Inter-service sporting events

MikeW · 31 August 2003, 10:59 AM

I believe that on both the Allied and the German sides, the Military forces had "sports" representatives who occasionally were pitted agaist champions from another service. The British Army and Navy certainly had boxing champions, and I have seen photographs of German officers competing in equestrian events.

I have a lead on an RNAS officer playing Polo fairly seriously, this would be a sport that would certainly appeal to Cavalry officers - has anyone ever come across references to "service teams"?

Mike

1 September 2003, 12:14 AM

There have always been "service teams". And there are still "service teams". The US boxing team comes here to fight once or twice a year.

The local commanders have the teams.

Did you ever see the movie "From Here To Eternity" ?

MikeW · 1 September 2003, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Did you ever see the movie "From Here To Eternity" ?

I've seen the "Thomas Crown Affair" and "Pretty Woman", they both featured Polo being played, but not in WW1 by the RNAS or the Army.

2 September 2003, 01:45 AM

G'day Mike,

I was going to answer you off line, but the last response to your question prompted me to reply here.

The AIF and AFC had sporting teams. I would then assume that the RNAS and other British services followed suit..

The AFC training squadrons based at Leighterton, had teams ranging from tug o' war to rugby.

They even played a local team in cricket and then as now the Aussies beat the Poms

. Don't steal my thunder and mention the rugby.

As for your particular RNAS chap. My guess is that he played before the war.

In Australia before the outbreak of the war, Polo was quite a big thing, in fact Dacre Stoker who became skipper of the AE2, transferred from the Royal Navy to the RAN as he had heard of a wealthy Aussie businessman looking to pay polo players.

As for this particular RNAS chap, he came from a noted rural family, my guess is that he played on a regular basis. I have not heard of a Polo league, but the AIF did run horse racing carnivals etc, so Polo is not out of the question.

BTW what are you doing watching "Pretty Woman" ?

Andrew.

MikeW · 2 September 2003, 07:58 AM

Thanks Andrew,

I was watching Pretty Woman, purely as a research exercise you understand, to check for myself that Julia Robert's chest has actually suddenly got much larger with more recent films.

I only mentioned the films as I was trying to be sarcastic, but I suspect it was a waste of time.

Now as for the Rugby, do you think we'll be able to keep it up or will it go the way of the cricket? You buggers always play twice as hard when you're up against us!! >

Mike

2 September 2003, 01:35 PM

G'day Mike,

I got the sarcasm, and yes it is wasted.

I think Vin has got something with his 1 man war on forum ratings, but that is better left to his thread on suggestions.

As for the rugby, I hate to say it but we do not have the players to win (which we probably will now after my bold prediction).

Back to the RNAS and polo, I noted that "Teddy" Gerrard, died in 1921 from head injuries received while playing polo, I wonder if he was a team mate???

Andrew.