A thread for 11 November - The 1944 War Cup Final

Henry Irving

In April 1944 Charlton beat Chelsea 3 - 1 at Wembley to win the War Cup South.

The trophy and war savings bonds (no medals) were presented to the players by Dwight Eisenhower, supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe and later president of the United States.

Henry Irving

The museum have very recently acquired a menu from the celebration dinner held after the game at the Cafe Royal.

Pea soup, pheasant casserole and cauliflower cheese followed by fruit sponge.

This was war time and rationing was strict so this was probably seen as a slap up bit of nosh.

Henry Irving

The menu belonged to Mrs Brown, the wife of Bert "Sailor" Brown who was actually Airman Brown as he, like many footballers, were fitness instructors in the army or RAF.

We're still trying to work out who all the autographs are.

Who was John Harris, for example?

And who was Harold Pegg, the guest accepting the toast?

We acquired the menu from the daughter of Sailor Brown who told us  "This has been cherished and looked after for many years by my dad Sailor Brown and now me.  Glad its gone to someone who loves Charlton as much as he did."

Chizz

Eisenhower was cheering for Charlton at that game.  Fact.  

He therefore became (probably) Charlton's first celebrity fan. 

Henry Irving

One autograph we do recognise is that of Allenby Chilton.

Chilton was a Man Utd player guesting for Charlton, as was common during WW2.

A few months after winning the cup at Wembley Chilton saw active service in Normandy with the Durham Light Infantry where is was under the ultimate command of the man who presented the trophy that day, Eisenhower.

Chilton went on the win the FA Cup and League with United and was MUFC captain until he was replaced by Mark Jones, one of the Busby Babes later killed at Munich.

DaveMehmet

Henry Irving said:

The museum have very recently acquired a menu from the celebration dinner held after the game at the Cafe Royal.

Pea soup, pheasant casserole and cauliflower cheese followed by fruit sponge.

This was war time and rationing was strict so this was probably seen as a slap up bit of nosh.

What was the vegetarian option?

Henry Irving

DaveMehmet said:

Henry Irving said:

The museum have very recently acquired a menu from the celebration dinner held after the game at the Cafe Royal.

Pea soup, pheasant casserole and cauliflower cheese followed by fruit sponge.

This was war time and rationing was strict so this was probably seen as a slap up bit of nosh.

What was the vegetarian option?

Only vegetarian options were in Berlin

Chizz

Henry Irving said:

The museum have very recently acquired a menu from the celebration dinner held after the game at the Cafe Royal.

Pea soup, pheasant casserole and cauliflower cheese followed by fruit sponge.

This was war time and rationing was strict so this was probably seen as a slap up bit of nosh.

Creme St Germaine - over-exuberant, but very athletic, French goalkeeper and mime artist.   Never wore gloves - 'dreadfully common'.  Used a cigatette holder.  Would refuse to catch the ball if it were too muddy.  

Phesant Chasseur - centre-half on loan from amateur side in Jersey.  Nicknamed "pleasant chaser" due to his habit of smiling as he hounded opposition forwards, before mercilessly hacking them down with forceful, two-footed lunges.  Never booked.  Would strangle anyone who spelled his first name "Pheasant". 

Pommes Rissolee - Yorkshire miner originally named Harold Chips. Hitchhiked to London with borrowed boots to get a trial with a big club in the smoke.  Sulked off back up north.  The boots were quite good though. 

Chou, Fleur and Mornay - three Swiss triplets who played as a midfield triumvirate.  Adopted their nation's approach to the war: always immaculately turned out; always on time; never tackled anyone. 

Savain, Aux and Fruits - the forward line, comprising three loanees from Paris St Germain.  Stylish.  Full of flair.  Athletic.  Brilliant.  Would only pass to each other. 

Cafe - leave the ground, walk up Floyd Road, first on the left  

soapboxsam

Don Welsh was an old looking 33 from that great picture in 44, yet he would come back twice more including holding the cup aloft which is great to watch on the old Pathe news, B+W film of rattles, men with caps and Chris Duffy being the first person to go ape when scoring a cup final goal.

Amazing to think that cup final in April 44 was two months before Hitler's last desperate attack on London with the doodle bugs V1/V2 which brought more death and destruction even after D-Day had started.