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MatPlus.Net Forum General A Veteran's Day tribute to chess composers
 
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(1) Posted by Vladimir Tyapkin [Tuesday, Nov 11, 2008 17:16]; edited by Vladimir Tyapkin [08-11-11]

A Veteran's Day tribute to chess composers


We celebrate Veteran's day today in the USA.

I was surprised to know how Comins Mansfield managed to solve and compose while being on active duty and fighting in a war. It is clear from the letter that his hobby helped him to get through the ordeals of WWI.

Here is a letter and a picture published exactly 90 years ago in The Good Companion folder:

Corp. C. Mansfield, England.
I have much pleasure in sending solutions to the May problems, which are a wonderful fine lot. I think it is the most successful tourney you have held and shows a considerable advance in the half-pin theme. I am now in 'Blighty' recovering from an attack of gas, sustained at the end of last month. It happened one morning at 1.30, when Fritz was giving our artillery one of his customary bombardments. To make matters worse the infantry S. O. S. signals went up just when it was at its hottest, so of course we had to rush into the thick of it. Many fellows got badly wounded as well, but I am glad to say I was only gassed. I went blind for a couple of days, and after a week my voice gradually disappeared, and has not come back yet. I feel A1(what does it mean? -- VT) except that my throat is still sore. You can imagine my delight when my voice began to go, as otherwise I should not have got across. The gas was some of the deadliest used for some time, in fact they say he was using captured ammunition ! Many of the fellows were terribly burnt by it.
My only regret was that all my folders, which I was carefully preserving in the back of my haversack, got left behind ! I cannot therefore send critiques to the April number, except to just a few I remember. Mr. Penrose had two fine entries, the one with P key being especially good, except for a couple constructive blemishes, and I enclose a version which avoid these neatly, and has an extra variation, -3K1BS1, 2RR4, 3S2S1, 3kp1S1, Bb6, p1pPP3, b1Ps, 8. Key Pd 4. I am glad the Club is prospering and keeping up its high standard, if not advancing it. I disagree with the A. C. B. that the two-mover is an 'unimportant atom in the universe of problem construction.' The G. C. has shown the falseness of that statement. It seems to me that the article was written with feeling of jealousy more than anything else. I will send some two-ers later on, including one or two Merediths. The last Meredith was quite a success, Stubbs' is a gem. By the way I have one ready now so will enclose it. I will forward the balance of next season's subscription when I get my sick leave, which will probably be in August. With best wishes for the continuance of the Club's success. (Good Companion folder, No. 1, October 1918, p.33)

The title page of November's(No.2) issue of GC 1918:
http://www.chess-problemist.com/chess/mansfield1918.jpg

Update:
Full list of all Good Companions being in action. Some well-known problemists are on the list. By January 1919, GC reached 400 members and was closed for membership.
http://www.chess-problemist.com/chess/companions_in_service.jpg

A couple of interesting quotes from the same GC's issue.
From the report of Frank Janet on Eighth Meredith Award:"If I were worth seven million dollars I would order one hundred thousand extra copies of this folder printed and carefully distributed among all our fighters on land and sea. I have reason to believe that a vast number of these have learned Chess since the War began. This budget of light-weights would constitute a most easy and pleasant opportunity for the new-comers to enter the paradise of Problemdom".

From the annual meeting report: "Considering that all churches, theatres, moving picture halls and saloons are closed on account of the influenza, and that we are having as many as 600 deaths a day in Philadelphia, we consider the meeting most encouraging".

Update 2:
Some more letters from GC folders of the period.

"So far as chess problem composition goes, I am much 'At-Sea' as I find it absolutely impossible in my present environment to secure the mental concentration essential for good work. However I venture to send you herewith a few positions arrived at in the slack hours of a 'returning empty' trip. I have been back in Australia twice since starting on this stunt and have intensely enjoyed the accumulation of folders awaiting me. With kind regards and best wishes for your continued success.
I joined up in January last and am Major (Chief Surgeon) on a Hospital Ship. I have seen many things in many lands but may not tell you more. As this is a Hospital Ship only, we do not cany troops and so on the outward journey we have lots of leisure time, but somehow the 'atmosphere' is not condusive to problem composition—hence no more entries from me just yet. On the homeward voyage we carry five hundred wounded and have much to do". Major J. J. O'Keefe, At-Sea, July(1918).

"I am writing this on a memorable day, November nth, as the armistice which caused hostilities to cease was signed this morning. This event was foreshadowed a week ago when Prince Max announced that, owing to the growing superiority of the Enemy, Germany could no longer continue the war. This 'growing superiority' was the American Army, which was doing so well. Public opinion admit this, but take a pride in saying that behind the American army was the British fleet, which made the thing possible. The 'silent fleet' it is now called, and one of the few organizations in the world that share with Chess the honor of having no pessimists. I desire in writing this to congratulate the Club for having carried on the Good Companion Club during the four troublesome years of the war. It is a great achievement, and I feel sure that in this work you have been an optimist of a high degree." John Keeble, Norwich, England.

Throughout the United States December 7, 1918, was Memorial Day, in recognition of America's debt to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Mine-sweepers of Great Britain who have given their lives for the preservation of the Liberties of the World. At one of the meetings we heard a statement something like this:—" If the million British dead were to come to life again and pass in review over Broad Street from City Hall to League Island, it would take ten days and nights for the army to complete its march. I am enclosing my subscription to the Folder and Membership for Vol. VI. Thank you for the October number, which I greatly enjoyed. Please have the following Meredith entered in the next tourney. Please attribute the fact that I haven't diagrammed the problem to my being in hospital at Wandgurerth (?) wounded. I have been awarded the D. F. C. (Distinguished (?) Flying Cross) by the way." Lieut. G. F. Anderson, Royal Air Force.

Paris, November 4, 1918. "I was very pleased to receive again the new folder, as I decidedly could not wait another three months to hear from you. What a splendid work since I last wrote you on the 14th of July (Bastile Day). Let us hope that victory will soon reward us. We can now say the war is over. What gratitude in French hearts for the help of our American brothers. When I go home in a few weeks (I have been a soldier during the entire war), I will have more time to send you problems and enjoy the folder. Many thanks that our good judge, Alain C. White, is back again with us ; his judgement is so highly valuable. Herewith please find four problems."
Paris, November 11, 1918. "All the guns in Paris have just proclaimed the end of the war ! Le jour de gloire est arrive .'! On this splendid and longed for day I think first of our helpful Americans and of our Good Companion brothers. Please to find herewith money order for ten dollars (two for dues and eight for Publication Fund), in this way I celebrate the glorious day." Vice-President Eduard Pape, Artillerie de la Tour Eiffel.

"Since my last letter to you much has happened and we are glad and grateful. I notice the tide has turned and the cheering train-loads of American contingents are already passing northwards instead of southwards. We still have one enemy which has not signed any armistice—the influenza (so-called) which is still rampant. Last week Norwich and Nottingham had the highest death rates in this country, so Mr. Keeble and myself are in the front line.
"Pleased to read our Birth-Year folder,
But alas ! it's made me five years older !
I was born in '62,
I think that's old enough, don't you ?

To-day we're waiting for the news,
So these lines you must excuse.
May to-morrow bring 'The Day'
Both for US and for U. S. A."
Nov. 10, 1918, George Hume, Nottingham, England.

"Just a year since I became interested in Chess and Chess Problems. The first two mover that I attempted to solve being one by J.J.O'Keefe,No.1114 in the Washington birthday tourney of 1917. It is the most difficult two-mover I have struck so far."
"Am down with the Flu, with nothing to do,
So I composed a problem or two, which I am sending to you.
I hope they go through without more ado."
C. W. Sheppard.

"I see under your 'Good Companion flag' you have me down as a Corporal. I have never been above the rank of Gunner, you probably confused me with Corporal V. Rush. I have now shaken off the effects of the gassing, except for continually coughing phlegm. I expect to be here (Liverpool) at least another two months as I have succeeded in getting a job on the Hospital Staff. The Jubilee number is just what was required — a complete resume of the five years work." C. Mansfield.
 
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(2) Posted by Michael McDowell [Tuesday, Nov 11, 2008 21:59]

The November 1916 issue of The Chess Amateur also had a brief piece about Mansfield:

"Gunner Comins Mansfield, who is one of many Devonian chess players doing their bit, writing to his father, Mr.H.J.Mansfield, Witheridge, was safe and sound at the moment of writing, but, he adds, he has had many narrow escapes, the steel shrapnel-proof helmet being like a cullander*, so riddled is it. He hopes to get short leave in November.

(* alternative spelling for colander)

Mansfield was only 20, and the war would last another two years. I don't think we can begin to appreciate what life was like in the trenches.
 
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MatPlus.Net Forum General A Veteran's Day tribute to chess composers