(Pictured above: Alan Fowler, Albert Milton, Arthur Beadsworth, Freddy Wheatcroft, Jim Olney, Billy Kirby, Jim Chalmers. Freddy Wheatcroft is pictured in uniform on the homepage)
ON Armistice Day, Swindon Town would like to pay tribute to the former players who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their country.
Six players with connections to Swindon Town were lost during the Great War. Albert Milton and Freddy Wheatcroft were still on the club’s payroll at the time. Milton signed from Sunderland in May 1914 but was soon called up after the outbreak of war. He died in Belgium in October 1917. Wheatcroft had initially signed for Town as an amateur in 1904/05. He was killed in France in November 1917.
Arthur Beadsworth, Jim Chalmers, Billy Kirby and William Brewer were the other Town connections that tragically lost their lives during World War One.
1930s goal-scoring hero Alan Fowler was one of the victims of World War Two. The forward joined Town in May 1934 and hit a century of goals in his time at The County Ground. He was killed in action in July 1944. Jim Olney, Bill Bryan, Albert Powell and Bill Imrie are also remembered by the club during this time of reflection and remembrance.
A plaque dedicated to the memories of Fowler, Imrie and Olney can be found in the reception foyer at The County Ground.
