Polo Week: A Royal Encounter
Friday, September 24, 2010 
So how did the U.S. Army Team, composed of Major L.A. Beard, Major A. H. Wilson, Captain Peter Rodes, Captain Charles H. Gephardt, reserve rider First Lieutenant McGinley, reserve rider First Lieutenant Smith and their 25 polo ponies fare against their British counterparts at the 1925 Hurlingham International Polo Series?
They unceremoniously defeated the British in two straight matches, making a third match redundant and uncessesary. King George V and Queen Mary were on hand to personally congratulate the victorious "Yankess."
Captain Rodes, far left, waits in line to be congratulated by King George V
Meaghan says:
"I want to share a story from a letter written to my Great Grandmother about what happened after the match. In the letter, written to my Great Grandmother years after the event and after my Great Grandfather's death, someone that was there recounted an encounter between the team and King George V:
'I remember that after the game we were all sitting on the lawn in front of the club house when along came George V and his equipy, and the king stopped at our table and Pete and the rest of us stood up. As I remember it, the king remained talking and said that had it not been for Capt. Rodes, the English team would have done better etc., and stayed there for so long a time that Peter asked, 'Will you join us, Sir?' and as I remember it, his democratic majesty did join us for a short time and was gracious in all regards. After maybe five minutes he rose and left, and after he had gone, his equipy came back and said, 'I dont know whether you gentlemen know what an honor has been done you, in the first place no one invites royalty to sit down with them.' Then, as I remember it, Pete said, 'Well sir no offense meant but in America we always invite any gentleman that comes to our table to join us.' It was done in so fine a spirit that I have always remembered it both as a great tale and as proof of what a true southern gentleman will do under even royal circumstances.'"
A big HH THANK YOU to Meaghan for sharing these photos, artifacts and stories with us, and letting us in on Captain Rodes' exciting adventure with the U.S. Army Polo Team, without which polo week wouldn't have been possible. I have it on good authority that Captain Rodes was also a member of the Army Polo Team that traveled to Argentina in 1930 to take on the Argentine Army team and compete in the Argentine Open Championship -- so perhaps there's another polo week in our future?
I hope you've enjoyed this week as much as I have. With Captain Rodes as my inspiration, I'm just dying to get out there and try my hand at a chukker, aren't you?
Have a great weekend!
Reader Comments (8)
Note the full double-bridles on the two right hand mounts. The next over is perhaps a pelham (2 reins attached over/under on one short-shanked bit).
Wow, what a great story!
This week has been very exciting! Even though I know the story it was very exciting to see how you were going to organize it for the blog and I think you did a great job! My whole family enjoyed reading his story and sharing it with everyone! I'll see if I can find more on the Argentina trip, Ive got pictures just not as much information to go along with them.
Thanks for everything, Meaghan! Polo week has been a blast. It's just so cool that your family has kept and preserved all of these pictures and articles -- an amazing story that I was thrilled to share.
That is truly an inspiring piece of history. The letter about how Capt. Rodes and the American team responded to King George V is truly priceless! Congratulations to Meaghan and her family for preserving all the pictures and clippings.
Hello,Great artical...I have a trophy that was won by Peter P. Rodes in 1921,western cup circut played in Dayton , Ohio .I would love to share pictures of it . MIAMI HUNT AND POLO CLUB-- WON BY CAMP GRANT TEAM
MAJOR C.B KING
CAPT. WILLIAM CRAIG
CAPT.PETER P. RODES
WILLIAM CALHOUN
@Todd i would LOVE to see that trophy!
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