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Blues remember those lost in The Great War
Bedford Blues would like to place on record its thanks to Tim Jones and Geoff Read for their thorough effort and hard work into the casualties suffered by the club in the First World War, which can now be brought further to light following an extensive period of fact-finding and research.
A lot has already been written about the club’s association with the Second World War, which Jones and Read will look to shed further light on ready for Remembrance Day 2023, but next to nothing has previously been known about ‘The Great War’ prior to this project.
Looking generally, Goldington Road was highly important during the period 1914-18, being used by the Scottish Division who were based in the town. With club rugby ceasing at this time – although school rugby still took place – the Scrum Bar became the Quarter-master’s Stores and in the middle of the playing field, a temporary cookhouse and cinema were erected.
Due to the army’s refusal to then release Goldington Road immediately following the signing of the armistice agreement, no official club match was played at the ground for the entire 1918-19 campaign.
The First World War came at a time of success for Bedford Blues who completed the 1913-14 campaign with a playing record of 23 victories from 35 matches. As like many other clubs up and down the country, the players answered their country’s call – some making the supreme sacrifice.
A total of nine players to have worn the blue of Bedford have been identified as First World War casualties. This corresponds with the trees planted behind the posts closest to the Former Players Bar, which were all initially planted to honour those that paid the ultimate sacrifice (a photo of this can be seen below).
Every casualty brings with it a unique story, but we have chosen three of the lesser-known ones to focus on for the purpose of this article:
Second Lieutenant Claude Oliver Fowler
Son of long-serving Goldington Road groundskeeper, Tommy Fowler, Second Lieutenant Claude Oliver Fowler was part of the 5th and 1st Battalions of the Bedfordshire Regiment.
Born in 1883, Fowler made 21 Bedford appearances in the 1902/03 campaign, scoring one try. He sadly lost his life just before the armistice agreement on 23rd October 1918.
He is remembered on the list of names at the Amerval Communal Cemetery Extension in Solesmes, France alongside 150 others.
Serjeant Reginald James Minahan
Playing for Bedford in the same era as Edgar Mobbs’ guest appearances for the club, Serjeant Reginald James Minahan featured on sparing occasions, scoring three tries in the 1911/12 campaign.
Born in Gloucester in 1887, Minahan is thought to have also appeared for the Kingsholm based outfit on multiple occasions, even heading across the channel to feature for Stade Toulousain (Toulouse).
He was recommended for commission but was killed before leaving the front line to take it up on 25th July 1916. He is remembered on the memorial at Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery in France.
Lieutenant Gerald Cecil Kingsley
Born in India, the first known records of Lieutenant Gerald Cecil Kingsley come when he is listed as a boarder at 75 Goldington Road in the 1901 census (at the time, he was nine years of age).
Representing Bedford in the immediate pre-war years, he featured on ten occasions, scoring two tries, across the 1912/13 and 1913/14 campaigns.
A former Bedford Grammar School attendee, he died quite early on into the war, on 23rd October 1914. He is remembered at Poelcapelle British Cemetery in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. There are close to 7,500 servicemen and women commemorated there.
List of Bedford Blues First World War Casualties
Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Mobbs
Lance Corporal John Graham Gillam
Second Lieutenant Claude Oliver Fowler
Lieutenant Gerald Cecil Kingsley
Captain Basil Maclear
Lieutenant Colonel Percy Maclear
Serjeant Reginald James Minahan
Captain Donald Farquharson-Roberts MC
Lieutenant Claude Charles Stafford
*The headline photograph at the top of this article is of Loos British Cemetery, where Lance Corporal John Graham Gillam is remembered. Taken by Claire Jones on a recent visit - redhatphoto.co.uk*
