Throughout time sports have had a great impact on the world in many different ways, and even during the darker times of war, sports in general still manage to have a positive effect on everyone around. Leading up to the war in 1914 both sides were looking for soldiers to fight for their respected countries. After months of pursuing people to fight in the war, the time had finally come to where once ordinary citizens were now known as soldiers. When becoming a soldier, everyone must go through different types military and naval training to become prepared for battle. There are many types of sporting virtues and characteristics that exist in soldiering that can be used effectively to ones advantage on the battlefield. Throughout training, soldiers are put to work and are required to be in top physical shape. Athletes who joined the war have a distinct advantage over normal citizens because of the fact they are already in great shape from playing sports professionally. During training camp, not only were soldiers required to be in physical shape, they were also trained mentally. Soldiers were trained mentally in different ways, from knowing how to react in combat to strategizing different plans of attack. In my opinion athletes also have the upper hand on normal soldiers do to the fact they have mental instincts to react to the opposition.
During war many soldiers would use sports in the trenches to pass time and give them some enjoyment. The one specific event that took place during the war was the famous soccer game played during the Christmas truce of 1914 between the allies and Central powers. The game took place during the Christmas Truce of 1914 when both sides met in “no mans land”, which was a safe zone where both sides could come together and treat everyone with respect. This soccer game shows that sports have had a great impact on everyone around and has brought people together for centuries. During war many athletes, especially in Britain, were deeply impacted by the war and felt it was necessary to leave their passion for sports back home in order to join the army. A prime example of athletes leaving to go to war was Ronnie Poulton-Palmer, who was captain of the England’s rugby team. Poulton-Palmer capped 17 matches for the international team and scored 4 tries in a match against France in 1914 before he left to join the British army. Another example of athletes leaving for war was on November 26, 1914 when the entire team of Hearts from Scotland, which was one of the more successful teams at that time, left to join the British army. The above examples support the idea that the world of sports were deeply impacted on many different levels by the war and that fighting for their countries was more important than playing the sport they loved.
Leading up to the start of the war in 1914, Britain was doing everything in its power to gain and attract soldiers to fight for their army. One interesting tactic that the British used was recruiting all different types of athletes, but mostly soccer players. The recruitment of soccer players came mostly do to the part of one man, Arthur Conan Doyle. Arthur Conan Doyle was the man who made a direct appeal for football players to volunteer for service; he also came up with the idea of recruiting men and women at sporting events and pursuing them to join in the war at halftimes of certain soccer games. Conan Doyle was not only involved with recruiting at games but also with making and supporting propaganda surrounding the war. In, September of 1914, Shorty after the war had begun Conan Doyle took place in a secret meeting between the main writing for the British newspaper and the head of the War Propaganda Bureau, Charles Masterman. In this meeting Conan Doyle and the other writers discussed different ways to promote Britain’s interest in the war. After the meeting different things came from it, such as Conan Doyle’s and a few other writers decisions to write pamphlets surrounding the promotion of the war and the governments view about what is going on. The thing I found most interesting was that after doing months and months of promoting the war and writing different types of passages, Conan Doyle himself joined the war and acted as a Private in the Sixth Royal Sussex Regiment.
All throughout Britain propaganda posters of all kinds were in full demand and were being produced everywhere throughout different cities. One piece of propaganda that I personally found interesting was a poster that read, “The army Isn’t All Work”. Pictured on this poster were a soccer player, and two different Soldiers standing next to each other welcoming all who would consider joining them in battle. I think this poster symbolizes that even through all the rough times at war many men still find joy in the sports they love but continuing to play them at war.
There are two particular participants in the war who really, I believe, exemplify my complete research topic. The first man is Gerald Anderson, an Olympic runner that took part in the Stockholm Games. Anderson broke the world record at the 440-yards hurdles before entering the games. Even though Anderson didn’t end up winning a medal at the Olympic games he gave a valiant effort. In the end Anderson decided to join the Cheshire Regiment in 1914 and was later killed in battle on the 9th of November. Another athlete that I believe exemplifies my topic is Donald Bell, a football player for Bradford City. Bell did many interesting things before war but none more than being the very first soccer player to join the British army. Bells actions were very powerful over the first few months and helped make the decision for other soccer players to leave their respected clubs in order to join the war much easier. Once fully enlisted in the army and was all set up in the Yorkshire Regiment Bell went on to get married to beautiful young women, but 2 days later was sent to France to fight for the country he loved.
From reading this essay one can understand the fact that sports and war are deeply connected both on and off the battlefield. They connect from propaganda posters hanging on street poles to soldiers in the heart of battle playing games of soccer against their enemy. Through all the bad times at war, sports and the thought of their respect families were the things that many soldiers relied on to get them through their time at war and back home safely. The idea that sports and total war truly do have a deep connection on and off the battlefield is well respected and I believe that it is one idea that many people will forever support.
During war many soldiers would use sports in the trenches to pass time and give them some enjoyment. The one specific event that took place during the war was the famous soccer game played during the Christmas truce of 1914 between the allies and Central powers. The game took place during the Christmas Truce of 1914 when both sides met in “no mans land”, which was a safe zone where both sides could come together and treat everyone with respect. This soccer game shows that sports have had a great impact on everyone around and has brought people together for centuries. During war many athletes, especially in Britain, were deeply impacted by the war and felt it was necessary to leave their passion for sports back home in order to join the army. A prime example of athletes leaving to go to war was Ronnie Poulton-Palmer, who was captain of the England’s rugby team. Poulton-Palmer capped 17 matches for the international team and scored 4 tries in a match against France in 1914 before he left to join the British army. Another example of athletes leaving for war was on November 26, 1914 when the entire team of Hearts from Scotland, which was one of the more successful teams at that time, left to join the British army. The above examples support the idea that the world of sports were deeply impacted on many different levels by the war and that fighting for their countries was more important than playing the sport they loved.
Leading up to the start of the war in 1914, Britain was doing everything in its power to gain and attract soldiers to fight for their army. One interesting tactic that the British used was recruiting all different types of athletes, but mostly soccer players. The recruitment of soccer players came mostly do to the part of one man, Arthur Conan Doyle. Arthur Conan Doyle was the man who made a direct appeal for football players to volunteer for service; he also came up with the idea of recruiting men and women at sporting events and pursuing them to join in the war at halftimes of certain soccer games. Conan Doyle was not only involved with recruiting at games but also with making and supporting propaganda surrounding the war. In, September of 1914, Shorty after the war had begun Conan Doyle took place in a secret meeting between the main writing for the British newspaper and the head of the War Propaganda Bureau, Charles Masterman. In this meeting Conan Doyle and the other writers discussed different ways to promote Britain’s interest in the war. After the meeting different things came from it, such as Conan Doyle’s and a few other writers decisions to write pamphlets surrounding the promotion of the war and the governments view about what is going on. The thing I found most interesting was that after doing months and months of promoting the war and writing different types of passages, Conan Doyle himself joined the war and acted as a Private in the Sixth Royal Sussex Regiment.
All throughout Britain propaganda posters of all kinds were in full demand and were being produced everywhere throughout different cities. One piece of propaganda that I personally found interesting was a poster that read, “The army Isn’t All Work”. Pictured on this poster were a soccer player, and two different Soldiers standing next to each other welcoming all who would consider joining them in battle. I think this poster symbolizes that even through all the rough times at war many men still find joy in the sports they love but continuing to play them at war.
There are two particular participants in the war who really, I believe, exemplify my complete research topic. The first man is Gerald Anderson, an Olympic runner that took part in the Stockholm Games. Anderson broke the world record at the 440-yards hurdles before entering the games. Even though Anderson didn’t end up winning a medal at the Olympic games he gave a valiant effort. In the end Anderson decided to join the Cheshire Regiment in 1914 and was later killed in battle on the 9th of November. Another athlete that I believe exemplifies my topic is Donald Bell, a football player for Bradford City. Bell did many interesting things before war but none more than being the very first soccer player to join the British army. Bells actions were very powerful over the first few months and helped make the decision for other soccer players to leave their respected clubs in order to join the war much easier. Once fully enlisted in the army and was all set up in the Yorkshire Regiment Bell went on to get married to beautiful young women, but 2 days later was sent to France to fight for the country he loved.
From reading this essay one can understand the fact that sports and war are deeply connected both on and off the battlefield. They connect from propaganda posters hanging on street poles to soldiers in the heart of battle playing games of soccer against their enemy. Through all the bad times at war, sports and the thought of their respect families were the things that many soldiers relied on to get them through their time at war and back home safely. The idea that sports and total war truly do have a deep connection on and off the battlefield is well respected and I believe that it is one idea that many people will forever support.