October 15, 1914

London Standard

THE SPORTSMAN’S BATTALION

Colonel Kitchener, who has been raising a corps himself, has passed on any recruits eligible for the Sportsman’s Battalion (Royal Fusiliers, City of London Regiment) to the latter corps, and has written to congratulate it upon its success. The battalion will parade in Hyde Park on Saturday at eleven o’clock, whence it will march to Fenchurch-street Station, to entrain for its quarters at Hornchurch, near Romford, in Essex. Every detail there has been looked into beforehand, and, although the quarters have been put up at probably lightning speed, they will be as complete in every particular as if they had been there for years. They are 14 miles from London, and stand in 85 acres of beautiful park in undulating country. The quarters have been offered to the battalion by the family of the late Colonel Holmes.

The Christian Advocate

A Sportsman’s Battalion Is Being Enrolled In England for the war on the Continent, and a thousand men have thus far been recruited. This body is said to be a corps for gentlemen up to forty-five years of age, the word gentleman in England meaning something rather different than its accepted significance in a democratic land like ours. Some distinguished men have joined themselves to this battalion, the training and equipment of which will be precisely that which is required for an ordinary infantry company.

Daily Mirror

The Sports.

It is good news to all of us who know him to learn that Viscount Maitland has been appointed commanding officer of the Sportsman Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers.  The Viscount is just the sort of man to lead the sportsmen.  a young-looking man of forty—six, tall, fair, blue-eyed, rather stout and a typical Scotsman in many ways, the Viscount has every right to be described as a sportsman.

A Miniature.

Viscount Maitland married a beautiful daughter of the late Judge R. Vaughan-Williams, and her Welsh birth is shown by her pretty first name of Gwendoline.  She is not a classical beauty but owns the charm of small, regular features, a cloud of pale gold hair and a graceful figure.  She is a delightful miniature painter, and as a hobby trims hats?

Pot Them.

A fine shot, Viscount Maitland is also one of the best billiard players in the country.  He should thoroughly enjoy potting the Germans.