Brendan Gallagher’s fallen heroes

1914
06 09 14 Xavier ‘Gastofer' Mayssonnie (France):  The only Toulouse player in France's first Five nations game. Adjutant 259ème Regiment d'Infanterie. KIA Meuse
14 09 14 Ronald Francis Simson (Scotland): Edinburgh Accies and centre. Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery. Killed at the Battle of Aisne
16 09 14 James Laidlaw Huggan (Scotland): London Scottish wing who scored a try against in March 1914. RAMC. Killed at the Battle of Aisne
17 09 14 Charles Edward Wilson, Legion d'Honneur (England): Blackheath forward. Captain in the Royal West Surrey. Killed at the Battle of Aisne
20 09 14 Emmanuel Iguiniz (France): Jeweller and Bayonne prop, debut against England in April 1914 Caporal 49ème Regiment d'Infanterie. Killed at Crasonne
23 09 14 Gaston Lane (France): Racing Club wing, former France captain and sports journalist. Soldat 1ère Classe, x346ème Regiment d'Infanterie. Killed in action Stenay/Lerouville
02 10 14 Jean Baptiste ‘Joe' Anduran (France): Modest club player for Paris University, capped by France in 1910 v Wales when they found themselves one player short
15 10 14 James Henry Digby ‘Bungy'  Watson (England): Played centre in the 1914 Five Nations. Naval surgeon perished on HMS Hawke when torpedoed by German U boat U9
18 10 14 Sidney Crowther (): Forward.  Four Tests on 1904 Lions tour. Medical doctor who served as dispatch rider with Royal Engineers. Killed Armentieres
31 10 14 James ‘Jummy' Ross (Scotland): Former London Scottish captain, private in the London (Scottish) Regiment. Fell at Messines
03 11 14 Lewis Robertson (Scotland): London Scottish second row, career soldier, captain in the Cameron Highlanders, died at Ypres
25 11 14 Francis Eckley Oakeley (England): US Portsmouth scrum-half. Perished with all hands when his submarine HMSD2 was rammed off the island of Borkum
21 12 14 Jean Francois Poeydebasque (France): Bayonne centre, France debut in January 1914 v Ireland. Sgt 249ème Regiment d'Infanterie. KIA Aisne
1915
10 01 15 Frederick Harding ‘Tanky'  Turner (Scotland): Scotland captain and flanker in 1914. Served with the King's Liverpool Regiment. Killed in the trenches at Kemmel
21 01 15 Percy  ‘Toggie' Kendall (England): Birkinhead Park scrum half, solicitor. Killed at Ypres serving for King's Liverpool Regiment
24 01 15 Charles Gerald Taylor (Wales): Founder member of of . Died on HMS Tiger at the Battle of Dogger Bank after a firefight with SMS Blücher
01 03 15 Ronald Owen Lagden (England): Teacher, goal kicking No.8. Oxford Blue in three sports. Served with Kings Royal Liverpool. Killed at second Battle of  Ypres
21 04 15 Alexander Findlater Todd (England and Lions): Swashbukling Blackheath and Rosslyn Park forward. Died of injuries recieved at Hill 60 at Ypres Salient.
25 04 15 Edward ‘Teddy' Larkin, Rennix (): Former Wallabies hooker, Rugby League administrator and politician. Killed on the first day of Gallipoli

Former New Zealand captain and flanker Dave Gallagher
Former New Zealand captain and flanker Dave Gallagher

25 04 15 Blair Inskip Swannell (Lions and Australia): Hard hitting No.8, Major in the Imperial Australia Services, killed at Baby 700 Hill Gallipoli
05 05 15 Ronnie Poulton Palmer (England): Dashing wing, try-scorer and pre-war pin-up boy. Killed in the trenches at Ploegsteert by a German sniper
09 05 15 Henry Berry (England): forward. Former garrison officer at St Helena. Died at Aubers Bridge one month before birth of his daughter
10 05 15 Harold Wesley George (Australia): Prop with Eastern Suburbs. Eight caps. Died of injuries while being evacuated from Pope's Post, ANZAC Cove
15 05 15 Paul Edouard Dupré (France): Racing wing capped against Wales in 1909. Soldat2ème Classe, 4ème Zouaves. POW, died at Altengrabour
22 05 15 James Pearson (Scotland): Watsonians wing and centre, weighed just nine stone. Won 12 caps. Served 9th Batallion Royal Scots, killed Sanctury Woods, Ypres
24 05 15 Basil Maclear (Ireland): Monkstown and Munster wing, 11 caps. Youngest of three brothers killed in France. Capt Royal Dublin Fusiliers, died at Ypres
26 05 15 Albert Eutropius (France): Born in Cayenne in French Guiana, played flanker for SCUF. Lieutenant 6ème Colonial Infantry, KIA Masseng, Cameroon
03 06 15 David McLaren Bain (Scotland): Oxford University lock, former Scotland captain. Died near Festubert while serving in the Gordon Highlanders
27 06 15 Marcel Legrain (France): Stalwart forward with . Soldat 2ème Classe 154ème Regiment d'Infanterie. KIA at Neuville-Saint-Vaast
27 06 15 Paul Henri Descamps (France): Racing forward. Caporal, 246ème Regiment d'Infanterie. Killed in action at Souchez near Arras.
28 06 15  William Campbell Church (Scotland): Glasgow Academicals. Captain in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Killed at Gallipoli
28 06 15 Eric Templeton Young (Scotland): Glasgow Accies lock who made his debut v England in 1914. Capt Camerons (Scottish Rifles). Died at Gallipoli
06 07 15 Patrick Charles Bentley Blair (Scotland): Cambridge University and London Scottish lock. Lt Rifle Brigade, killed at Boezinge
18 07 15 Francis Nathaniel Tarr (England): Tigers centre, solicitor, served with Leicestershire Regiment. Killed at Ypres
31 07 15 William Purdon Green (Wales): Newport wing and four times an Oxford Blue. Died at Hooge
serving with the Royal Rifle Regiment Corp.
08 08 15 Albert Joseph ‘Doolan' Downing (New Zealand): Brilliant Hawkes Bay lineout forward. Sgt Wellington Infantry. Killed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli
19 08 15 Henry ‘Norkey' Dewar (New Zealand): Wellington hooker, two Tests.  Served Wellington Mounted Rifles. Killed at the Chumuck Blair offensive at Gallipoli
22 08 15 Arthur James ‘Mud' Dingle (England): Hartlepool Rovers centre. East Yorkshire Regiment. Died Suvla Bay Gallipoli. Body never recovered.
22 08 15 William Middleton Wallace (Scotland): Cambridge University full-back, observer in the Royal Flying Corp.  Shot down at Sainghin near Lille
05 09 15 David Revell ‘Darkie' Bedell Sivright (Scotland, Lions): Legendary Scotland forward, 22 caps. Royal Navy surgeon, died of septicaemia at Gallipoli
08 09 15 René Emile Henri Boudreaux (France): SCUH, capped twice in 1910, against Scotland and Wales. Died serving as lieutenant in 103ème Regiment d'Infanterie
08 09 15 Arthur ‘Jack'  Verge (Australia): New South Wales full-back, two Tests. Australian Army Medical Corp. Died Alexandria, Egypt.
25 09 15 Ernest Cotton Deane, MC (Ireland):  Limerick born Monkstown and Ireland wing. Captain Royal Army Medical Corp. Died near Laventie.
Arthur Leyland Harrison, rugby's only VC from WWI
Arthur Leyland Harrison, rugby's only VC from WWI

26 09 15 Walter Michael Dickson (Scotland): Oxford University and Blackheath. Died at Loos serving for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
28 09 15 Richard Garnons-Williams (Wales): Played in Wales' first international in 1881 v England. Died at Loos aged 59 as Lt Colonel in the Royal Fusiliers
09 10 15 Pierre Guilleman (France): Architect and versatile front row forward for Racing. Died at Belleville-sur-Meuse while on a reconaissance mission.
13 10 15 Douglas Lambert (England): Eight tries in seven Tests. Served for Royal West Kents. Died at Loos two months before the birth of his son
17 10 15 Harry Alexander (England): Richmond forward, renowned as England's choirmaster. Died on 13th day of active service with Grenadier Guards
29 11 15 Vincent McNamara (Ireland): UC Cork scrum-half, three caps.  Served with Royal Engineers. Died in a gas attack at Suvla Bay Gallipoli
09 12 15 Robert Balderstone Burgess (Ireland): Dublin lawyer, one Test. Killed when hit by a shell while cycling in Armentieres, serving with Royal Engineers
31 12 15 John Henry Dods (Scotland): Eight times capped Edinburgh Academicals prop. Civilian contractor to the Royal Navy, killed when HMS Natal blew up
1916
19 01 16 David Dickie Howie (Scotland): Kirkcaldy forward who won seven caps. Served in the Royal Field Artillery, died of pneumonia in Egypt
14 03 16 Louis Augustus Phillips (Wales): Monmouth School and Newport scrum-half. Sergeant in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, killed in action at Cambrai
05 04 16 Robert Smyth (Ireland): Dublin University centre. Served as major in RAMC, served on Western Front evacuated with gas poisoning and later died
06 04 16 Andrew Ross (Scotland): Rugged Royal HSFP forward. Served in the 29th Canadian Regiment (Tobin's Tigers). Killed Ridge Wood, Belgium
15 05 16 Jan Willem Hunter ‘Jackie' Morkel (South Africa): Rugby and cricket cap for South Africa. Killed in German East Africa with the Mounted Commandos
31 05 16 Cecil Halliday Abercombie (Scotland): Powerful US Portsmouth forward. Died serving on HMS Defence at the Battle of Jutland
31 05 16 John Skinner Wilson (Scotland):  US Services and London Scottish. Lt Commander HMS Indefatigible. Died at the Battle of Jutland
20 06 16 Gerald ‘Tommy' Thompson (South Africa):  Centre partner of Morkel. Also killed in German East Africa, served in the South African Infantry
01 07 16 Rowland Fraser (Scotland): Cambridge University backrow forward, captain in the Rifle Brigade, killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme
07 07 16 Edward John Richard ‘Dick'  Thomas (Wales): Versatile Mountain Ash back. Company sgt major with 38th (Welsh) Infantry. Died at Mametz Wood
09 07 16 Robert Lawrence Pillman (England): Blackheath flanker.  Scratch golfer. Died of wounds received during a night raid at Armentieres.
11 07 16 John Lewis Williams (Wales): Cardiff wing, 17 tries in 17 Tests for Wales. Captain in the 38th (Welsh) Infantry. Died at Memetz Wood
14 07 16 Tobias Mortimer ‘Toby' Moll (South Africa): Transvaal forward capped against 1910 Lions. Killed at Bazentine-le-Petit serving in Leicestershire Rgt.
14 07 16 David Watts (Wales): Maesteg lock and stalwart of Wales pack in 1914 Championship.  Served with King's Shropshire Light Infantry, died at Bezentine Ridge
18 07 16 Eric ‘Puss' Milroy (Scotland): Watsonians scrum-half, toured with 1910 Lions. Killed near Longueval serving as a lieutenant in the 8th Batallion Black Watch
06 08 16 Leonard Haigh (England): Manchester prop, officer in the Army Service Corp, died of pneumonia while on a training exercise
09 08 16 John Abbott King (England): Diminutive Yorkshire No.8 and captain. Served for King's Liverpool Regiment. Killed at Guillemont
14 08 16 Charles Meyrick Pritchard (Wales): Newport shop owner, 14 Wales caps, helped beat 1905 . Died of wounds received at Clocques
02 09 16 Marcel Burgun, Croix de Guerre (France): Russian-born centre for Racing. Early member of the French Aviation Corp. Shot down south of Aubérive
03 09 16 Horace Wyndham Thomas (Wales): Bridgend fly-half and Cambridge choral scholar. Killed in action at Guillemont serving with the Rifle Brigade
French bomber Maurice Boyau
French bomber Maurice Boyau

18 09 16 The Rev Rupert Edward Inglis (England): Joined up aged 51 to encourage his parishoners. Died in Ginchy while recovering wounded soldiers from no-man's land
11 11 16 André Lacassagne (France): Five times a French champion with Stade Bordelais. Soldat 2ème Classe, 284ème Regiment d'Infanterie. Killed on the Macedonian Front
13 11 16 Alfred Frederick Maynard (England): Cambridge University hooker. Survived Gallipoli but killed on Western Front at Beaumont Hamel.
31 12 16 Jean Aimé Larribau (France): Perigeux and Biarritz scrum-half renowned for his long pass. Sgt 12ème Regiment d'Infanterie. Killed at Louvremont
31 12 16 Julien Dufau (France): Flying Biarritz wing, ever-present in 1912. Lieutenant, Regiment d'Infanterie Coloniale. Killed in action, Niger
1917
04 02 17 Jasper Brett (Ireland): Monkstown and Ireland wing, killed by a tram in Dublin while suffering with shell shock after surviving hostilities at Gallipoli
25 03 17 John George Will (Scotland): Cambridge University wing. Scored two tries v England in 1914. Lt 29th squadron Royal Flying Corps, died over Arras
02 04 17 Brinley Richard Lewis (Wales): Cambridge University and London Welsh wing. Died at Ypres while serving as a major in the Royal Field Artillery
09 04 17 Thomas Arthur Nelson (Scotland):  John Buchan's novel 39 Steps was dedicated to this former Scotland centre. Killed at Arras serving the Lothian and Border Horse
13 04 17 Septimus Heyns Ledger (South Africa): Played for Griqualand West. Four caps. Sgt in the South African Infantry, killed at Arras.
16 04 17 Daniel Ihingoue (France): Medical student Bordeaux Univ. Centre, two caps. Killed in action serving in the 633ème Bataillon Tirailleurs Sénéglais
19 04 17 Walter Torrie Forrest, MC (Scotland): Hawick full-back, killed in Palestine serving for the King's Own Scottish Borderers
28 04 17 Albert Luvian Wade (Scotland): London Scottish scrum-half. Killed Oppy Wood, Arras, serving with the Middlesex Regiment.
07 06 17 James Alexander Steenson Baird (New Zealand): Otago centre from Dunedin. Died of wounds received fighting with D Company of the Otago Infantry
07 06 17 George Maurice Victor Sellars (New Zealand): Auckland hooker, two Tests. Killed while carrying a wounded comrade at Messines. His body was never recovered
11 06 17 John Edward Raphael (England): Wing with old Merchant Taylors. Solicitor. Served Kings Royal Rifle Corp, died of wounds received at Messines Ridge
17 06 17 George Eric Burroughs Dobbs, Legion d'Honneur (England): Devonport Albion forward.  Mentioned three times in dispatches. Died Poperinge, Belgium
20 06 17 Henri Emmanuel Isaac (France): Guadelope born Racing Club full-back, two Tests. Served in the 1er Groupe d'Aviation, Aviation Militaire
20 06 17 Reginald Taylor (New Zealand): Taranaki flanker, two Tests. Private in the Wellington Infantry Battalion, killed near Hainaut, Belgium.
21 06 17 James McNeece (New Zealand): Invercargill born second row who also played wing! Died of wounds at Messines.
01 07 17 Arthur James Wilson (England): Camborne Mines forward. Olympic silver medallist 1908. Killed Flanders serving for Royal Fusileers.
29 07 17 Edgar Robert Mobbs, DSO (England): Boys Own hero, raised a Sportsmans Regiment of his own. Died at third Battle of Ypres, attacking a machine gun post
31 07 17 James Young Milne Henderson (Scotland): Watsonians and Madras scrum-half, one cap. Killed at third Battle of Ypres with the Highland Light Infantry
31 07 17 Alfred Squire Taylor (Ireland): Belfast doctor, four Tests. Served with RAMC. Killed at third Battle of Ypres
20 08 17 Marc Giacardy (France): Stade Bordelais hooker, top referee and later a journalist. Killed at la Ferme-de-Mormont, near Verdun
27 08 17 David Westacott (Wales): Cardiff forward who played for Wales against 1905 All Blacks. Died while serving with the Gloucestershire Regiment at Zonnebeke.
21 09 17 Robert Stanley Black (New Zealand): Otago utility back. One Test. Killed in action while serving for the Canterbury Infantry Regiment
04 10 17 Dave Gallaher (New Zealand): Legendary Donegal-born former All Black captain and flanker. Six Tests. Killed at Passchendaele, fighting with the Auckland Regiment
04 10 17 Albert Lewis Stewart, DSO (Ireland): NIFC centre, three caps. Chartered accountant. Major, Royal Irish Rifles. Died at the Battle of Broodseinde
01 12 17 John Argentine Campbell (Scotland): West of Scotland forward. Lieutenant 6th Dragoons (Inniskilling). Died Honnechy
08 12 17 Stephen Sebastian Leonard ‘Beak' Steyn (Scotland): London Scottish wing, Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery. Killed serving in Palestine
14 12 17 Phillip Dudley Waller (Wales and Lions): Newport forward, giant of the 1910 Lions tour. Died Arras with the South African Heavy Artillery
29 12 17 William Victor Edwards (Ireland): Malone lock. Two caps. Reportedly the first man to swim Belfast Lough. Killed in Palestine with Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1918
25 02 18 George Lamond (Scotland): Strong Kelvinside Academicals and Bristol centre. Lt Col Royal Engineers (Inland Water Transport). Died in Colombo
22 03 18 William Ramsay Hutchison (Scotland): Glasgow HSFP second row, Capt Royal Scots Fusiliers 59th Pioneer Division, died at Arras
24 03 18 Harold Augustus Hodges (England): Oxford University and Nottingham prop, French scholar. Served in 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment, shot near Eppeville
27 03 18 Noel Forbes Humphreys, MC (Lions): Uncapped Tyndale fly-half but 1910 Test player for the Lions. Capt in the Tank Corp. Buried at Etaples cemetry
09 04 18 Hubert Sydney ‘Jum'  Turtill (New Zealand): English-born Canterbury full-back. One test. Killed in France while with the 55th West Lancashire Division
20 04 18 Reginald Harold Myburgh Hands (England): England rugby cap, South Africa Test cricketer. Died after being gassed serving the South Africa Heavy Artillery.
22 04 18 Clarence ‘Doss' Wallach, MC (Australia): Easts lock, five Tests. Died of wounds two weeks after being injured at the Battle of Hangard Wood
23 04 18 Arthur Leyland Harrison, VC (England): Rugby's only VC from WW1. Killed in action at the Zeebrugge Raid. Lt-Commander HMS Lion and HMS Vindictive
30 04 18 Eric Tristan Harper (New Zealand): Accomplished mountaineer, cricketer and athlete. Canterbury centre, two Tests.  Killed in Palestine
11 06 18 Jean Jacques Conilh de Beyssac (France): Stade Bordelais lock. Lieutenant 81er Artillerie Lourde, killed in action in the Oise sector
09 07 18 Hubert Jones (Australia): Coal trimmer from , NSW.  Three caps. Killed in action fighting with 30 Batallion AIF
05 08 18 Maurice Hedembaight (France): Bayonne fly-half, house painter, three caps. Killed at Battle of the Marne with 89th Regiment Infanterie
06 08 18 Bryan Desmond Hughes, MC (Australia): NSW flanker. Two Tests. Killed in action with the 8th Batallion of the 16th (Irish) Division at Borre
09 08 18 Lancelot Andrew Noel Slocock (England): Liverpool forward. Served in the King's Liverpool Regiment. Killed at Guillemont
09 08 18  William George ‘Twit'  Tasker (Australia): NSW fly-half, six Tests. Wounded Gallipoli but re-enlisted on returning home. Killed on day two of the Battle of Amiens
30 08 18 William Elphinstone Gordon, MC (Scotland): Royal Artillery RFC. Major in the Regiment. Died near Daours
11 09 18 Ernest Henry Dodd (New Zealand): Wellington hooker, one Test. Killed fighting with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade
16 09 18 Maurice Jean-Paul Boyau, Legion d'Honneur (France): Dax back and French air ace and balloon buster (27 ‘kills'). Shot down by German ace Georg von Hantelmann
17 09 18 Charles Young Adamson (Lions): Uncapped by England but star of the 1899 Lions tour. Captain in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, died Salonika
04 10 18 Walter Riddell Sutherland (Scotland):  Hawick wing, winner of 13 caps. Died while serving in the Seaforth Higlanders
04 11 18 Adam Francis Burdett (South Africa): Western Province, winner of two caps, killed in Gauteng serving for South Africa Service Corp
05 11 18 Alexander James Ridland (New Zealand): Blacksmith and hooker from Invercargill. Three Tests. Died fighting with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade
18 11 18 Reginald Oscar Schwarz, MC (England): Richmond fly-half, leg-spinner for South Africa. Stockborker. Died of flu in France a week after peace was declared.
01 12 18 Frederick Leonard Perrett (Wales): Neath forward who turned professional with Leeds RL. Died of wounds received  serving with Royal Welsh Fusilliers
1924
15 07 24 Albert Chateau (France): Talented Bordeaux fly-half who died from war wounds six long years after hostilities ended

2 Comments

  1. Why does everyone forget to add George Herbert McAllan (Ireland)? He was the first schoolboy to play for Ireland. He died in December 1918 from the effects of injuries received whilst in the Royal Air Force. He was buried in the Thaba Tshwane (previously Voortrekkerhoogte, originally Roberts Heights) cemetery in Gauteng, South Africa.

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