Civil Service vs Essex 1939

Historical knowledge and information regarding our great game.
Kevin Thurlow
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Civil Service vs Essex 1939

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed Apr 29, 2020 3:27 pm

I know people like answering obscure questions. This might be too much, but, GPS Coy drew a game against Essex in 1939, but frustratingly, didn't write down his opponent's name. The CS vs Essex match was usually in January or February. If anyone could help identify the opponent, that would be great.

Also, I think he made a mistake (unusual for him) in the game score, missing out a pair of moves, otherwise the annotations don't make sense!

Brian Denman
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Re: Civil Service vs Essex 1939

Post by Brian Denman » Wed Apr 29, 2020 4:56 pm

There was a chess column for Essex in the Borough of East Ham, West Ham and Stratford Express for 1939. Unfortunately it is not in the British Newspaper Library and research at the British Library is probably impossible at this time. Otherwise the British Chess Magazine for 1939 might contain the match score.

David Gilbert
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Re: Civil Service vs Essex 1939

Post by David Gilbert » Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:26 pm

JG Hayes (source Kevin Thurlow!).

David Gilbert
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Re: Civil Service vs Essex 1939

Post by David Gilbert » Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:33 pm

Opps! That was 1936 - I shall return to my cupboard.

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Civil Service vs Essex 1939

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed Apr 29, 2020 7:23 pm

"There was a chess column for Essex in the Borough of East Ham, West Ham and Stratford Express for 1939. Unfortunately it is not in the British Newspaper Library and research at the British Library is probably impossible at this time. Otherwise the British Chess Magazine for 1939 might contain the match score."

Good point - I know Ilford Recorder had a chess column as well, so I will try British Newspaper Archive...

Good try David!

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Gerard Killoran
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Re: Civil Service vs Essex 1939

Post by Gerard Killoran » Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:12 pm

Are you sure it was for the Civil Service, not Kent?

Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 10 February 1939.png
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Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Civil Service vs Essex 1939

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed Apr 29, 2020 10:57 pm

"Are you sure it was for the Civil Service, not Kent?"

Well, as he seems to have got the game score wrong, maybe. It definitely says "Service", but I have a handwritten book of games, and for one of the others, he had the team name crossed out and then another one substituted.

It is difficult in London/South-East. At one stage I was playing for Redhill in Surrey League, Wimbledon in London League, NPL in Thames Valley League, Government Chemists in Civil Service League etc., so I could play for Redhill or NPL against Wimbledon, but play for Wimbledon elsewhere - on one occasion playing for Wimbledon, I played Streatham, who were fielding someone who played for Wimbledon in other leagues. So Mr Coy could easily forget who he was playing for!

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Civil Service vs Essex 1939

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Thu Apr 30, 2020 2:24 pm

I just looked at his "best games" book, and it does say "Service vs Essex", but intriguingly, "Kent" is deleted and "Service" added afterwards.