Charles Duncombe

Les boxeurs (1922)

Les luttes les pus importantes étaient les siennes entre Laïesse Le Monier et Charles Duncombe, un nègre d'Dgernesi et entre Ralph, le champion de Jerri et Gent de Dgernesi.

Le nègre est un biau garçon, bain adrouait et chein qu'nous appelle en Angliais, un “clean fighter.” Mais il est un mio lîngard et est bain liain d'aver la forche d'Laïesse. Nou s'aperchu bain dans les dernié rondes qu'il avait trouvé san maître et i' faut dithe que Laïesse fit preuve d'un “sportsmanship” admithablye. Il avait s'n homme compliètement vaintchu, et malgré les hurlements d'une certaine section d'imbeciles qu'aithaient voulu qu'il l'aithait ebaubi tout-à fait, i' s'abstint de commettre patheille brutalité.

Laïesse, man garçon, le Caouain t'admithe et t'felicite. Ch'est d's hommes comme te qui gardent le “sport” de la boxe sus un pid respectablye et qui l'empêchent d'être terni par la brutalité.

Tchi qu'i' 'tait chu Charles Duncombe? Né v'chîn un mio d'biographie:

Who was this Charles Duncombe? Here are some biographical details to follow up:

Charles Duncombe:

"Born at Nassau, Bahamas between 1879 & 1886. Son of James Duncombe & Violet Wellington. Husband of Guernsey born Susan Inder"

Charles Duncombe - From the Bahamas to the RGLI (Liz Walton):

976 Private C Duncombe enlisted along with the other young men of St Peter Port and joined the 1st (Service) Battalion, the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry on 27th January, 1917, soon after its formation.(...) His age on enlistment was 30 years and 6 months (though in 1919 his age was given as 40) and he was 5 feet 11 inches tall. His last employer before joining up was Bragg and Son, Corn and Forage Merchants of South Esplanade, St Peter Port, Guernsey, and he was a seaman/cook. (...) came back to Guernsey after dispersal from Harfleur on 21st May, 1919, and remained on the island until his death. An elderly friend recalls that Charlie worked for many years as a plank runner, i.e., running up the gangplank of ships unloading baskets of coal into waiting carts. He also played the ukulele in a local band.