Military Sports at Betteshanger Park

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 7 August 1915

On Monday afternoon last the officers and men of the 1/1st West Lancs. Brigade, R.F.A., spent a pleasurable time at Betteshanger Park, where through the kindness of Lord Northbourne, they were enabled to carry through a capital programme of sports. Despite the threatening attitude of the weather during the morning, the day was gloriously fine, exceptionally bright sunshine prevailing throughout the afternoon, and a cool breeze rendered the conditions very pleasant indeed. The sports were held in a delightful spot in the park, fringed on either side by woods in the full richness of their summer verdure.

Lord and Lady Northbourne were keen followers of the different events, and with them were numerous guests, including Lord George Hamilton, Lady Hamilton, Mr. Albert Grey, Mr. H. E. H. Rice, Mrs. F. E. Speed, Mrs. Jackson, Miss Bax Ironside, the Rev. W. C. Thomas, Miss Lindsay, etc., while from neighbouring villages a large concourse of spectators found their way to the park, and thoroughly enjoyed a lengthy and well organised programme of events, which produced interesting sport, and which passed off without accident of any kind.

There were plenty of entrants, and keen contests in every event, and the programme was varied enough to suit all tastes, with musical chairs (mounted), driving competition, tug-of-war, wrestling on horseback, Cinderella race, relay race, V.C. race, obstacle race, officers race, etc.

At the close of events Lady Northbourne distributed the prizes to the winners, to each of whom she addressed a few words of compliment, and at the close of the distribution a vote of thanks to her ladyship was proposed in cordial terms by Col. Osborne, who also voiced the Brigade in heartily thanking Lord Northbourne for so kindly lending his beautiful grounds for the holding of their sports, and he was sure they would all agree with him that the hospitality extended to them by Lord and Lady Northbourne was very greatly appreciated. (Applause).

The vote of thanks was carried with enthusiasm, and Lord Northbourne, in acknowledging the compliment, expressed the pleasure it had given him to witness the sports, and have the opportunity of welcoming the West Lancashire troops in this corner of Kent. In a short but stirring address, touching on the duties which have to be faced by the soldiers and sailors in the national crisis, his Lordship put to the men the question "Are we downhearted?" and the responsive shout in the negative went to prove that the men of the West Lancs. are prepared "to do or die" for their King and country.

    The results of the sports were:

Driving Competition. - 2nd Battery, Sergt. Rudd, Dvr. Firman, Dvr. Jones, Dvr. Unsworth, Bombr. Coles, and Gnr. Leslie.
Musical Chairs (mounted). - Sergt. Redhead (Ammunition Column).
100 Yards Flat Race. - Bombr. Lamont (Ammunition Column).
Wrestling on Horseback. - Sgt. Martin, Sgt. Malone, Dvr. Davitt, Dvr. Gaskill, Bombr. Spring, Dvr. Forshaw (of the Amm. Col.).
Tug-of-War (dismounted). - 3rd Battery.
Cinderella Race. - Dvr. Firman (2nd Battery).
Relay Race (dismounted). - 2nd Battery, Br. Ward, Sgt. Steed, Br. Coles, Gnr. Senior; Ammunition Column, Bombr. Onions, Bombr. Lamont, Dvr. Allan, Gnr. Smith.
Officer's Race. - Major Johnson (1st Battery).
V.C. Race. - Gnr. Oliver, Gnr. Fazakerley, Dvr. Edwards, Gnr. Wilkins, Dvr. Barnes, Bombr. Drohan (2nd Battery).
Obstacle Race. - Dvr. Walkington (1st Battery), Bombr. Coles (2nd Battery).