Nigel McCrery - Into Touch: Rugby Internationals Killed in the Great War

Dedicated to my extraordinary children without whom there would be no point

Luke, Emily and Rebecca
With all my love

First published in Great Britain in 2014 by
Pen & Sword Military
An imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS

Copyright Nigel McCrery 2014

ISBN 978 1 78159 087 4

eISBN 9781473831797

The right of Nigel McCrery to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue entry for this book is available from the British Library.

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Contents

Foreword

I have to admit to becoming emotionally involved with this book. I think you would have to be less than human to research and write about these men and their sacrifice without feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness. That said, I have enjoyed writing it. I have not been able to write as much as I would have liked to due to the length and size of the book; in most cases I could have written much more on each player. The French team caused me the most difficulty and I struggled to find much on several of the players. Because of this I am determined to continue my research into the pre-war French team and build up bigger and better files on each of them. You will note that there are a few omissions from the book, men who have previously been accepted as rugby internationals. My interpretation has been that internationals were men who played for their countrys team against another countrys team and were awarded a cap. The men I have missed out, although picked to represent their country, were never awarded a cap. This does not reflect on their playing ability or their sacrifice; it just means that they never played an international.

I have also added a number of players. Most of these died of their wounds after the war, in one case some considerable time after the war. In this I have had to use my own judgement. If I feel satisfied that they died of wounds received during the war then I have included them and not allowed some arbitrary time limit to cloud my judgement. I have also always used the word Died. For this I followed the view of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. They do not say killed in action, died of wounds but always use the word Died. It is easier to explain that way. Some were killed in action; others lingered for hours, days, and weeks, before dying; yet others died of disease. The text explains how they died which I feel is sufficient.

I am sure that I have made mistakes. I have tried not to and I hope that, if there are any, I have kept them to a minimum. However, if you feel I have and that they are important please feel free to write to me via my publisher Pen and Sword. If I feel your point is valid or I have added or omitted something I will amend the error for the next edition. I hope this book will be a work that I am able to improve with each edition.

If you feel I have left anybody out who ought to have been included, please let me know and, if I feel your argument is sound, I will happily include them in following editions. On the other hand, if you feel that I have put someone in who shouldnt be there the same applies.

After reading the book you may feel that you would like to get involved in researching these men further and I can recommend the Rugby History Society, a dedicated group of supporters and researchers who do an excellent job and who, I know, have their own project on this subject. You can find them on line at www.therugbyhistorysociety.co.uk Adding to our knowledge of these extraordinary people is, I feel, very important.

I am donating the royalties for this book to Help for Heroes, a first-class charity that I believe needs all the help it can get.

Most of all I hope you enjoy reading the book and take something from it. Im not sure it was the best idea to do this all on my own as there was more work required than I imagined. However, it has been a labour of love and one I have enjoyed. Lets hope that these and all the other people, both men and women, who made the supreme sacrifice for their country are never forgotten.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Nigel McCrery

October 2013

Acknowledgements

Dai Richards. Rugby Relics. A man who loves the game of Rugby and took a lot of time and trouble to help. Many thanks.

Lucy Noakes. Pubic affairs manager RFU

Michael Rowe, World Rugby Museum Twickenham.

John Griffiths, for his help, assistance and photographs.

Richard Doherty. Editor. For all his hard work and first class notes.

Mr. Alan Clay. Friend and First class researcher.

Henry Wilson. Pen and Sword Books.

Matt Jones. Pen and Sword Books.

Mr. Richard Black.

Roan Hackney

Cecilia Gill. Photographer and actress

London Medal Company.

The Ruby History Society.

Ms. Nelly Khmilkovska.

William Ivory.

Taff Gillingham.

Pierce Noonan.

Dix Noonan Webb Medal Company.

Emma Oxley

Ashley McCrery.

Chloe O Reilly, Newcastle Regional Library, NSW, Australia.

All the Publishing Team at Pen and Sword.

Michael Johnson. Medals Forum. Expert researcher.

Phil Nodding

Ashley McCrery

RFU (England)

SRU (Scotland)

WRU (Wales)

IRFU (Ireland)

FFR (France)

NZRU (New Zealand)

ARU (Australia)

SARU (South Africa)

Australia

1660 Private Harold Wesley George
13th (New South Wales) Infantry Battalion, AIF
Died 10 May 1915
Aged 28
Prop
Eight Caps

Never beaten until the whistle went

Harold Wesley George was born in 1887 at Paddington, New South Wales. Educated at Paddington Public School, on leaving school he became apprenticed as a carpenter. Described as being five feet nine inches tall and weighing thirteen stone, Harold played his club rugby for the Eastern Suburbs RUFC in Sydney. He first played for Eastern Suburbs in 1907; at the time of his death he held the club record of ninety-five club matches. He was a club selector when picked to play for NSW vs Queensland (NSW won the series: six-eight, eleven-three and twenty-one-eight) and vs New Zealand in 1910 (eight-twenty-one). He played twenty times for NSW. An outstanding player in Australias first win against New Zealand in 1910 (eleven-nil), he toured America with the 1912 Wallabies and played in the Test won by Australia twelve-eight. In all, he represented Australia on eight occasions and played for NSW twenty times.