[GEORGE V (1865-1936, King of Great Britain)]

Fine Programme Printed on Silk of the Boxing Tournament and Assault-at-Arms of the 2nd Life Guards, the second half attended by the King as Colonel-in-Chief, in which members of the regiment and invited visitors took part, the first half including the three-round contests for recruits, the second enlivened with sabre, wrestling and épée de combat, and an exhibition by Bombardier Wells, heavyweight champion, versus Pat O'Keefe, middleweight champion, the programme produced by the Proprietors of 'Boxing', 4 sides 8¾" x 5½" plus a half-inch fringe to the foredge, (Riding School), Regent's Park Barracks, 16th March

See The Times for 17th March 1914. In the first half, the biggest cheers were for Corporal J.W. Allan of the Herts Yeomanry for his pluck 'as a beaten man'. The second half, besides the finals of the recruits' boxing, included the sabre with 'quick and exciting sword-play' by 'civilian versus soldier', two 'hard-breathing five-minute rounds' in different styles of wrestling, and the 'very pretty display of sparring' in which Wells 'always looked as if he was playing with his man'.
George V knew the value of sport - witness the National Playing Fields Association he founded in 1925 and the George V Playing Fields set up in his memory.

Item Date:  1914

Stock No:  56455      £325

             Add to Wish List     Order/Enquire