Perry Barr's Home Guard footballers, 1944

'Home Guard unit has built up fine soccer record': 'B' Company (Perry Barr), 50th Battalion (Birmingham) Home Guard, with their shields and cup. Evening Despatch, 25 November 1944.

A cutting from the Evening Despatch, Saturday 25 November 1944, 'Sportsmen's Corner' by 'Looker-On'. The team photograph names, back row: Cpl W. Hatcher (trainer), Pte H. Hardsley, Lieut L. Bakewell, Pte L. Fisher, Lieut J. Ross, Pte R. Lawley. Front row: Sgt J. Rosbrook, Pte J. Jenkins, Second-Lieut V. Stokes (captain and secretary), Cpl H. Parker, Pte L. Mobley, Lieut J. T. Lane (names as read from the cutting). The article says the company had its headquarters at the Alexander Sports Ground, Perry Barr, from 1940. It joined the Works League in 1943, and 'at one time we played 21 consecutive games without defeat'.

Notes

Unit and place: confirmed by the cutting: 'B' Co. (Perry Barr), 50th Battalion (Birmingham) Home Guard, based at the Alexander Sports Ground, Perry Barr, about 3 km south-west of Kingstanding Circle. Which Home Guard battalion covered the Kingstanding estate itself is still unknown. The sibling history dossier lists Perry Barr as the 50th Bn (staffshomeguard.co.uk, REPORTED). Some Kingstanding men probably served in this company, but none is identified. Name spellings were transcribed from the Birmingham Museums Trust image and may contain misreadings.