With today being Remembrance Sunday it seems appropriate to look at those players who pulled on the blue and gold of Leeds United, before tragically losing their lives in combat during the Second World War.
ERIC STEPHENSON
Stephenson, an excellent inside left, joined Leeds in 1935, making 143 appearances in six years in both the Football League and the wartime league, netting 28 goals for the club, he also represented England twice in 1938, against Ireland and Scotland. In 1941, he left Leeds and joined the Gurkha Rifles Regiment, dying in active service in September 1944 while stationed in Burma.
LESLIE THOMPSON
Although not much is know about him, Thompson had won three English Schoolboy International caps in 1936. He had joined Leeds from Middlecliffe Rovers, the club that had produced Wilf Copping and Ken Gadsby, in 1937. He made his debut on 28th October 1939 at Left Half in the first Wartime game in a 3-0 win over Bradford City at Elland Road. In total, Thompson made 32 appearances in Wartime League and Cups, scoring one goal in a 6-3 win over Sheffield Wednesday. He lost his life at the age of twenty-five in 1945, also killed whilst in Burma
ROBERT MONTGOMERY
Spotted as a sixteen year old playing centre forward for Portadown, Montgomery joined Leeds in 1938 after catching the eye of United manager Billy Hampson. He never represented the full side, in part due to his age, but he excelled in the reserve teams, before joining the RAF in 1941. After completing training in Canada and the USA, he was attached to a Lancaster squadron. Montgomery was killed in action while leading a heavy bombing attack by Lancasters on Schweinfurt Southern Germany on the night of 26th/27th April 1944.
TOM FARRAGE
Farrage was a guest player during the war, making the majority of appearances for Birmingham City. He played two league games and one in the league cup. He was killed in Arnhem, whilst serving as a member of the Parachute Regiment aged 26.
HARRY GOSLIN
Goslin spent much of his distinguished career at Bolton Wanderers, but played three games for Leeds during 1941. A full England international, Goslin died from shrapnel wounds