Indeed it’s fair to assume that only wartime circumstance thwarted the man’s lifelong aspirations to represent his beloved Blues.
Bramwell Herbert Ravenscroft’s rare talent as a footballer was acknowledged from the outset, in the years immediately prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. It was he who took out the lower Eyre Peninsula “Mail” Medal for the fairest and most brilliant player whilst playing for the Port Lincoln team Central in 1938, during which time he ably represented the combined association teams. And it was he who also plied his craft as a captain and coach of both the Waybacks and Gladstone Football Clubs before committing to the war effort.
After enlisting and joining the Air Force, Bert relocated to Melbourne just prior to being called up for active overseas service. It was at this time that he turned out for a services footy match, only to be recruited to Carlton by a keen-eyed talent scout.
Named in his new club’s training squad for 1941, Bert earned one pound ten shillings per week for his troubles, as a member of the Blues’ second XVIII.
A precious World War II diary penned by Bert - who died at the age of 92 in South Australia on June 18 this year - in part tells the whole of what it was like to be a Carlton footballer when hostilities broke out in Europe. The following diary extract, which appears with the permission of the Ravenscroft descendants, relates to Bert’s introduction to the Carlton Football Club, and his selection for the May 24 Patriotic Premiership Match with Melbourne on the MCG.
“On a day near the end of March, I happened to be having a conversation with Howard Hosking, who happened to be a staunch supporter of the Carlton Football Club, and the culmination of our talk resulted in me taking my football togs out with me to have a training run with Carlton . . . accompanying me on this first night was our Sergeant Harry Gingell, who had played with Ballarat Royals in previous years in peace time.
I signed on with Carlton after the second training run . . .
The match I write about now was a charity match played to raise funds for the forces, and I was selected to play my first game with Carlton’s 1st eighteen in this match. I was thrilled at reaching one of my life’s ambitions. However, owing to the war I was not able to fulfil my ambition, as on the 5th of June 1941, I received orders to state that I had been posted overseas, destination unknown.
While the match was in progress on the 7th day of June 1941 . . . in front of 60,000-80,000 people, I was busy at Laverton Aerodrome, preparing for my first overseas posting. The officials and players wished me the best of luck through the papers and personally, and my name is on the Honour Roll in the Carlton dressing rooms, namely Princes Oval . . . ”
On more than one occasion, Bert was listed as an emergency for the Carlton senior team. There were times when he actually rolled up to the seniors with his old kit bag, only to learn that his services weren’t required. He’d then be ferried off to a reserves game by taxi.
Bert served his country by way of the RAAF for a total of five years and five months through the Second World War. A seven-month period at Biggin Hill Aerodrome in Kent, Rochford Aerodrome in Essex, and Holme Aerodrome in Yorkshire enabled him to witness first-hand war conditions and bomb damage in London and the counties and well-known tourist sites. In the Middle East, during a three-year period aboard SS Esperance Bay, Bert was also exposed to wartime experiences in countries and islands from Egypt to Palestine, Israel to Malta, Algeria to Tunisia, Corsica to Sardinia, Rome to Gibraltar and Alexandria to Colombo.
Carlton’s annual report of 1941 acknowledges Bert as having answered the country’s call in volunteering for active services. It also notes, that “In view of the success achieved by the Second Eighteen in 1940, the team’s drop to fourth position is disappointing, but this may be explained by the enlistments and call up for military training of many of the best players”.
Bert’s grandson Mark Ravenscroft said that one of “Puppa’s” most treasured possessions was a tiny Carlton Football Club monogrammed booklet, dated 1941, which detailed player payments against match dates - an heirloom which will be passed down to future generations of Bert’s family as the years roll on.
Though the war meant Bert never lived his dream of representing Carlton’s 1st XVIII, he always cherished his memories of happier times at Princes Park - and until the day he died maintained his fervent support of the old dark Navy Blues.
