Take a good hard look at the faces above. Who are you drawn to? Which of these lads would you like to know all about?
I can assure you that we all have different answers, and that we made our choices due to very specific and no doubt rather peculiar reasons.
Of course we will never know the real truth about these Army Boxing team members, but one can always create a story or two.
Were you drawn to Walter Penwrith? That’s him in the turtle neck, back left.
Walter was passionate about the sport of boxing, but forever as a trainer and never a boxer. In truth he couldn’t take the physicality of it.
A sickly child, he grew up dreaming of rough and tumble, wishing he could play in the fields surrounding the family’s country home. It wasn’t until he joined the Army, as an older and somewhat stronger fellow, that he was allowed to venture into the realms of assault courses and sporting clubs.
After attending a few introductory boxing sessions a hefty knockout in training put an end to any aspirations of titles, or in fact the completion of a competitive round. Despite his obvious passion for the sport, the brutality was far and away beyond what his weak physical structure could withstand.
Nevertheless he stuck to his role as chief towel holder and general mascot, serving in the Army Boxing team his entire career.
I’d be delighted to hear some other stories. Front row, second from the right. Looks like a joker to me.
