Getting footballers from the barracks in Brecon to play for a team on Boxing Day · First World War Poetry Digital Archive

Title

Getting footballers from the barracks in Brecon to play for a team on Boxing Day See all items with this value

Identifier

7882.mp3

GWA_6945_FootballBarracksAVtrial.mp3

Creator

Powell, Walter See all items with this value

Abstract

Walter Powell, captain of Llandrindod Wells football club at the time, recalls trying to get the orderly NCO to allow some footballers from the South Wales Borders to leave the barracks to play in a friendly match on Boxing Day soon after the war. What swings the deal is that Walter's uncle Humphrey Powell ('Punchy' or 'Punky' Powell) was CSM in the regiment during the war. Walter also mentions a trial with Aston Villa FC and other clubs. Recording made circa 1983.

Part of a collection relating to Walter H. Powell, Llandrindod Wells, (private / driver M2-267205 Mechanised Transport Army Service Corps). Born 1898, Walter tried to join up under-age on a number of occasions, finally succeeding in 1916. He served many months - (more than 2 years?) - in different army units in Britain, before going over to France. He served as a despatch rider for an anti-aircraft battery in 1918-1919. Walter was gassed "suffering the effects all his life". He was a founder member of Toc-H in Llandrindod, and a keen footballer - he died in 1994 aged 96. However Walter's older brothers (Cliff and Percy Powell) and his uncle (Humphrey Powell) died of wounds sustained during the war.