Football Heroes Of World War One

If you are still in a reflective mood regarding the start of WW1, you? may want to read this article from the football section of the Guardian about footballers who won medals for bravery. Here’s an example:

Willie Angus (Celtic)

“‘No braver deed was ever done in the history of the British Army,” wrote Lt Colonel Gemmill, the commanding officer who witnessed Angus’s astonishing rescue of his friend James Martin. The pair had grown up in Carluke, Scotland, where Angus worked as a miner before signing for Celtic, for whom he made one first-team appearance. Unlike Bell and Vann, Angus survived to receive his Victoria Cross, awarded for braving bombs and machine-gun fire to bring the wounded Martin back from under the nose of a German trench. Angus lost an eye in the rescue. It really is a stunning tale, deserving of the full respect it is given here. Thanks to Aidan Thomas for bringing Angus to our attention.