"There was a very strong side in the Third Divvy at Larkhill while the Training Units were at Tidmouth. "General Monash was keen on sport for the troops", said Sir Frank. held in Queen's Park, London, in 1916, would never have taken place but for the personal interest taken by the late Sir John Monash. which is believed to be the first exhibition of Australian football in London. Both agreed that, if at all possible, the game should be played in London, rather than on the Salisbury Plain: Sir Frank Beaurepaire said today that the famous football match between the Third Divvy and the Training Units. The match was suggested by Sir John Monash, then in command of the 3rd Australian Division, with the complete support of Brigadier-General Sir Newton Moore, former Premier of Western Australia and, at the time, General Officer Commanding Australian Imperial Force in the United Kingdom. The Third Australian Divisional team beat the Australian Training Units Team 6.16 (52) to 4.12 (36). Promoted as the Pioneer Exhibition Game of Australian Football in London, and "believed to be the first exhibition of Australian football in London" (de Lacy, 1949), the match was contested between two teams of Australian servicemen who were stationed in the UK - the Australian Training Units Team and the Third Australian Divisional Team - all of whom were highly skilled footballers, and the majority of whom had already played senior football in their respective states prior to their enlistment. On Saturday 28 October 1916, the former Olympic champion swimmer and the later Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Lieutenant Frank Beaurepaire, organised an Australian Rules football match in aid of the British and the French Red Cross.
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