I love this little description in a pre-war book; it conjures up an aroma of a bygone age and values. It reminds me of the excellent 1944 film ‘This Happy Breed’ which captured all that was essentially English in the pre-war era.
According to Major J.T. Gorman in his 1939 book ‘The Army of Today,’ the definition of an army sportsman is one who:
Plays the game for the game’s sake
Plays for his side and not for himself
Is a good winner and good loser – modest in victory, generous in defeat
Accepts all decisions in a proper spirit
Is Chivalrous towards a defeated opponent
Is unselfish and always ready to help others to become proficient.
