The 23rd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (First Sportsman's) A Record of its Services in the Great War, 1914-1919

A vivid portrait unfolds of a unit forged from the very fabric of pre‑war Britain—sportsmen, scholars, and laborers who answered the call in 1914. The narrative follows their hurried assembly in London and Hornchurch, the grueling training that turned enthusiastic volunteers into disciplined soldiers, and their first deployment to the Western Front, where they faced the harsh realities of trench warfare. Personal recollections, illustrated by contemporary photographs, bring the camaraderie and the clash of personalities to life, while official commendations underline the battalion’s early achievements.

Beyond the battlefield, the book captures the unique spirit that set this “first sportsman’s” battalion apart: a cosmopolitan mix of backgrounds, a marching band that lifted morale, and the resolve to carry on despite the mud and danger. Listeners will hear excerpts from a schoolmaster’s diary, hear the pride of commanders praising the men’s tenacity, and get a concrete sense of what it meant to be part of this remarkable formation during the first years of the Great War.