Chairman Stan’s Spot MORE INFORMATION FOR ARTICLES WHEN: I look forward to this our first (+P) : photos, maps in Photo Gallery, Anniversary Issue of the Despatch. Our (+S) : supplementary information report See our website www.wfanlancs.co.uk and look branch magazine has come through against this Despatch several problems in its birth and hiccups but thanks to Terry and all contributors one year has past and 3 Issues are now “in the bag”. The Fighting Nutters: Mike Sherrington Here’s looking forward to our second Anniversary with Despatch gaining The exploits of Alfred “Battling” Pye strength along the way. were featured in last November’s issue, but he was not the only Preston boxer to Editor’s Musing pay the ultimate price. Albert Victor Nutter, a riveter by trade, lived on Water Producing this Despatch and finalising Lane. Early in 1914 he achieved the my talk “Several Battalion Commanders”, unusual feat of twice taking the which has involved a trip to France for legendary flyweight Jimmy Wilde the full late site visits, has made for an distance, although eventually losing on interesting last month. points on both occasions. Wilde, who A dilemma when producing Despatch later became world champion, is was its length. My initial thought was for generally accepted as being pound for 20 pages but when it was beginning to pound the greatest boxer Britain has ever get difficult to fit everything in I opted for produced. His punching power was 24. The Duke of Wellington when writing phenomenal, hence his nickname “The to his son started “Dear Son, if I had Mighty Atom.” Nutter’s feat of more time I would write you a shorter endurance, surviving for 30 rounds, letter ….” should therefore not be underestimated. Synergy between my roles as Editor Pte Albert Nutter [17129] 7th Battalion and this month’s speaker at our meeting Loyal North Lancashire Regiment was contributes significantly to this Despatch. killed in action during the fighting at High The frontispiece and two articles being Wood on July 22nd 1916. He is spin-offs from my talk. I hope you like commemorated on the Thiepval the text boxes which I will use in future Memorial [Pier & Face 11A] along with for “Featured Epitaphs” and similar rather another boxer, Harry “Kid” Nutter from than page footnotes. Rishton. Thanks to all contributors and a special mention for David and Pat Shackleton for sharing with me their special Epitaphs. Theirs fill the majority of the new text boxes and I hope all th The above photo is the polo team of the 18 King George’s Own Lancers who won readers will keep a keen eye for other the Indian Cavalry Tournament in 1913. Mills (seated bottom right) was one of evocative grave inscriptions which could th “Several Battalion Commanders” of the 17 Battalion Lancashire Fusilier’s during figure in future Issues. WW1 who figure in this month’s talk to the Branch. The photo appears briefly in the talk but nothing is said about the other members of the team. See page 8 to read about 6 DSOs, 4 KIAs, 2 Knights, an MC, a VC and the BEF’s first shots in the War! 2 Ironically, Harry “Kid” Nutter had victims indiscriminately. Hundreds of was subject to an artillery onslaught from territorial unit, the 4th Border Regiment. fought and lost on points to Alfred Pye in boxers-from former champions to “long distance high velocity guns.” On the His ‘soldiering’ had in fact even earlier March 1914 at Preston’s Adelphi Athletic amateurs, public schoolboy boxers to 4th September the Regiment was rotated foundations, with him serving in the Club. Neither could have imagined that honest journeymen professionals-failed into the front line in the St George’s Cadet Corps before becoming a territorial by the end of the year they would be in to beat the count and suffered the Sector. The trenches they occupied were soldier. Upon outbreak of hostilities uniform, less still that they were destined cruellest of knockout blows. in a poor state of repair, and enemy Armer was thus ‘called-up’ for service never to return to the ring. shelling was a continuing threat. The war and began training with the 1st/4th Border He was a 19 year old miner and (* Visit www.boxrec.com for Joe diary for the 5th September reveals in Regiment (Territorials). Many other local member of a Blackburn boxing family Durham’s boxing record, biography and stark detail what happened to Armer: men, including ‘old-boys’ from QES such which included elder brother George photograph.) as Herbert Hartley and Percival Harrison, “Ginger” Nutter, a well known “Some “Minnies” [Minenwefer] were also Territorial’s in the same bantamweight. Although his career as a QUEEN ELIZABETH GRAMMAR troublesome on the Left Company Front, regiment, and likewise commenced flyweight had barely started, he had SCHOOL, KIRBY LONSDALE, ROLL OF 2nd Lt A Armer killed and 3 O.R. training. By the end of 1914 the 4th recorded victories in about half his fights HONOUR: c/o Oliver Wilkinson (+S) wounded” Borders were ‘in theatre’ on active and shown sufficient potential to be service. However, they were not in regarded as one for the future. However, Arthur ARMER, 2nd Lieutenant, 11th The Germans had been active in France or Flanders, but were in fact in like many sportsmen he answered the Border Regiment (Lonsdale) evolving efficient trench warfare India, engaged in policing the British call for volunteers and as Pte Harry weapons, and by September 1917 the Empire. Native elements were described Nutter [15920] of the Accrington Pals, Arthur Armer’s war service charts a Minewerfer (Mine thrower) was a deadly as troublesome, and even India 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, very diverse and colourful career, addition to their arsenal. It was a mortar regiments could prove challenging to took part in the disastrous attack on incorporating a rise through the ranks designed to rain high explosive, gas or handle with the British Army stretched Serre on July 1st 1916. He had written to and service in various theatres of war. smoke shells on the allied trenches. As Lt thin by the continental conflict. An officer his mother shortly before, “I can duck the His death, however, reinforces the grim Armer was about to enter his dugout in of the 4th Borders, writing early in 1915, hooks and sidestep the straight lefts, but reality of the First World War. the front line one such shell exploded described how the regiment was I know I stand no better chance than any close by, and he was struck on the head employed in musketry training, scouting of the other boys. I have only once to and killed outright. He was not involved and patrolling, digging and bayonet die, but should I steer clear I will come in any huge offensive, nor any elite fighting, and he concluded that the men down our street singing ‘Are we operation, he was merely engaged in a were “coming on splendidly. downhearted?’-‘Not likely’-while the Kid mundane trench rotation. He was simply Armer had fulfilled his required time in is floating about.” in the wrong place at the wrong time the Territorials by 1916 so he returned to His optimism was sadly misplaced; he when the mortar landed. In fact the war England. However, he clearly remained was one of 234 killed and his name diary for virtually the entire period devoted to duty and quickly re-enlisted appears on the Thiepval Memorial [Pier describes the area as “Fairly quiet.” His with the 1st Border Regiment at Kendal & Face 6C]. death, however, reveals the reality of the on 28th June 1916. His previous military The fate of “Battling” Pye and the war. Death was literally rained down on service stood him apart in training, and in fighting Nutters was far from unique. men, and it was artillery above any other August he was promoted to Lance Many boxers were either killed, or determinant that was the biggest killer. Corporal. Then in September 1916 wounded so badly that it proved He is buried at Coxyde Military Armer was back in theatre, this time in impossible for them to resume their Cemetery. France on the Western Front. During this In September 1917, Armer was careers. Others like my grandfather, Joe Arthur Armer’s life, however, was far period a sniper killed a fellow Kirkby- attached as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 11th Durham*, the pre-war bantamweight more dynamic than his death. Born on Lonsdale man, Harold Hardacre. Like Battalion Border Regiment. This unit was champion of the north of England, gave the 28th February 1894, he had attended Armer, Hardacre had been to India with training at village of Oost Dunkerque their best years to the service of their Queen Elizabeth Grammar School for the Borders. Their service careers had approximately 5 kilometres west of country and as a result were denied the only a short period of time in 1908. In run in parallel and undoubtedly the two Nieuport (see map). On the first of the opportunity to fulfil their sporting August 1914, Armer was a solicitor’s men had got know each other in Kirkby month the tone was set when the village potential. The battlefield claimed its clerk and also a member of the local before the war. Armer now had the 3 4 unenviable task of writing to Mr W.H. THE WORK OF THE ROYAL meteorological experts, which had an the end of the war, our biggest concrete Hardacre, and describing how his son ENGINEERS IN THE GREAT WAR: important bearing on the plans of factory, which was organized by Captain had been killed.