In January 1909, Balgownie footballers George Popple and Jack Cram were at Towradji beach when they witnessed four young men in distress in rough seas. The pair dived in and between them rescued all four of the youngsters.
A little over six years later, a reception was held at the Balgownie School of Arts Hall for a group of local soldiers soon to depart on active service. Thirty-one year-old George Popple, who mostly played reserves for Balgownie Rangers, was among the group, who were each presented with a wallet and a pencil case. As news had recently been received of three Balgownie men killed in action, including a brother of two of the group, the proposed dance was cancelled.
In November 1917, Church of England Pastor, Reverend Stubbins, knocked on the door of a house in Russell Street, Balgownie. He passed on the news to Mr and Mrs Popple that their son George, of the 20th Battalion, had been killed in the mud at Ypres on 13 October.