Telephone communication connected all units, and a private wire was secured between wing headquarters and headquarters in Toronto. The Canadian Northern Railway immediately serves the town, and the Grand Trunk Railway Company’s lines pass within the short distance of seven miles, and were very frequently used. The roads in the camps’ vicinity have been considerably improved by the Corps. A noticeable increase in the commercial life of the community has taken place since this section of the brigade took up its residence.
[SPORTS.]
The instructions of the Air Ministry that sports should be encouraged in all possible forms, met with the keenest approval from all members of the Force, and as a result great advantage was secured in keeping the physical condition of all ranks at the highest possible point. During its first year’s history the Corps was in the throes of organization, and with the exception of individual sports meetings held at various stations, there was no possibility of organizing any general system. A representative football team was, however, formed in March of 1917, which, playing in the Ontario Provincial League, had by the end of the season won a silver trophy known as the Shamrock Cup, together with a gold medal for each player, and, as a finale, journeyed to Montreal and defeated the well known Grand Trunk Railway Team by 3 goals to 0, after a hard fought game.
Hockey presented too much of a problem to be faced during the first winter, owing to the fact that there were not at the disposal of the various units sufficient rinks of the required dimensions. On the removal of part of the unit to Texas, however, the question of sports was definitely taken up, and the general sports committee, then appointed, arranged at once for inter-wing matches which proved a constant source of interest and rivalry. At the end of the season, the 42nd Wing led in soccer football, with a record of 26 goals as against 11 secured by opponents in 5 matches. This wing won every game it played.
It was quite natural that with such an excellent reputation, the R.A.F. should be invited to send its representatives to play in the North Texas Soccer Football League. Here, too, a very successful programme was carried out. No game was lost out of five played, and, as a result, the Spalding Trophy, presented each year to the champion team of the League, became the property of the R.F.C. As a token of appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. Frank Morris, a prominent sportsman of Fort Worth, the R.F.C. sports committee presented a shield for competition among the school teams of the Fort Worth League.
TILTING.
“THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT!”