Second-Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell VC, Yorkshire Regiment; KIA 10 July 1916 - Reserve full-back at St. James’ Park during seasons 1910/11 and 1911/12 who moved to Bradford Park Avenue just before the conflict. Donny Bell was awarded the country’s highest honour - the Victoria Cross - and was killed on the Somme battlefield.
Angus Douglas, munition worker; died 14 December 1918 - Scottish international outside-right and one of United’s star players before war erupted who was engaged in the giant Armstrong munition works on Tyneside during the conflict. He was a victim of the influenza pandemic as World War One ended.
Corporal Dan Dunglinson, Northumberland Fusiliers; KIA 1 July 1916 - On the club’s staff during the season before war, he was one of the first to answer the call for volunteers joining the newly created ‘Pals’ Newcastle Battalion. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, he fell alongside United colleague Tommy Goodwill attacking Thiepval.
Sergeant Edward Stanley Dixon, Tyneside Electrical Engineers - One of the club’s emerging young players in season 1914/15 and one of several footballers with the local Royal Engineers TEE unit based on Tyneside. Stan returned to Gallowgate in 1919 and totalled over 50 games for the Magpies.
Lance-Corporal John Barr Murray Fleming, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders; Died 21 March 1916 - Part of United’s squad as a centre-forward between 1911 and 1913 and later moving to Tottenham Hotspur, he joined the Cameron Highlanders and was preparing for battle at Catterick camp when he died of influenza before heading for the Continent.
Private Joseph Forster, Yorkshire Regiment; KIA 7 October 1916 - A locally-born half-back with United’s second-string during the 1890s, he was over 40 years of age when he volunteered for the army. One of several United players to be killed during the Battle of the Somme when his unit was fighting near Le Sars village.
Private Tommy Goodwill, Northumberland Fusiliers; KIA 1 July 1916 – A home-grown footballer on the left-wing for United as the Great War began, he signed-up with the Newcastle Battalion and headed for France and Belgium as 1916 opened only to be one of the hundreds of local men killed in the opening attack on the Somme battlefield.
Corporal Alexander Higgins MM, East Yorkshire Regiment/Durham Light Infantry – One of two brothers at St. James’ Park who both served in the conflict, Sandy was a noted inside-forward and a Scottish international player. He served on the Western Front and was awarded the Military Medal before returning to Tyneside.
Private John Henry Hill, East Yorkshire Regiment – During the Twenties Jack Hill was captain of Newcastle United and England, as a teenager before World War One he joined up with his Hetton Juniors FC teammates, like many fibbing about his age to enlist. Hill served in Gallipoli and Salonika.
Able Seaman Francis Carr Hudspeth, Royal Navy – A United stalwart in over 480 games, Frank Hudspeth was one of several United players to join the Royal Navy. The full-back became a training instructor, for many months posted to the vast Navy centre at the old Crystal Palace arena in London.
Lieutenant James Low, Royal Scots/Seaforth Highlanders – When a young player with Hearts, Jimmy Low joined the Edinburgh-based McCrae’s Battalion of the Royal Scots, the first so-called Footballers’ Battalion. He switched to his home unit and was twice wounded before later joining United and winning the FA Cup.
Sergeant Wilfred Lawson Low, Royal Engineers – A commanding half-back with the Black’n’Whites before and after conflict, Wilf Low was stationed around the country with the Royal Engineers, and as many footballers did, continued to play the game at every opportunity, appearing for the British Army XI.
Warrant Officer William McKeag MSM, OStS, OStA, Army Service Corps – To serve in both world wars, William McKeag was a raw yet enthusiastic 17-year-old when he joined up at Kenton in 1915. He volunteered for service in Russia, fighting the Bolsheviks before starting a notable career which saw him become a well-known Chairman of the Magpies.
Corporal George Woolston Pyke, Middlesex Regiment – One of six United men to serve with the celebrated Footballers’ Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, George Pyke was on the Western Front through some of the worst of the fighting. He survived it all to pull on the black-and-white stripes again in 1919/20.
Major James Edmundson Raine, Durham Light Infantry – One of a handful of distinguished amateur footballers to appear for the Magpies at the time, James Raine was also a prominent soldier with the DLI. He rose to major, the highest ranked officer to be associated with United. His brother was also with the club and the Durhams.
Captain Thomas Sowerby Rowlandson MM, Yorkshire Regiment; KIA 15 September 1916 – An England amateur goalkeeper and Cambridge Blue, Tom Rowlandson was an eminent player with the Corinthians. He was quick to enlist with the Green Howards and showed much bravery at the Somme, ultimately to lose his life attacking German trenches.
Sergeant John William Thomas MSM, Durham Light Infantry/Royal Fusiliers – Moving from football into the DLI, Jack Thomas took part in a fire-fight around Boetleer’s Farm and was captured, only to make a daring escape back to England. Afterwards he joined Military Intelligence and was sent back to the Continent as a counter-espionage agent.
Lieutenant Colin Campbell McKechnie Veitch, Royal Garrison Artillery – Newcastle United’s leading figure during the ‘Edwardian Masters’ heyday, Colin Veitch served with the RGA on the Scottish coast then on the Western Front in a deep gun emplacement near Ypres. He returned to Gallowgate to take up a post looking after the club’s Swifts side.
