Players & Staff
The original photograph was numbered to indicate who’s who in the list below.
Research Findings
The latest research for each player is detailed in the table below.
1) A.W. Wood (Chairman)
A.W.Wood is mentioned numerous times in the match reports for Putney Town FC. See the Key Moments page. Wood, took over as Putney Town Club Secretary on 1st January, 1909 after the resignation of Mr. Simmonds. At the time, Mr. A. W. Wood lived at 25, Piggott-road, Fulham.
2) J.C. Kendrick (Secretary S.E.L.)
James Alfred Kendrick (1886–1958) was a football player, referee and administrator associated with Putney Town F.C., alongside a career at the City and Guilds of London Institute. Although identified as “J. C. Kendrick” in the photograph discussed, the biographical evidence supplied points to J. A. Kendrick.
Born on 5 January 1886, with his birthplace recorded in the 1911 census as Limehouse, St Anne’s, Kendrick played for Seven Kings F.C., where he also served as secretary and subsequently chairman. A serious playing accident in 1902, involving a dislocated shoulder and fractures to his shoulder blade and collarbone, interrupted his playing career. He turned to refereeing and served as referees’ secretary to the Ilford and District League, before impaired eyesight prevented him from continuing. He subsequently returned to playing with Putney Town, also becoming a committee member.
A London Daily Chronicle report dated 19 January 1911, announced his appointment as paid secretary of the South Eastern League. He was also reportedly a contributor to contemporary football magazines.
Kendrick married Jessie Rose Clarke on 25 February 1911. That year’s census recorded them at 3 Ringmer Avenue, Fulham, with Kendrick employed as a clerk in an educational office at the City and Guilds of London Institute. They had two sons, James Seaton, born in 1911, and Neil George, born in 1914.
During the First World War, Kendrick enlisted as a clerk in the Royal Flying Corps on 8 August 1917, service number 91250, giving his address as 10 Quarrendon Street, Fulham. He transferred to the RAF Reserve in 1919, reportedly medically graded B2. By the 1921 census, he was chief assistant in the office of the Institute’s Department of Technology. A 1930 directory placed him at 44 Norroy Road, Putney. He died on 21 April 1958. The supplied family account states that his elder son, James, served as a pilot during the Second World War and died in a training accident on 5 June 1943.
- 1911 Census of England & Wales. Aged 25, born Limehouse (St Annes), London and a Clerk in Educational Office, City & Guilds of London Institute, he was recorded as the married head of the household at 3 Ringmer Avenue, Fulham, London S.W. He had been married to Jessie Rose for under a year.
- Whether or not he served in the war J. C. Kendrick, as noted on the photo was the paid secretary of the South Eastern League (which included Arsenal, Tottenham, Fulham Chelsea etc.). His appointment was reported in the London Daily Chronicle 19 January 1911. The report noted he was “(Fulham)” whether that was his club or domicile, or both is unclear from the report. His middle initial is given as ‘A’ not ‘C’.
- James Alfred Kendrick employed at City and Guilds institute as noted in the newspaper report. Born 1886 married, but eligible for military service under the Military Service Act present in 1911 and 1921 Censuses so if he did serve he survived.
- Although not a player James Alfred Kendrick 10 Quarrendon Street Fulham and married to Jessie Rose gave his dob as 1881 when he enlisted as a clerk in the RFC 8.8.1917. Service number 91250 Findmypast.com
3) J. Bolton
Jason Bolton, born in Putney around 1889–1890, was a self-employed chimney sweep and decorated First World War soldier. Records indicate a strong match for the “J. Bolton” associated with Putney Town.
The 1911 census recorded Jason, aged 21, at 59 Mulgrave Road, Fulham, with his wife, Gertrude Martha, aged 27, who was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. They had married on 6 February 1911 and had no children at the census; by his enlistment in 1915, they had two daughters. There is a surviving pension record for a Jason Bolton that appears to be a match. Stated he was a 25 year old married Chimney Sweep when he enlisted at Chelsea Town Hall on the 7th January 1915. Again his home address was 59 Mulgrave Road, Fulham.
Bolton enlisted at Chelsea Town Hall on 7 January 1915, aged 25, giving the same occupation and address. These matching details strongly connect the census entry with the surviving military record. He had previously served in the East Surrey Volunteers and Territorial Force. He was described as 5 feet 8½ inches tall, with an expanded chest measurement of 40 inches.
Allocated service number G/7210 in the Middlesex Regiment, he was posted to the 6th Battalion on 13 January 1915 and then to the 1st Battalion, arriving in France on 17 February 1915. He became an unpaid lance-corporal on 15 March.
Bolton suffered severe gunshot wounds and was evacuated to Britain. By his admission to the 4th London General Hospital on 1 July 1915, his left foot had been amputated. Failure of the wound to heal required further amputation. In December, he was sent home while awaiting a place at Roehampton for prosthetic treatment. He was discharged on 10 May 1916 as no longer physically fit for war service and subsequently qualified for the Silver War Badge.
His service brought both a Mention in Despatches, published on 1 January 1916, and the Military Medal, gazetted on 11 October 1916.
His appearance in the casualty list published on 13 July 1915, together with the battalion diary’s account of a patrol firefight on the night of 19–20 June, suggests a possible context for his wounds.
By March 1921, Bolton was living at 585 Seven Sisters Road, London N15, having previously lived in Southend-on-Sea.
Further records suggest J.Bolton was involved in a brutal firefight for the 1st Battalion on or about the 20th June 1915.
- FindMyPast has transcriptions of variable quality of the Medal Index Cards, the Medal Rolls and the Silver War Badge Rolls. We can see from the card Jason’s regimental service number, that he received the Military Medal at the time he was a Lance-Corporal, (Lance Ranks were not shown on service medals), that he first landed in France on the 17th February 1915, he received Emblems, (a response to his having been Mentioned in Despatches), and that he was Discharged from the Army before the end of the conflict.
- 7210 Lance Corporal J. Bolton, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment is listed as wounded in the Official Casualty List that appeared in the edition of The Times dated July 13, 1915. The only other wounded man from that battalion was 8794 Lance Corporal E. Gormley. (Note prefixes are often the first thing to disappear in day to day administration – just as Bolton was G/7210, Edward Gormley was L/8794, the L indicating he was a pre-war Regular.).
While it can only provide the roughest of guides, the same casualty list features two 1st Battalion men who were killed in action.
- 8546 Private J. Barbour. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records James Barbour as died 20th June 1915.
- 6984 Private C. Hillstead. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records C. Hillstead as died 20th June 1915. His Medal Index Card shows him as Charles Hillstead.
Edward Gormley has a surviving service record. He too suffered a Gunshot Wound to the foot. But the summary details don’t specify when. He would go on to receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal, gazetted at much the same time as Jason Bolton’s Military Medal. He has a lot more surviving pages but a good 40 plus relate to an application to return to Canada – he and his family had migrated there before the war. He too was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service, his service ending on the 9th August 1916.
The research suggests something of significance happened in connection with the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cambridges Own (Middlesex regiment) on or about the 20th June 1915. The relevant part of the war diary covering August 1914 to November 1915 can be found in the National Archive online catalogue here.
The 1st Middlesex were actively patrolling, trying to catch enemy personal from work parties, presumably for identification purposes. One patrol on the night of the 19th/20th got into a firefight. The daily narrative suggest three wounded, but the summary column has three killed and three wounded.
4) H. Clark
No concrete findings at the moment.
5) H. Reeves
No concrete findings at the moment.
6) A. Bernard
We do know that the original photograph was presented by Ken Bernard in 2004 to be digitized and his grandad A.Bernard is one of the players in the photograph. However most of the evidence below details an A.Barnard not an A.Bernard. It would be ideal to identify the match between K.Bernard a local resident in 2004, with his grandfather A.Bernard.
Potential match for Ken Bernard:
Name: Mr Kenny Bernard
Birth Date: 1960-1962
Residence Date: 2003-2006, 2008
Name: A Bernard located in the UK, WWI Hospital Registers, 1915-1919 Soldier, Veteran & Prisoner Rolls & Lists Record information.
Name: Alexander A Bernard located in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries Record information.
Private Arthur Barnard (33472), East Surrey Regiment, 9th Battalion. Killed in action 24th June, 1917 aged 39. Buried at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension. Photo of grave here.
The husband of Alice Barnard of 172 Lower Richmond Road, Putney. Arthur was born in Brixton, London. On the 1911 Census Arthur and his wife were living at 4, Danemere Street, Putney. Arthur’s occupation was listed as a bill poster. His wife, Alice was then aged 26 and was born in Battersea. They had three children, all boys born in Putney. Arthur Frederick John Barnard was then aged 5. Next was Gerald Edward William Barnard aged 2. The youngest was Noel Francis Leonard Barnard aged 5 months. They also had two lodgers and a visitor staying with them. Alice was widowed aged 31 in 1917 with three children aged 11, 8 and 6 years of age.*
Soldiers Died in the Great War adds that he was born Brixton, Surrey and enlisted Kingston on Thames, Surrey. No former unit details given.
The Surrey Recruitment Register has an “A.A. Barnard”, aged 38 years and 1 months, a Bill Poster born Brixton, who enlisted under the Derby Scheme on the 8th December 1915 at Putney. He was living at 1 Pentlow Street, Putney. He was recorded as 5 feet 4 inches tall. He was initially posted to the 5th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.
MiC shows his initial unit on going overseas as the 5th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Victory Medal & British War Medal only, so didn’t land in a Theatre of War until some point on or after the 1st January 1916. None of the 5th Battalions of the East Surrey Regiment served in France & Flanders, so he was probably part of a draft from the 2/5th or the 5th Reserve that was sent out to one of the fighting Battalion serving in that Theatre.
Further evidence is also provided on https://maggiesadventuresinlondon.blogspot.com/
7) R. Aplin (Groundsman)
No concrete findings at the moment, although one potential match:
Research suggests it might be Robert Oliver Aplin. Living at 106 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, SW15 in 1905 and for years thereafter – London Electoral Register and 1921 Census. Birth registered Jul-Sept 1873 and a housepainter/decorator by trade. He died in 1960, aged 87. He doesn’t appear to have served, got married or had children.
8) J. Wallace (Trainer)
No concrete findings at the moment.
9) H. Pooley
No concrete findings at the moment, although one potential match:
Research suggests it might be M/320737 Private Herbert William Pooley, Army Service Corps. According to the 1921 Census his wife came from Putney. That man was aged 28 years and 4 months when he joined the Army in what looked like 1916. His wife Emily May and 3 children were then living at 13 Argyle Road, West Hendon. A fouth child would be born in January 1917. The couple had been married on the 16th May 1911, so won’t be reflected in his status on the 1911 Census.
There is a Pte M/320737 Herbert William Pooley ASC of West Hendon, wife Emily (of Putney). Findmypast: Service file, 1921 Census
10) J. Hawkins
No concrete findings at the moment, although one potential match:
Research suggests a 21 year old Footman, born High Wycombe, who was recorded on the 1911 Census at 60, North House, Putney Hill – the household of the 3rd Marquess of Dufferin & Ava. A 24 year old Joseph Hawkins, a footman born High Wycombe, attested at Kingston on Thames on the 4th September 1914, possibly as part of a group that were posted to the Devonshire Regiment.
He was described on the Surrey Register as 5 feet 8 inches tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. The most likely match in the medal record is a Joseph K. Hawkins, Devonshire Regiment service number 12853 but no clues in the civil or military records as to what the K. refers to. 12853 could have been issued to a man who enlisted on the 4th – 12848 attested on the 7th , 12855 attested on the 7th, and 12866 attested on the 11th. Joseph K. Hawkins landed in France on the 22nd September 1915.
From surviving medical records we know he was serving with ‘C’ Company, 10th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire when he was moved from No, 25 Casualty Clearing Station at the end of January 1916 having dis-located the intra-articular right knee. He was discharged back to his unit on the 5th February 1916. When he was an inpatient suffering from jaundice on the 9th September 1916 he was still with the 10th Devons, but was now part of ‘A’ Company. Survived the war and was discharged to the unpaid Class Z Reserve on the 8th April 1919, finally being discharged from all obligation to serve with the ratification of the peace treaty in 1920.
Another possibility is that it is Joseph Hawkins – 20 yrs old in 1911 – Iron Mongery Line worker – 24 Bramber Road, Fulham, London. There is no service information for him, but a census record is on Ancestry.
11) A. Logan
No concrete findings at the moment.
12) C. Roberton (Captain)
No concrete findings at the moment, although one potential match:
Research suggests it might be 278018 Charles Robertson, Labour Corps ex Army Service Corps 28594. Ministry of Pension has his discharge address as 10 Mascot Road, Putney (should read Mascotte Road). He was still there on the 1938 Electoral Roll.
The Surrey Recruitment Register has a C. Robertson of 10 Mascot Road recorded as enlisting on the 5th July 1915 and who signed up for the Army Service Corps. But that man was recorded as 40 years old and 5 feet 5 and a half inches tall. He attested at Putney and was born Richmond.
13) J. Graham
No concrete findings at the moment.
14) H. Wren
No concrete findings at the moment, although one potential match:
Research suggests it might be Harry Wren junior, a Plumbers mate, born c1893, living at 54 St. Maur Road, Fulham on the 1911 Census. There are records for a Harry Reginald F Wren, born Fulham 1892 (Apr, May, June) and a school admission for a Harry Wren (father Harry Wren) born 11/4/1892.
15) W. Franklin (Hon. Sec).
No concrete findings at the moment, although one potential match:
Research suggests it might be 134931 William James Franklin, Royal Fusiliers. Believed to have previously had service numbers 6155 & 7295 & 473507 and 718102 – units unit – information from Ministry of Pensions index card. Was discharged from the Army on the 4th October 1919 to 30 High Street, Roehampton, SW12 and received a weekly disability pension of 8 shillings. If he was a Private that would equate to the 30% degree of disability.
Indexing on FindMyPast shows a surviving service record for him – born c1884, Leafield, Oxfordshire, and dating to 1920. On Fold3 his medical on the 16th May 1916 he was recorded as 5 feet 2 and a half inches tall, a Drapers Warehouseman aged 32. He had enlisted at Wandsworth Town Hall on the 8th December 1915 and was now being mobilised.
He served 9th Reserve London Regiment, (service number 6115), Queen Victorias Rifles, London Regiment, (service number 7295), 23rd Battalion London Regiment, (service number 473507) and 7th Provisional Company Royal Fusiliers, (718102). In amongst all that, when he originally went out to France in October 1916 he was attached to the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. He was taken Prisoner serving with the 1/23rd Battalion on the 5th April 1918.
There are some inconsistencies in the record – after being repatriated to the UK at the start of January 1919 he may have cycled through several units.
Continue the story to find out about the key moments of Putney Town F.C.…