The 1940's

Extract from Chapter IX of A History of St Catherine's Rowing 1875-1999

[Extracts taken from the Boat Club Minute Book]

Tuesday, 17th October, 1939

In the absence of Capt. F. L. Dewey (presumably now in training for military service) D. Shallcross was elected Captain.

Captain Shallcross explained that he had attended a Captains' meeting at which an amalgamation of Boat Clubs was decided on. St Catherine's go with Jesus. The two clubs have been put in group two - training omitted on Tuesdays and Thursdays owing to Officer Training Corps training. No Torpids or Eights this year but racing in two groups in the sixth week of the term.

Monday, 22nd April, 1940

The question of amalgamating with Jesus arose and the Club expressed its disapproval of any such steps. Mr. Habgood implored members of this Club not to associate with members of the Jesus College Boat Club as careless talk costs lives and may cause vital secrets to be given to the enemy, but the Secretary, in a very able and polished speech, soon put his fears to rest and the house once again adopted its Christian attitude.

Photo: The 1942 St Catherine's Eight. From left to right, back row: G. A. Morrison (4), J. H. Kahle (3), A. Green (2), T. J. Brown (bow); middle: S. Solomon (6), R. N. Giles (str), J. Marsh (coach), J. H. Walker (7), W. G. Timms (5); front: G. Knight (cox). Racing continued during the war in truncated form, with most college boat clubs having to amalgamate in order to form crews. St Catherine's was one of the few boat clubs which generally managed to put out complete crews on its own.