Both World Wars had a huge effect on every aspect of life. Football was, of course, no different and many players careers were short. Whether that was because of the postponement of the Football League throughout the wars, or because some players paid the ultimate penalty in fighting for their country. Cheltenham Town were no different to any other team during this period and they had several heroes of their title winning team that sadly passed away.
The 1913-14 season was a successful one for the club that was less than thirty-years-old. The Robins had won both the North Gloucestershire League and the reserve team won the Cheltenham League Division One The first team's feat was even more impressive with the fact that their campaign only contained two losses throughout the entire season.
Come the start of the 1914-15 season, Cheltenham were on the cusp of securing a new home ground and partaking in their first FA Cup extra preliminary round. However, the whole world was turned upside down as war was declared against Germany in August 1914. Most of Cheltenham Town's title winning side were part of the British war effort.
This was a very different era for football, footballers were considerably worse off than they are today. Cheltenham were made up of part-time players who all needed other jobs to secure a living wage, they were normal men and they fought alongside fellow ordinary men and women. Amongst the plethora of war heroes, some were Cheltenham Town players.
The first of these resolute Robins was Tommy Wall. He was a versatile member of the title winning side and went on to become second lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery and was awarded the Military Cross in 1916. Club Secretary and right-back W. D. Barker, served as a corporal in the King's Royal Rifles. Despite being seriously wounded by an artillery shell in 1915, he returned to fight at The Somme and the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. He was again wounded but again returned to battle. Robins and Barker were unfortunately in an exclusive club of Cheltenham Town players who fought end returned home.
Fortunately, the club did not only consist of two players. At the beginning of the 1919-20 season; Ernie James, Reg Trinder, Frank Challenger, E J Chard and George Yeandle had all served during the war and played for Cheltenham again. They were in little company as many of their friends and teammates passed away.
George Rathbone was a right-half and a lieutenant in the Northamptonshire Regiment. Rathbone was the only officer of his battalion to die, following a German attack in 1918. Star striker Leslie Betteridge scored 37 in 26, during the triumphant season. He was enlisted to the 10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, where he was involved in the Battle of Loos. Betteridge's regiment were praised for their bravery in the battle, but he was one of 450 men killed and one of 44 from Cheltenham, at the fledgling age of just 24.
Reliable defender Hector Mitford was also part of the Gloucestershire Regiment. His regiment were tasked with halting a German attack in Northern France, Mitford was fatally wounded and later died in military hospital in 1918. Inside-left Frank Arkell was also a trainee solicitor who went on to join the 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion. Arkell repeatedly refused promotion to remain as a private and served for three years in France. He manned the machine gun during a surprise German attack in 1918, despite many fleeing the fight, Arkell remained on the battlefield to provide cover fire for his comrades. He passed away protecting his friends whilst displaying great bravery. George Cooper was another solid defender who joined the 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. He was set to join his men in 1916 but was struck down by meningitis and tragically passed away in an Aldershot hospital before he could begin fighting.
Cheltenham were not alone in seeing many of their players pass away during the conflict. Fans could perhaps feel aggrieved that a talented side was ripped apart by the war. However, they must also be immensely proud that so many fought for their country and gave the ultimate sacrifice for their nation.
