Walter Kimberley

Walter Kimberley (28 September 1884 – 22 April 1917) was an English professional football left back and right half who played in the Football League for Aston Villa.[1]

Walter Kimberley

Personal information
Full name	Walter Kimberley[1]
Date of birth	28 September 1884
Place of birth	Aston, England
Date of death	22 April 1917 (aged 32)[2]
Place of death	Aston, England[3]
Position(s)	Left back, right half
Youth career
	Gower Street School
	Gravelly Hill Schools
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Tower Unity
	Selly Oak St Mary's
	Coldstream Guards
	Aston Manor
1906–1912	Aston Villa	7	(0)
1912–1914	Coventry City	21	(2)
1914	Walsall
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Personal life

As of 1901 and 1904, Kimberley worked as an engraver and a packer respectively.[4] While playing for Coventry City, Kimberley worked at the Coventry Ordnance Works.[5] An army reservist since 1904,[4] Kimberley rejoined the Coldstream Guards in August 1914, after Britain's entry into the First World War and was appointed lance corporal.[4] The following month, he was captured by the Germans at Maubeuge during the First Battle of the Marne and spent two years as a prisoner of war in camps at Döberitz, Dyrotz and Cottbus.[6][7] Beginning with a six-month stay in hospital with laryngitis and bronchitis, Kimberley's health declined during his internment and he was repatriated to Britain in August 1916 with pulmonary tuberculosis.[7] He was immediately discharged from the army and fell into severe ill heath, permanently losing his voice and dying at home in Aston on 22 April 1917.[3] Kimberley was buried in Witton Cemetery, Birmingham.[2] He was married and had two children, one of whom died in infancy.[4]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Aston Villa	1907–08[8]	First Division	4	0	0	0	4	0
	1908–09[8]		3	0	0	0	3	0
	Total		7	0	0	0	7	0
Coventry City	1912–13[8]	Southern League First Division	10	1	1	0	11	1
	1913–14[8]		11	0	1	0	12	0
	Total		21	1	2	0	23	1
Career total			28	1	2	0	30	1

References

1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 164. ISBN 978-1905891610.
2. "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
3. "Walter Kimberley – Aston Villa and Coventry City". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
4. "Coventry City Footballer Walter Kimberley, and World War One". Our Warwickshire. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
5. Nowell, Charles (7 September 2012). City of Coventry Roll of the Fallen: The Great War 1914–1918. Andrews UK Limited. p. 188. ISBN 9781781509654.
6. "Walter Kimberley Gets Taken Prisoner in World War One". Our Warwickshire. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
7. "Walter Kimberley's World War One Prisoner Experience, and Beyond". Our Warwickshire. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
8. "Walter Kimberley". 11v11.com. Retrieved 4 June 2017.