By kind permission of John King, Author
Towards the end of 1916 the sporting activities of the ASC were achieving a certain reputation. Thus the Bromley Chronicle reported an easy victory of the ASC (MT) team over the Wanderers Rugby team on 30 September. The ASC team included the Welsh International, Private Gronou, who place kicked twenty goals, while four ASC men each scored four tries — the latter included Harlequin Captain Nixon; and there were other internationals in the team. In November the Lee Journal reported the ASC team had notched up a record 435 points.
Another ASC development that winter was a weekly newspaper, the Pennington Press. The Lee Journal described it as one of the brightest and best camp magazines. Its price was one penny.
In December the Kentish Mercury reported that as a result of a sermon by Samuel Luffman, ASC soldiers had donated £30 to the War Emergency Fund of the Church of England Waifs & Strays Society.
The testing activity continued to be developed throughout 1916 and one day in May, as many as 749 drivers and 157 tradesmen were checked, It was not until the end of the year, however, that workshops and a lecture room were erected. The workshops were for fitters, turners, wheelers, coppersmiths, electricians and vulcanisers. The average weekly number of recruits coming to Grove Park for testing varied from 800 to 1500.
Back to Grove Park in the First World War
This wiki is still being developed and subject to change. Please bear with us until it is completed. If you have any suggestions for improvements or inclusions please let us know. Click here to contact us
by Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence