WHEN I was asked to write a brief history of the Rugby war years, I soon discovered, after glancing over a few team photographs, that some thirty years have passed. It was in some of these photographs that I was prompted to trace a number of avenues of enquiries, and I trust that the survey will be as interesting as the Rugby that was played. This Rugby side was formed by Mr. Albert’ James, through the 9th Battalion Co., under the leadership of Major S. L. Mitchell (of the Home Guard Unit), and permission was granted by the Trustees of the Redruth Rugby Club, where the matches were played. Albert James had previously played for Redruth as a stand-off-half, and rendered a great service as a player and committee man. An average of 28 matches were arranged per season, namely, with the opposition from Service teams from the R.A.F., The Army and Royal Navy, the Lancashire and Yorkshire Regiments, Commando XVs and often the Com­bined Services, School of Mines, and later the Camborne H.G. side, composed of many well-known Camborne players. Well-known Rugby Union players who often performed in the 9th Battalion side were Les Semmons, Frank Roberts, Tony Bidgood, Eric Pearce, W.Knuckey, W. Williams, J. Angove, Jack Rule, Ginger Brush, F. Bray, J. Runnalls and Vic Roberts (then employed at the County Hall, Truro) and Ken Williams (present Hon. Secretary). We also had the assistance of D. Hardwick and Captain Green both of Scotland, two very big forwards, and often Captain B. H. Lock, of Exeter and Devon, often playing in the centre along with Dug Smith or Frank Bray. I regret the omission of many names that should be included, but special mention must be made of little Horace Chapman-a “ Pocket Hercules “-as a scrum-half his performances will long be remembered, and his skill was exploited when the team was reformed in 1 945-46. Some of the 9th Battalion team photographs can be seen in the Club House for closer scrutiny. Among some of the memorable games, one can remember the visit of the Australian Air Force XV, whose captain was F./O. G. H. Beverley, a former Australian Rugby League star, played on Good Friday, 1944. I can clearly remember the metallic Wallabies’s they wore on their jerseys, and I believe I was fortunate enough to procure one of these souvenirs. It resulted in a narrow win for the 9th Battalion side and played before an excellent gate. The Referee was Mr. Bill Rogers, of Camborne. Many of the big holiday fixtures attracted good crowds, and the proceeds were very often donated to the Red Cross and other war-time charities. The proceeds of two matches were donated to the R. A. Gerrard Memorial Fund, a former England-Somerset and Bath centre-threequarter, who was killed in the last war.

Footnote: Mr. James was also a well-known Snooker player; an authority on the game, and was the only Englishman ever to referee the All England Championship Snooker Final at Edinburgh in 1972.