January 16, 1915

Land and Water

THE SPORTSMAN’S BATTALIONS.

To the Editor of LAND AND WATER.

DEAR SIR, - May I ask you to help me raise the necessary funds for the 2nd Sportsman’s Battalion! The facts briefly are these: -

A battalion of 1,400 men costs £8 to £10 per man over and above the money allowed and repaid by the War Office, and this amount the individuals raising the battalions have to find. The money is not for luxuries, but for ordinary necessary comforts which mean so much to a man undergoing strenuous training, and prevents illness, discontent and other troubles. Out of this fund also administration expenses, advertising and printing have to paid, which are necessarily heavy items. It would be most kind if your readers would send me cheques towards this fund, and so help me in the big national work I have undertaken. The cheques should be made payable to E. Cunliffe-Owen, and crossed 2nd Sportsman’s Battalion, London Joint Stock Bank, Ltd., Strand.

Any sum will be gratefully received and acknowledged at once, and every care is taken in the expenditure of the funds.

Thanking you in anticipation for doing the best in your power to help in this matter, believe me to be, yours faithfully,

E. CUNLIFFE-OWEN.
Hotel Cecil, Strand, London,

Nottingham Evening Post

PLAY UP NOTTS!

A COMPANY FOR SPORTSMEN’S BATTALION.

RECRUITING COMMENCED.

The sportsmen of Notts. have an unequalled opportunity of serving their King and country in the ranks of the 2nd Sportsmen’s Battalions, a representative from headquarters being at present in Nottingham making the necessary arrangements for the formation of a Notts. company.

The marked enthusiasm which has been infused into the battalions in London, and the fine type of sportsmen recruited, bespeaks a ready response to the appeal which will shortly be made for the new company, and we are informed that his Worship the Mayor is to be asked to lend his civic support to the proposal. That this will be of inestimable value of course goes without saying, and as a company only numbers about 200, it is “up to” intending recruits to immediately get into touch with the recruiting sergeant at the Mechanics’ Hall.

Sportsmen and gentlemen are synonymous terms, and although not a few have left the city and district to join the battalion in London, there remains a numerous company of golfers, cricketers, footballers, and racing men who will be glad to wear the khaki, and fraternise with their own kind in this splendid battalion. They will be known as the Notts. company of the 2nd Sportsmen’s Battalion, and enlistment will be confined to natives of Nottinghamshire. In fact, it has already commenced, and the first detachment of ten men will go up to London on Monday to report themselves. The camp at Romford, Essex, will claim the recruits after about a fortnight’s training in the metropolis.