Harold really did like sports ! He played 20 first-class matches between 1907 and 1910, 17 of them for Worcestershire. He also played three times for Cambridge University, but was not awarded a Blue. He was also a fine footballer, playing for West Bromwich Albion and winning an England Amateur cap. Born in Churchill, Worcestershire, Bache made his first-class debut for Worcestershire against Surrey at Worcester late in the 1907 season, scoring 9 in his only innings and holding three catches. The following season he played twice for the county, but he made nine appearances in 1909 and eight in 1910. Mostly he played for Worcestershire but he turned out three times for Cambridge University. His top score of 36 was made against Middlesex at Lord's in 1910. Later in the same season against the same opposition, but this time at Worcester, he took two of his three career wickets: those of Patsy Hendren and Jack Hearne. His other wicket had been that of Sussex's Robert Relf in 1909. Bache joined the Lancashire Fusiliers and reached the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was killed in action at Ypres, Belgium at the age of just 26. H.G. Bache 1909-1915 Appearances 43 Goals 95 Harold Godfrey Bache had a truly wonderful scoring record and was on a goals per game ratio, the most prolific scorer the Corinthian F.C. had in its history. He was born on 20th August 1889 at Churchill in Worcestershire and went on to be educated King Edward VI School in Birmingham and then Caius College, Cambridge. Whilst at Cambridge he gained blues at football, cricket and lawn tennis and even won the University Lawn Tennis Championship in 1911. Unfortunately for Bache he was at the height of his powers during ‘The Split’ years and so he was never capped by the full England team; he did however obtain an A.F.A. international cap against Wales. Bache also played for West Bromich Albion and continued his cricket playing for Worcestershire who he made 20 appearances for. On the outbreak of World War One, Bache enlisted in the Lancashire Regiment, where he obtained his commission to the Lancashire Fusiliers in October 1914 becoming a Lieutenant. Bache still appeared in two further charity games for the Corinthian F.C. against Aldershot Command, scoring four goals. He was later posted to France and then Belgium where he was killed on 15th February 1916 at Comines Canal Bank, Ypres aged just 26 years. LIEUT. HAROLD GODFREY BACHE (Lancashire Fusiliers), born at Churchill, in Worcestershire, on August 20, 1889, was killed at Ypres on February 15. He was in the Eleven at King Edward VI's Grammar School, Birmingham, but did not obtain his Blue at Cambridge as he did little when tried for the University. In the Freshmen's match of 1909 he made 137 and then retired, he and F. G. Turner (98) adding 263 for the fifth wicket, and in the following year he scored 117 in the Seniors' match. Subsequently he appeared for Worcestershire. He was a left-hand bat and a fair change bowler. At Association football he played for Cambridge University, West Bromwich Albion and the Corinthians, and also obtained his international cap. He also represented his University at lawn-tennis. In Memory of Second Lieutenant HAROLD GODFREY BACHE 10th Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers who died age 26 on 16 February 1916 Son of William and Frances Mary Bache, of West Bromwich. Remembered with honour YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
