Friday 28th January 1916: We have heard from Lance Sergeant
Fred Blakeman of A Company, 7th Battalion, a Bedford lad who is well-known on
most of the football grounds of this county: “I am pleased to inform you that I
remain first class but we are in the trenches once again and have had it a bit
rough this time and won’t be sorry to get back for a rest; but all the boys are
as cheerful as one could expect under the circumstances. The last time we were
resting we managed to arrange a few games of football, my company beating B by
3 goals to 2. During this match(1) “Fritz” got the range nicely and planted
several shells within forty yards of our pitch; no one was hurt, but I have
never seen a footer ground cleared so quickly. Eventually we returned and
completed the game. The following day I played in a Rugby match against a team
of Fusiliers(2), whom we beat by 23 points to nil, your humble scoring a couple
of tries. You know a little bit of sport of this kind helps to keep up the
boys’ spirits, but our greatest regret now is that the ball you sent us is
about played out so should you know of anyone with an old football, no matter
what condition it may be, ask them to send it over here”.
Source: Bedfordshire Times 11th
February 1916
(1) On 26th
January – the war diary states: “Enemy sent over one round battery fire at men
playing football North Road end. No damage done”.
(2) Probably
11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers who were in the same brigade
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