Chesterfield FC's Roll of Honour

On Remembrance Sunday, people attend services up and down the country to remember those who gave their lives in defence of their nation, pausing for a minute or two in quiet contemplation. There isn't a family in this country which hasn't been shaped in some way by the loss of loved ones in war, and the family that is our football club has given up its share of players and officials to the greater good. In tribute, we list them here.

1914-18:

Albert Edward Tye, below, was a decent wing-half with a decent Chesterfield Town between 1904 and 1906. A painter by trade, he joined the 4th Battalion of the North Staffordshires and was posted to Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) in 1916. Albert was listed as "Missing, presumed dead" after the battle for the Hai Salient, near Kut, on January 25th, 1917.

Chesterfield-born Arthur Revill saw service with the Grenadier Guards before the war and was called back to the colours in 1914, joining the second battalion. He saw action at Loos, died of wounds suffered there on 29^th September 1915, and is buried at Lapugnoy, in France.

Billy Gerrish was a Chesterfield Town player in 1912 but his time here was curtailed by a broken leg. He joined the 17^th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, the famous "Footballers' Battalion," and was killed in action on The Somme on August 8^th, 1916.

Sergeant Major Joe Smith was a powerful centre-half and joined up halfway through the 1914-15 season, along with his pals in Chesterfield's half-back line. He too chose to join the Footballers' Battalion and died at Serre, in France, on November 13^th, 1916 - the last action in the Battle of the Somme. He was mentioned in dispatches for bravery that saw him continue the rush into battle despite being shot.

Lieutenant Charles Newcombe was a former Head Boy at the Chesterfield Grammar School and a Derbyshire cricketer, and and played for Chesterfield Town as an amateur in 1911 and 1912. Serving with the 7^th battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, he was killed in action on December 27^th, 1915, at Fleuraix.

Jimmy Revill was a Sheffield United man who guested for the wartime Chesterfield Town club and was posted to the 104^th Field Company, Royal Engineers. He was killed in action on the first day of the Arras offensive, at the Battle of the Scarpe, on April 9^th, 1917, and is buried with 3000 other British soldiers at Bethune.

Gerald Gordon Graham played for the old Town side in the Midland League during the 1910-11 season. Little is known of this Brampton-born moulder's football career beyond spells with the Town club and Rotherham County, but we know that he served with the 21st West Yorkshire regiment and was wounded three times in the space of ten days in 1917; after recuperation at home he returned to France and took part in the Battle of Valenciennes, losing his life on November 1st 1918, just days before the armistice.

Lieutenant Vernon Bowmer, of Crich, played once for the Town side. He served with the 16^th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. He survived the shooting war but was badly wounded, and died in a military hospital at Bath on October 9^th, 1919. He won the Military Cross in 1917 for conspicuous gallantry in action, having organised bombing parties that, according to his citation, "accounted for a large number of Germans."

1939-45:

Albert Bonass played 98 times for Chesterfield, scoring 26 goals from the wing. He joined the RAF as a wireless operator and lost his life when his aircraft crashed at Tockwith, near York, on a training flight on October 9^th, 1945.

Fred Fisher was another winger, who played 16 times for the club. He served in Lancasters with the 166^th Squadron and was killed when his aircraft came down near Yonne, in France, on July 26^th, 1944.

Allan Sliman enjoyed the most significant playing career of all these men. He played 241 games over seven seasons in the pivotal centre-half position. He joined the RAF in 1943 and was posted to the 75^th Squadron. His outfit took part in the destruction of Hamburg and the famous raid on the V1 factories at Peenemunde. Sliman lost his life during a mission on April 14^th 1945 but was brought home, and is buried at Chelmsford.

Arthur Bacon, the Birdholme-born forward of 1932-3, enrolled as a Special Constable in Derby during World War Two. He was killed in a bombing raid on the city on July 27^th, 1942.

Flight Sergeant Bob Wrigglesworth had a season here as an amateur in 1935, hoping to emulate the professional success of his older brother Billy. Bob joined the RAF as an air gunner and was posted to 38 squadron, flying Wellingtons from Egypt. His aircraft was shot down over Greece on January 23^rd, 1943, and Bob is buried in the Phaleron military cemetery, near Athens.

Lieutenant Alastair K "Alec" Campbell served in both wars. He was manager of Chesterfield for a short time in 1927. He lost his life near Portsmouth on June 16^th 1943, while serving with the Royal Artillery.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."