Wartime Sports

Whether organized or impromptu, for training or for fun, sports have never stopped just because there's a war on.

National Library of Scotland

Recovering soldiers play basketball with WAAC troops at a hospital in France, WWI. Source

© IWM (Q 32533)

Officers play badminton in a Greek village, WW2. Source

© IWM (B 8327)

Brits play cricket in France, 1944. Source

© IWM (A 7605)

Officers of the HMS Kent play hockey, WW2. Source

© IWM (A 27107)

Submarine base officers skate on an icy tennis court, WW2. Source

© IWM (A 25533)

Fencing on the HMS Pretoria Castle, WW2. Source

© IWM (D 2194)

Dutch troops play leapfrog in England, 1941. Source

© IWM (Q 1108)

English soldiers play football in France, 1916. Source

© IWM (D 2192)

Dutch soldiers play football in England, 1941. Source

© IWM (Q 24793)

Sikh troops play tug of war in Mesopotamia, WWI. Source

© IWM (BF 10081)

British soldiers play football in Korea, 1950-53. Source

© IWM (TR 90)

RAF men leap over a tennis court during a break in training in Florida, 1941. Source

© IWM (A 30982)

Men play deck tennis on the HMS Indomitable, 1945. Source

© IWM (CH 4355)

Men of the Royal Australian Air Force play rugby in Wales, WW2. Source

© IWM (TR 822)

South African pilots play volleyball in Tunisia, 1943. Source

© IWM (NA 20484)

Gunners play cricket on a break in Italy, WW2. Source

© IWM (Q 31576)

British troops play football in Greece, WWI. Source

© IWM (NA 11632)

British gunners play football in Italy, WW2. Source

© IWM (A 10346)

A biplane flies over men playing hockey on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, WW2. Source

© IWM (F 2546)

British troops play football in the snow, France, 1939. Source

© IWM (A 11524)

A nurse plays cricket with convalescent patients at Cholmondeley Castle, being used as a Royal Navy psychiatric hospital, 1942. Source

© IWM (BU 8103)

Sports gear is unloaded for the occupying troops in Germany, 1945-49. Source