A record of the Sportsman's Battalions during the First World War, including a database of soldiers who enlisted in - or served with - the 23rd, 24th and 30th Royal Fusiliers, originally raised by Mrs. Emma Cunliffe-Owen in September 1914. If you have any questions or comments, please send to fmsketches@macbrem.com, thanks!

December 5, 1914

Mining and Scientific Press

Two days ago I went to the Hotel Cecil to see the Sportsman’s Battalion, which assembles at that famous hostelry. More particularly I went to see my friend J. H. Curle, the author of “The Gold Mines of the World,” a writer well known on both sides of the Atlantic, and a former special contributor to the Press. The battalion consists of such men as himself, over age according to the recruiting requirements, but fit for military service and anxious to fight for their country. From 10 to 15 per cent of those now in the battalion are too old or otherwise unfit, but the rest are first-rate material. Curle tells me that they have come from every corner of the map. He himself had just returned from Guiana, another in his section hailed from Trinidad, another from the Argentine, a fourth from Singapore, and a fifth from the Gold Coast. Among those in this battalion, which is attached to the Royal Fusiliers, are several mining men. J. H. Curle, W. S. Holloway, F. P Bray, A. G. Bevan, G. R. Nicholas, and W. H. Rundall. They have now gone into camp at Romford, in Essex, to prepare for active service. Curle has a high opinion of his comrades; he says that he would go with them anywhere. They will give a good account of themselves, no doubt.

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