90 years after the end of the First World War
A tribute to Leamington FC players who lost their lives

The First World War of 1914-1918 was the first conflict in which so many Britons, from so many classes and walks of life, were involved or directly affected. Thousands of men and women from Leamington Spa and the surrounding villages enlisted into the armed forces, either as volunteers or (from March 1916) as conscripts. Naturally, the young and fit were especially welcomed and many of the past and current players of Leamington Football Club joined up.


Young men enlisting into the army in 1914

Three serve together

At least three of the team served with a local Territorial unit, the 1/1st Warwickshire Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery. It was headquartered at 9 Clarendon Place, where the Army Cadets hut now stands, but also had drill stations in Coventry and Henley-in-Arden. The Battery was the first Territorial unit to go overseas, serving on the Western Front in France and Flanders for the rest of the war.

Harry Winyard was born in Hartford, Connecticut USA, the son of William and Helen Winyard. He was the husband of Mary Winyard of 32 Bedford Street. Harry enlisted into the Territorials in 1908 and was a Saddler Sergeant by 1914. Mobilised for full time service immediately war was declared, he landed in France with the Battery on 31 October 1914.

Harry died of wounds on 9 April 1917 - the first day of the Battle of Arras, a very successful if costly day for the British Third Army - at the age of 34. He is buried in Etrun Military Cemetery near Duisans, just outside Arras. He was the first Leamington FC player to lose his life in the war, as far as we know.

Thomas John "China" Hill was born and enlisted in Warwick. He also enlisted in 1908 and was a Wheeler (a technical job, responsible for maintenance of the gun carriages and limbers as well as being in a gun team). "China" was also with the Battery when it landed in France.

Thomas was killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele, on 30 August 1917. He is buried in Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station Cemetery, on the outskirts of Ypres in Belgium.

Duhallow ADS Cemetery, last resting place for two Leamington players

John Thomas Durran must have enlisted at the same time as "China", for they were numbered next to each other. John was also a Wheeler who landed in France on 31 October 1914. He was killed in the same action as his friend, and is buried in the same cemetery. John was the son of Mrs. H. Durran of 103 Queen Street and was aged 27 when he died.

All three, by arriving in France so early, qualify to be known as "Old Contemptibles". Only men who served under fire in France at some time before midnight 22/23 November 1914 qualify. The phrase comes from a disparaging remark by Kaiser Wilhelm II, how he would roll over Sir John French's contemptibly small army.

Death in Egypt


Frederick Thomas Holmes was born Leamington, but had moved to Swanley in Kent when he enlisted into the army. After serving with the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) and taking part in the awful Gallipoli campaign, he was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Essex Regiment and served with them in Egypt. He died of bronchitis on 7 November 1918 and is buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.

Remembering

Next time you pass Leamington or any other war memorial, take a moment to remember these lads. They were after all the Mark Bellinghams, the Jimmy Husbands, the Adam Coopers of their day. Without their sacrifice and the efforts and sacrifices of many others of our town and area, we may not have been here to enjoy watching football at the New Windmill Ground.

Article by Chris Baker and Paul Vanes

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