Further to the outbreak of the First World War, the Cardiff committee called on ‘all sportsmen, footballers, cricketers, baseballers, tennis men, golfers, hockey players, cyclists, oarsmen, bowlers, boxers etc.’ to enlist together in a sportsmen’s battalion. Two days later at a recruiting meeting, twelve Cardiff rugby club members came forward and the very first to volunteer was the 1913/14 captain and Welsh international forward W J ‘Billy’ Jenkins.
Later in the war, Jenkins was awarded the Military Cross for rescuing a wounded comrade under heavy fire. Another of these early volunteers was the Cardiff forward Gus Lewis, who died of wounds two years later.
A recruiting office was set up at the Arms Park but, with so many men actin on their own initiative, Cardiff’s idea of a local ‘Sportsmen’s Battalion’ never materialised. However, soon afterwards, the Lord Mayor launched a campaign to raise a local battalion of infantry, which became the 16th Battalion Welsh Regiment. Otherwise known as the ‘Cardiff City Battalion’, this had close links with the rugby club and the battalion rugby team even played in kit and boots donated by the club. Many well-known and less well-known local players could
be found in its ranks and those Cardiff players who served in the battalion and lost their lives included Willie Richards, Alf Titt, Stan Williams, and the Welsh internationals Dick Thomas and Johnny Williams. Other fatalities included Walter Williams who had first played for the club as early as 1881 and was a 51-year-old Royal Navy officer when he was killed in November 1914, and Welsh international Dai Westacott, who was slain when a shell hit his trench near Ypres in August 1917. Those more fortunate who survived the conflict included former vice-captain Fred Smith, who commanded the Cardiff City Battalion, and Welsh internationals Bert Winfield and Clem Lewis, who served under Smith.
During the Second World War, Wilf Wooller and Les Spence, together with ‘Rags’ captain Ken Street, enlisted in the 77th Ack-Ack Regiment, which was initially involved in the coastal defence of south Wales prior to being deployed to the Far East, where both Wooller and Spence were to become Japanese prisoners of war. Eleven Cardiff rugby men, including
Street, would not return from the conflict.
The Arms Park, severely damaged by a German land mine in January 1941,
saw quite regular charity matches, representative games, and unofficial Cardiff fixtures played throughout the war years.
Later in the war, Jenkins was awarded the Military Cross for rescuing a wounded comrade under heavy fire. Another of these early volunteers was the Cardiff forward Gus Lewis, who died of wounds two years later.
A recruiting office was set up at the Arms Park but, with so many men actin on their own initiative, Cardiff’s idea of a local ‘Sportsmen’s Battalion’ never materialised. However, soon afterwards, the Lord Mayor launched a campaign to raise a local battalion of infantry, which became the 16th Battalion Welsh Regiment. Otherwise known as the ‘Cardiff City Battalion’, this had close links with the rugby club and the battalion rugby team even played in kit and boots donated by the club. Many well-known and less well-known local players could
be found in its ranks and those Cardiff players who served in the battalion and lost their lives included Willie Richards, Alf Titt, Stan Williams, and the Welsh internationals Dick Thomas and Johnny Williams. Other fatalities included Walter Williams who had first played for the club as early as 1881 and was a 51-year-old Royal Navy officer when he was killed in November 1914, and Welsh international Dai Westacott, who was slain when a shell hit his trench near Ypres in August 1917. Those more fortunate who survived the conflict included former vice-captain Fred Smith, who commanded the Cardiff City Battalion, and Welsh internationals Bert Winfield and Clem Lewis, who served under Smith.
During the Second World War, Wilf Wooller and Les Spence, together with ‘Rags’ captain Ken Street, enlisted in the 77th Ack-Ack Regiment, which was initially involved in the coastal defence of south Wales prior to being deployed to the Far East, where both Wooller and Spence were to become Japanese prisoners of war. Eleven Cardiff rugby men, including
Street, would not return from the conflict.
The Arms Park, severely damaged by a German land mine in January 1941,
saw quite regular charity matches, representative games, and unofficial Cardiff fixtures played throughout the war years.