Blanket tossing 1916

This photograph appeared in the French daily illustrated newspaper Excelsior published on 20th August 1916.

Caption reads:

“A LA COUVERTURE!” EST-CE UN RECORD ?
Cette photographie a ete prise a Aldermaston, l’un des camps oit sont instruits de tons les sports les jeunes gens appartenant, en irande=Bretagne, aux Societes de preparation militaire. C’etait a ce moment l’heure de « la couverture » et it faut croire clue les boys tiraient vigoureusement sur le drap, It en juger par la hauteur oit leur camarade est projete.

and translates to:

“ON THE BLANKET” IS THIS A RECORD?
This photograph was taken at the Aldermaston camp, one of the British camps where young people belonging to military training societies are taught all kinds of sports. It was “blanket time”, and the boys must have been pulling very hard at the blanket, judging by the height to which their comrade was thrown.

The story behind this picture

The Royal Berkshire Regiment set up a volunteer battalion in 1915 and recruits attended a camp at Aldermaston Court, courtesy of Charles Edward Keyser, the Lord of the Manor. The camp took place in the area of Aldermaston Court that is now occupied by the large car park and the grounds around the modern entrance and gateway to the estate.