaud. I think (but I may be mistaken) he even did it when the representatives of the bereaved families entered the Hall. Like he was at a game show or something.
Probably American. Or drunk. Or possibly both.
As always, a hugely moving and dignified occasion, perfectly honouring the memories of the fallen whilst also recognising the sacrifices that our armed forces still make today. Just a pity that this year the dignified tone the Festival always manages to strike was partially spoilt by some complete goon who thought it was an appropriate occasion to emit piercing wolf whistles, rather than simply applaud. I think (but I may be mistaken) he even did it when the representatives of the bereaved families entered the Hall. Like he was at a game show or something.
Probably American. Or drunk. Or possibly both.
AmexRuislip
Trainee Spy 🕵️♂️
Nice to see you, to see you........
