PGA marks anniversary of The Somme

The PGA is marking the anniversary of the Battle of Somme by pledging to find the names of any of its members killed in the fighting.

The PGA’s initiative follows in the footsteps of the Sport Remembers the Some 1916-2016 campaign by the Royal British Legion.

The campaign seeks to pay tribute to the sportsmen and women killed in the 141­–day battle which claimed over 1.1 million lives.

The Sport Remembers campaign was launched at The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers headquarters, Tower of London by Sir Nick Faldo MBE; England Rugby World Cup winner and former British Army officer Josh Lewsey MBE; England’s all-time record cap holder and former goalkeeper Peter Shilton OBE; Olympic gold medal winner Sally Gunnell OBE; and former England cricket captain Mike Gatting OBE.

Golf is represented in the campaign with statements of support from national golfing bodies including The PGA, The R&A and Home Unions.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones was so struck by the campaign that he has committed to finding out all the names of those who perished in the battle.

“The Professional Golfers’ Association and its 7,500 members who are based around the world joins with all other sporting bodies in remembering those who gave their lives in service to their country,” he said.

“An unknown number of PGA Professionals from all communities served their country in battle but were sadly never to return to their loved ones and friends at home.

“The Association is totally supportive of the Royal British Legion Sport Remembers campaign and is so inspired by this campaign that it has undertaken a commitment to find the names of those members who fell in battle and create a record of remembrance so that future generations will never forget the debt of gratitude that we owe to them all.”

The British Legion hopes the support of The PGA and other golfing bodies will encourage the network of club members and golf clubs to respond positively to the campaign by remembering the ultimate sacrifices made by those in the Great War.

The Legion is encouraging professional and amateur sport to join in the commemoration of the service and sacrifice made by the nation’s sportsmen during the Battle of the Somme.

The charity has produced 100 Sportsmen of the Somme stories – including the stories of 2nd Lt Alfred Edward Flaxman, an Olympian from Yorkshire who once threw a grenade 75 yards, Lt Kenneth Lotherington Hutchings, one of hundreds of first class cricketers who fought and fell at the Somme, and Captain Wilfred Percy Nevill from Twickenham who took footballs to the battlefield to bolster the morale of his platoons under withering fire.

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