The Wheatsheaf

𝄞 They were called in from the glen,
And the country found them ready
At the stirring call for men.
Let no tears add to their hardship,
As the soldiers pass along,
And although your heart is breaking
Make it sing this cheery song:

Keep the home fires burning
While your hearts are yearning,
Though the lads are far away,
They dream of home.
There’s a silver lining,
Through the dark clouds shining,
Turn the dark cloud inside out,
Till the boys come home. 𝄞
1920
After several months and meetings, the Cenotaph was unveiled, standing where the Fountain used to stand and where a wooden model of a cenotaph had stood for some while, always adorned with flowers left by those who mourned their lost, loved ones.
The gathered crowd sang a hymn, ‘ How bright these glorious spirits shine’, followed by the laying of a wreath and the bugles sounding ‘The Last Post’.
The audience then sang ‘Nearer, my God, to Thee’.
Prayers followed before,‘ For all the saints who from their labours rest’, and then the laying of more wreaths and the National Anthem to close the half an hour service.
Silence prevailed everywhere, with shops and businesses closed during the service. All the streets leading to the Town Hall were full of people coming to pay their respects.
‘The day may come in an enlarged and embellished Swindon, many memorials may adorn her streets, but none will be founded so deeply in the sorrows and veneration of her citizens.’
After professional football had been suspended, amateurs represented STFC during the war.
A meeting on June 4th 1919 showed a healthy balance sheet, while the Chairman of Directors paid tribute
‘to the memory of the four players whom the Club had lost during the war and
also of one brilliant young amateur who had rendered good service …
Messrs. Bathe, Brewer, Milton and Wheatcroft, and along with them Mr. Harold Warren … awarded the Military Medal only two months before he was carried off with influenza …
Mr. White hoped the Club would show the reverence and gratitude due to these gallant five by some tangible memorial, and it was generally felt that a brass tablet should be placed in the dressing-room at the County Ground …’

Postscript Other STFC players from WW1:

Bertie Arman,
222 Field Company, Royal Engineers, boilermaker, STFC 1915, d. 31st October 1972
Tommy Bolland,
440 Squadron, Royal Artillery, STFC 1909 – 15 and 1919-21, d. 3rd January 1967
Bertie Denyer
Royal Fusiliers, STFC, 1914-15 and 1919-30, d. 15th March 1969
Charlie Giles
Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, STFC 1912-14,
injured Battle of Aisne, September 1914, d. 28th March 1964
Jack Lee
Lance Corporal, Royal Engineers, STFC 1910-15, d. 1951
Matty Lochead,
Enlisted 1915, STFC 1909-15, 191-20, d.1964
George Maunders
Royal Veterinary Corps, STFC 1912-16, d.1935
Dave Rogers
Gunner, Royal Field Artillery, went to France September 1914,
STFC 1913-14, 1919-26, d. 1975
‘Bert’ (Harry) Warman, Sergeant, Wiltshire Regiment, STFC 1905-10, d. 1955
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Stuart Butler

I wrote this after contacting STFC and Northampton Town FC. I arranged a ceremony for Walter Tull, first officer of colour in the British Army, KIA 1918, when Swindon entertained Northampton in 2018. Walter had played for Spurs and Northampton before volunteering. He was so loved by his men that they went out into No Man's Land to try and retrieve his body. We had a reading from a Northampton supporter and Swindon teacher at the Cenotaph before our walk of Remembrance. The bells of Christ Church pealed for us. It was utterly moving. The constant, pelting rain seemed appropriate.
But we hope you will enjoy slipping down some wormholes of time on this website.