Durham v Australian Imperial Forces
Park Drive, West Hartlepool
7th, 8th July (Two-day match)

Leicestershire v Australian Imperial Forces
Aylestone Road, Leicester
11th, 12th July (Two-day match).

We had a cushyW.H. Downing, Digger Dialects, p. 18. (Melbourne: Lothian Book Publishing Co. Pty. Ltd, 1919). http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/91206 week this week, only playing the two two-days games against Durham and Leicestershire. Both games were draws with little to note beyond three first-rate performancesFelix, Cricket Chatter, The Australasian (Vic), Sat 9 Jan 1915, p. 21. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142966442 in the first day at Ayelstone RoadUnknown, Ayelstone Road, 1921, 1921, photograph, http://www.electricitysports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/ground1921-1.jpg . Our batsmen gave the home bowling a rare towellingLeicester v. Australians, Daily Herald (London), Sat 12 Jul 1919, p. 7. , chief among the batting being the centuriesPaddington Get Highest Total For The Season, Sunday Times (NSW), Sun 21 Nov 1915, p. 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120791752 by Nip Pellew (187), Carl WillisUnknown, Two members of the AIF Cricket Eleven, Captain C.B. Willis (left) and Corporal W.A.S. Oldfield (right), 1919, photograph, AWM D00684, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/D00684/?image=1 (156) and Herbie Collins (121). Most of the Leicester elevenInternational Cricket, Sunday Times (WA), Sun 21 Jul 1912, p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57740080 were from pre-war days; sevenCecil Wood, Harry Whitehead, Arthur Mounteney, John King, Samuel Coe, and John Curtis all played for Leicestershire in 1912 while William Benskin played for Scotland against the 1912 Australians. in the side remembered meeting Syd Gregory’s team of youngstersLondon Sidelights, Truth (NSW), Sun 23 Jun 1912, p. 10. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168735493 in 1912. Indeed, Samuel Coe can remember his match as a young man against the Australians in 1896Cricket, The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW), Fri 17 Jul 1896, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192544088 !

There is plenty of other sporting newsNotes and Comments, The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts (QLD), Sat 24 Jun 1916, p. 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79756956 coming out from Europe and the home countryThe Producer, Chronicle (SA), Sat 4 Apr 1914, p. 16. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88834762 this week. It is not just cricket; there is a great revival in all forms of sportBack To Sport Again After The War, Sunday Times (NSW), Sun 2 Feb 1919, p. 18. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123224207 . Perhaps the greatest event of the tennis world–certainly the greatest of British Empire tennis–is the annual fixture at WimbledonLieutenant G. H. Goddard, Soldiers and sportsmen : an account of the sporting activities of the Australian Imperial Force during the period between November, 1918 and September, 1919, p. 46. (London: A.I.F. Sports Control Board, 1919). http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-487507495 . The resumption of the championship meeting has excited enormous interestThe Championship Meeting At Wimbledon, Belfast News-Letter (Antrim), Tue 24 Jun 1919, p. 8. among the sport loving fraternityRecognition, Dungog Chronicle: Durham and Gloucester Advertiser (NSW), Fri 4 Feb 1910, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137984122 . Five A.I.F. Sitting, left to right: S. N. Doust; Norman E. Brookes; Captain P. O’Hara. Standing: R. V. Thomas; G. L. Patterson; Randolph Lycett. All but Lycett competed in the Singles at Wimbledon, and Lycett competed in the Doubles. Unknown, Group portrait of Australian tennis players who competed successfully in the London Championship Tournament at Queen’s Club, Baron’s Court, 1919, photograph, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C989604 AWM D00773A men were amongst the 128 entrants in the singlesLieutenant G. H. Goddard, Soldiers and sportsmen : an account of the sporting activities of the Australian Imperial Force during the period between November, 1918 and September, 1919, p. 46. (London: A.I.F. Sports Control Board, 1919). http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-487507495 , including the winner Captain Gerald Patterson, M.C.Bill Tilden, Gerald Patterson Playing A Forehand Stroke, 1921, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Gerald_Patterson_playing_a_forehand_stroke.jpg . Being too young to obtain a commission hereBrookes Beaten, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Wed 9 Jul 1919, p. 11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15855876 when he went off to the frontFarewells to Soldiers, Saturday Mail (SA), Sat 27 Nov 1915, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245017447 in late 1915, he joined the English ArmyBrookes Beaten, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Wed 9 Jul 1919, p. 11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15855876 and went on to serve as a Captain with the Royal Field Artillery, gaining honours in the greater game, being awarded the Military CrossLieut. Gerald Patterson Distinguishes Himself, Daylesford Advocate, Yandoit, Glenlyon and Eganstown Chronicle (Vic), Tue 3 Jul 1917, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119558284 . Patterson was a practically unknown quantity in England at the commencement of the season, but had come to the front in Melbourne before the war called him awayLieutenant G. H. Goddard, Soldiers and sportsmen : an account of the sporting activities of the Australian Imperial Force during the period between November, 1918 and September, 1919, p. 39. (London: A.I.F. Sports Control Board, 1919). http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-487506583 when he ran up to A. O’Hara Wood in the Australasian singles championship and won the doubles with Ashley CampbellLawn Tennis, The Herald (Vic), Fri 16 Jul 1915, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242348819 . Patterson accomplished a fine feat in reaching the challenge round with the loss of only one setTennis, Daily Examiner (NSW), Wed 9 Jul 1919, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195322947 . In the challenge round he met the present champion of the world on grass courtsAustral, Lawn Tennis In Europe, Referee (NSW), Wed 18 Jun 1919, p. 14. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120300703 , Norman Brookes, whom, although did not serve in the A.I.F., was a Red Cross Commissioner in Egypt, France, or Mesopotamia. For almost the whole of the five years it was a rare thing for him to touch a tennis racket, and, if he did, it was for him merely whiling away a pleasant hour of relaxation against some player who could scarcely win a strokeAustral, Lawn Tennis In Europe, Referee (NSW), Wed 18 Jun 1919, p. 14. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120300703 . Brookes’ lack of match practice was evidentContest, Lawn Tennis, The Express and Telegraph (SA), Thu 8 Jul 1920, p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210558836 , being easily beaten by Patterson 6-3, 7-5, 6-2Tennis Champions, Young Witness (NSW), Tue 8 Jul 1919, p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122434570 . Patterson is also the nephew of Dame MelbaLieut. Gerald Patterson Distinguishes Himself, Daylesford Advocate, Yandoit, Glenlyon and Eganstown Chronicle (Vic), Tue 3 Jul 1917, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119558284 –what a grateful tonic to a war weary nationTopics Of The Day, The Daily News (WA), Sat 15 May 1920, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79527156 that family is providing.

The doubles Final was also an all Australian eventAlthough usually referred to as an English player now, Randolph Lycett emigrated to Australia as a child and did not return to living in England until after serving in the A.I.F. during the war. Lieutenant G. H. Goddard, Soldiers and sportsmen : an account of the sporting activities of the Australian Imperial Force during the period between November, 1918 and September, 1919, p. 48. (London: A.I.F. Sports Control Board, 1919). http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-487507758 . Pat O’Hara WoodUnknown, Australian tennis player Pat O’Hara Wood playing tennis, New South Wales, c. 1925, photograph, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-157837501 and Ronald ThomasLawn Tennis, The Journal (SA), Wed 9 Jul 1919, p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204716717 went down toVolley, Lawn Tennis, Observer (SA), Sat 20 Dec 1919, p. 17. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165904665 Rodney HeathUnknown, Australian Tennis Player Rodney Wilfred Heath, c. 1913, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Rodney_Heath.jpg and Randolph LycettOverwhelmed By Patterson, The Herald (Vic), Tue 11 Jul 1922, p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243652365 3 sets to 1Tennis, Queensland Times (QLD), Thu 10 Jul 1919, p. 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120554598 . Lycett was also the mixed doubles championTennis, Queensland Times (QLD), Thu 10 Jul 1919, p. 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120554598 , he and American Elizabeth RyanUnknown, Elizabeth Montague Ryan, unknown date, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/29/Elizabeth_Ryan_%28tennis_player%29.jpg teamed up, as they say over thereAustral, Tennis, Referee (NSW), Wed 1 Feb 1911, p. 10. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129940611 , to defeat the British pair of Albert Prebble and Dorothea Lambert ChambersUnknown, Dorothea Douglass, unknown date, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Dorothea_Douglass.jpg . This means the only events at the world’s championship on grassThe World’s Championship, The Age (Vic), Mon 22 Jun 1914, p. 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189405955 not won by an A.I.F. man were the women’s singles and doubles! Special mention must go toSuburban Municipal Affairs, The Newsletter: An Austrlaian Paper For The Australian People (NSW), Sat 5 Feb 1910, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102791971 Lily AddisonUnknown, Miss L. Addison, South Australian Ladies Tennis Champion, 1914, photograph, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/58500/B58483.htm SLSA B58483, who, although lost her second round singles match, made it to the fifth round in the mixed doublesLieutenant G. H. Goddard, Soldiers and sportsmen : an account of the sporting activities of the Australian Imperial Force during the period between November, 1918 and September, 1919, p. 48. (London: A.I.F. Sports Control Board, 1919). http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-487507758 . Miss Addison served as a nurse in Egypt, Palestine, and SalonikaConcerning Persons, Border Watch (SA), Tue 2 Dec 1919, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77754726 , a reminder that even though it was the boys who faced the iron thrust on the Western frontChaplain James Wilson, Life In The Trenches, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Mon 26 Nov 1917, p. 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15743627 , the womanhood of Australia had rallied to the call for service with an alacrity equal to that of the menAddress To Red Cross Ladies, Echuca and Moama Advertiser and Farmers’ Gazette (Vic). Sat 27 Jul 1918, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154337147 .

Australian athletes figured conspicuously in the Inter-Allied Games which were concluded at Paris last week in the presence of thousands of interested spectatorsStride, Among Professionals, Weekly Times (Vic), Sat 19 Jul 1919, p. 19. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222550600 . Unlike the cricket and tennis players, the Australian successes at the Games were not many, in so far as their captures of prizes were concerned, but they became the most popular group of the competing nations. When the A.I.F. Team appeared at the opening ceremony, clad in their blue and gold, there was a great cry of “Les Australiens! Vive les Australiens!” and their greeting by the French populace was second only to that accorded to the athletes of FranceLieutenant G. H. Goddard, Soldiers and sportsmen : an account of the sporting activities of the Australian Imperial Force during the period between November, 1918 and September, 1919, p. 51. (London: A.I.F. Sports Control Board, 1919). http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-487508403 . This is a timely reminder that this war was not just fought for the Empire and the country’s safetyMoss Vale, Robertson Advocate (NSW), Tue 29 Apr 1919, p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120016665 , but to make the world secure for freedom and democracyBurdens Of War, The Sun (NSW), Sun 10 Aug 1919, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221993615 .