The Pompey Pals war hero who ‘lived six lives’ and played football for England

The museum was founded two years ago at Fort Widley by local historians, Chris Pennycook and Gareth Lewis.

Its mission is to 'restore Portsmouth history to Portsmouth’ focussing on the First World War but covering from the 1860s to the Second World War.

Gareth told The News: ‘What we look to do is to tell the stories behind the people and the artefacts on display.’

One of the most remarkable stories is that of Arthur Egerton Knight, who is described as having ‘fitted at least six lives into one’.

Chris said: ‘He moved to Pompey in 1908 when he signed for Portsmouth FC. He played around 200 games for the club over a period stretching before and after the war.

‘During that period he also gained full international caps for England and took part in the 1912 and 1920 Olympics, winning a gold medal.

‘He also spent a season as an opening batsman at Hampshire County Cricket Club.’

Arthur’s career was interrupted during the Great War where he signed up to the Hampshire Regiment’s 14th Battalion and saw active service at the infamous Battle of Passchendaele near Ypres in 1917 which saw the loss of around 500,000 lives.

Chris added: ‘I’m not sure how he survived that.

‘Once you went beyond a certain point on the front line the average life expectancy was around five minutes.’

Not content with having survived one war, Arthur then served as an RAF squadron leader during the Second World War.

Among the many artefacts including medals, clothing, weapons and a reconstructed First World War trench, is a discharge paper for Charles Finch, with a cigarette burn obscuring his date of birth.

Gareth said: ‘Like 230,000 other youngsters, Charles signed up at 17 as an underage soldier.

‘He served in the 15th Battalion and was injured by a gunshot wound to his right shoulder on September 15 as the regiment was trying to take hold of the village of Flers in France.

‘Even when being discharged, he burnt out his date of birth on his papers so as not to reveal his true age.’

After the war, Charles worked as a telephonist in Portsmouth Dockyard.

During the Second World War he served in the Auxiliary Fire Service as the city came under attack during the Blitz.

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With many of the artefacts donated by family members, the charity encourage ‘anyone who has a story to tell’ to contact them on the Pompey Pals website.

Gareth added: ‘The displays help to keep memories alive for other Pompey residents to see.’

Due to current restrictions, the museum can currently be viewed by appointment only, although the museum is hopeful of reopening fully when Covid restrictions are further eased.

Chris added: ‘We have a number of events coming up this year including the 80th anniversary of the Pompey Blitz.’

The name Pompey Pals originates from the Pals Battalions in which local recruitment drives saw friendship groups from the same villages, towns and workplaces sign up together.

‘It was very exciting until tens of thousands of people started to die,’ added Chris.

You can find out more about upcoming events via the Pompey Pals website and Facebook page.

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