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It was during the German Occupation of the islands that that the Cup itself
was at its greatest risk because the Germans wanted it to be returned to their
homelands to be melted down for funds for the Third Reich. The Cup then
mysteriously disappeared, but was safely hidden and resurfaced after the war in
1947. To this day, there is much speculation about where it went during this
time but the truth is, nobody really knows.
The actual Siam Cup is a large circular rose-bowl made from Siamese (Thai)
silver, beautifully decorated in traditional Siamese style, with figures of
dancing girls and elephant heads. It stands on an ebony base and is engraved
with the cup winners names, dating back as far as 1920.
The Cup was originally brought to Guernsey by a Lieut-Colonel C H Forty who
was serving in the Durham Light Infantry in Siam at the early part of the
twentieth century. Forty along with four other colleagues, donated the trophy to
encourage interest in the game of Rugby, on hearing that Rugger was no longer
played between Victoria College in Jersey and Elizabeth College in Guernsey. The
story goes that Vajiravudh, son of the King of Siam, also served in the Durham
Light Infantry and was befriended by Forty and Capt S P Groves, another donor of
the Cup. Vajiravudh later became King Rama VI and it seems certain that it was
he that instructed that the Cup be made from Ticals (Siamese silver dollars) by
the Court silversmith.
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