Newcastle United: Lest We Forget

By Paul Joannou - Newcastle United Club Historian

On Tuesday, the nation will mark Remembrance Day in this special year of the centenary of the start of the Great War.

At the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, respect will be given to the millions killed during World War One.

More than 100 Newcastle United players and officials of that era served in the conflict, 15 to be killed in action - 13 in the tranches and fields of Flanders.

Five players on the Club's staff for the 1914/15 campaign as war began, were killed in the fighting. All were from the north, all living around Tyneside and in their 20s.

Tommy Goodwill, from Bates Cottages near Cramlington, was the only regular first-teamer, a potent outside-left and crowd favourite.

Much has been written on Tommy who joined the Northumberland Fusiliers and died with the Newcastle Commercials on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July, 1916.

But what of the others who gave the ultimate sacrifice?

Dan Dunglinson, Tom Cairns, Richard McGough and George Rivers were all budding footballers in United's reserve ranks.

Dan Dunglinson was a promising and highly-rated amateur centre-forward from Hexham, appearing in England trial fixtures. One of three brothers to join up with the Commercials Pals unit of the Fusiliers, Dan was prominent in creating a football team with the battalion.

Sadly he died on the same day as Goodwill, as the Commercials attacked the German line. One of his brothers also lost his life.

Geordie lad Tom Cairns was one of the very first United players to respond to Lord Kitchener's call for men to arms, joining the Royal Field Artillery and reaching the rank of corporal.

Serving in a Trench Mortar Battery around Arras, he fell fighting in the trenches of France and is remembered on the Arras Memorial. Raised in Chopwell, Cairns earned a good reputation as a schemer playing in the local Northern Combination League and was signed by the Magpies.

Tom deputised for Curtis Booth for the concluding fixture of the 1914/15 season, the last before war enforced a close-down to football, and played his part in a fine 3-0 victory over Aston Villa.

Cumbrian Richard McGough arrived at St. James' Park from Carlisle United's pre-league outfit. He was a compact and skilful midfielder and showed Newcastle directors he was worth an opportunity.

McGough operated in the middle of the park in the old fashioned centre-half role and was called into the side for Wilf Low in Newcastle's starting line-up during the 1914/15 season before he joined up to do battle in World War One.

He was killed in action serving as a bombardier in the Royal Garrison Artillery on a siege battery; his name is remembered at the Feuchy British Cemetery, Pas de Calais.

George Rivers, like Dunglinson, never saw first-team duty for United and but for the conflict could well have graduated to Newcastle's senior team.

A school-teacher, he came to United's attention when playing local football with Birtley and joined the black-and-whites in May 1914 for the sum of £50.

Hailing from Tudhoe, near Durham, he joined the Durham Light Infantry in the Army Service Corps, being killed in August 1916 as the Somme battles raged.

In the 1919/20 season when peace had been restored, the Club unveiled a War Memorial which still survives today, 95 years later. Situated in the Milburn Stand covered walkway, next to the Glass Atrium, it commemorates those players and officials at the outbreak of the war and to serve in the conflict.

KILLED IN ACTION

(On United's staff)
Dan Dunglinson (centre-forward), Northumberland Fusiliers, KIA 1st July 1916, Somme
Thomas Cairns (inside-left), Royal Field Artillery, KIA 13th October 1917, Arras
Thomas Goodwill (outside-left), Northumberland Fusiliers, KIA 1st July 1916, Somme
Richard McGough (centre-half), Royal Garrison Artillery, KIA 18th April 1917, Arras
George Rivers (outside-left), Durham Light Infantry, KIA 13th August 1916, Somme

(When at other clubs)
Donald Bell VC (full-back), Yorks Regiment, Green Howards, KIA 10th July 1916, Somme
John Fleming (centre-forward), Cameron Highlanders, KIA 21st March 1916, Yorkshire (wounds Ypres)
Richard Harker (inside-forward) Northumberland Fusiliers, KIA 9th April 1917, Arras
Nick Higgins (inside-left), King's Royal Rifle Corps, KIA 8th December 1915, Ypres
Tom Hughes (inside-left), Northumberland Fusiliers, KIA 23rd May 1915, Ypres
James Maxwell (outside-right), Seaforth Highlanders, KIA 21st April 1917, Mesopotamia
Charles Randall (inside-left), Coldstream Guards, KIA 27th July 1916, Somme
Tom Rowlandson MC (goalkeeper), Yorkshire Regiment, KIA 15th Sept 1916, Somme
James Stevenson (inside-right), Highland Light Infantry, KIA 3rd July 1916, Somme
John Findlay (right-half), KIA 20th September 1916 (location to be confirmed)

SERVED

(Players traced)
Norman Alder, John Alderson, Stan Allan, John Archibald, George Bell, Tom Blyth, Curtis Booth, Bill Bradley, Charles Bunyan, Jack Carr, Bert Chandler, J Claxton, John Cook, Ed Cooper, Bob Crumley, Andy Cunningham, Tom Curry, Jack Curtis, John Davison, Stan Dixon, John Dodds, John Doran, Angus Douglas, Scott Duncan, James Esther, Charles Farrier, D Gilmour, Tom Grey, Stan Hardy, Alf Hagan, Alex Hall, Harry Hardinge, Jimmy Hay, James Henderson, Tom Henderson, Sandy Higgins, Jack Hill, Tom Holford, Frank Hudspeth, William Hughes, Bob Hutchinson, William Kettle, John King, Richard Little, Jimmy Low, Wilf Low, Tom McDonald, George McKechnie, Owen McManus, Ron McTavish, Bob Muse, Tom Niblo, Tom Parr, Tom Phillipson, George Pyke, Alex Ramsay, James Raine, Alex Rainnie, Fred Reed, Ray Robinson, Bill Robinson, Sam Russell, John Scott, Finlay Speedie, Charlie Spencer, James Spink, James Soulsby, Tom Stuart, Jack Thomas, Henry Thompson, Irvine Thornley, Tommy Urwin, Colin Veitch, Bill Warren, George Wilson, Jack Wilson, Billy Wilson, Harry Woods

(Managers, directors and officials traced)
Dr E Appleby, Tom Mather, Wallace Hurford, William McKeag, Robert Rutherford, Robert Strother Stewart, Robert Simpson, Frank Watt (junior)