• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Aston Villa club history

Villa players that served during WW1:
J. Bache, T. Barber, A. Dyke, H. Hampton, S. Hardy, B. Morris, F. Moss, C. Stephenson, J. Stephenson, C. Wallace, T. Weston, T. Whittaker, R. Black, L. Bowker, F. Buckley, R. Chandler, S. Doncaster, A. Evans, W. George, A. Green, H. Henshall, G. Hunter, A. MacLachlan, A. Moss, C. Millington, T. Niblo, E. Parsons, L. Skiller, D. Sloley, H. Smart, J. Walters, J. Windmill, E. Woods.

Villa Players who died in WW2:
W. Bowker (Gunner WILLIAM BOWKER RGA was killed in action at Arras), W. Kimberley (Pte WALTER KIMBERLEY was a reservist and went to France soon after the outbreak of war, he was taken prisoner in fighting which preceded the battle of the Marne and sent into Germany, where he remained for many months, contracting consumption of which he died), A. Rogers (Pte ALBERT ROGERS - He enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion and was transferred to the East Surreys. Killed in action in France. ) Dr. L. Roose (Lance Corporal Leigh Richmond Roose - Royal Fusiliers, previously Royal Army Medical Corps. Killed in Action in France/Flanders), J. Watkins (a local amateur of whom Villa had very high hopes. He joined up early in the war and took commissioned rank, but was, Killed in Action in France), H. Dobson (Private H.A. DOBSON enlisted in the 1/5 North Staffordshires and went out to France. He was was quickly in action and within three weeks of his arrival in France he was reported missing. He was subsequently reported missing on March 21 1918., W. Gerrish (Pte WILLIAM GERRISH joined the Footballers' Battalion and was killed in the attack at Guillemont in the battle of the Somme). F. Hargrave (Gunner Joseph Frederick .Royal Garrison Artillery - Killed in Action in France/Flanders).
 
As always, it's desperately sad to see so many young lives cut short. AV seems to have had their fair share of casualties. And so many of them with promising sporting careers.

John you also answered another question for me that there was a Footballers' Battalion. So, thanks.

Does AVFC have a memorial with named casualties/footballers who served ?
 
Last edited:
I read a story a while back about a young man that had lived a stone's throw from the Villa ground and had worked as a groundsman there. He'd sadly been killed in the First World War. Not only was it some of the Villa Players that lost their lives in the War but also many fans who'd attended the matches before then, and sadly met the same fate.
 
Back
Top