Rugby Players Buried or Commemorated in the Ypres Salient
There are twenty four international Rugby players from Britain and New Zealand buried in the cemeteries and commemorated on the memorials of the Ypres Salient. Within seven days of the war being declared the Scottish Rugby Union had contacted their member clubs to advise them of a donation of £500 to the National Relief Fund and to also advise them of their intention of offering the Inverleith ground in Edinburgh to the army. Most Scottish clubs had already begun to close down and their players and officials to enlist. Similar events were also taking place in England. One company of rugby men were recruited in September 1914 from Northamptonshire by England International Lieutenant-Colonel Edgar Roberts Mobbs, DSO who is one of those commemorated on the Menin Gate. In Ireland, the Irish Rugby Union volunteer Corps was formed and two hundred men from this Corps enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. This is a study of the twenty four international Rugby players and their intriguing yet tragic stories. In addition to detailing their sporting achievements, I also look into their military experiences and the fighting that they took part in.
ROLL OF HONOUR
They played the game up to the last whistle. Seven played for Scotland. Three played for Wales. Eight played for England. Three played for Ireland. Three Played for the New Zealand All Blacks.
SCOTLAND
Second Lieutenant Frederick Harding Turner, 10th Battalion The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division. Killed in action 10 January 1915, age 27. Grave Special Memorial 13. Kemmel Churchyard
Lieutenant James Young Milne Henderson Mentioned in Despatches, 11th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. Killed in action 31 July 1917, age 26. 2565 Private James Ross, 1/14th Battalion London Regiment (London Scottish), 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Division. Killed in action 1 November 1914, age 34.
75027 Private Andrew Ross, 29th (Vancouver) Battalion, 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division. Killed in action 6 April 1916, age 37. Grave I.R.9.
2061 Private James Pearson, ‘B’ Company, 9th Battalion Royal Scots, 81st Infantry Brigade, 27th Division. Killed in action 22 May 1915, age 26. Grave V.E.27.
2nd Lieutenant Patrick Charles Bentley Blair, 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own), 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division.
Captain Lewis Robertson, 1st Battalion, The Queens Own (Cameron Highlanders), 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Division. Died of wounds 3 November 1914, age 31. Grave II.A.4.
WALES
Major Brinley Richard Lewis, Mentioned in Despatches, Commanding Officer, ‘B’ Battery, 122nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed 2 April 1917, age 26. Grave III.C.1.
Second Lieutenant William Purdon Geen, 9th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 42 Infantry Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. Killed in action 31 July 1915, age 25.
15529 Private David Westacott, ‘D’ Company, 2/6th Battalion Gloucester Regiment, 183rd Infantry Brigade, 61st Division. Killed in action 28 August 1917, age 35.
ENGLAND
Lieutenant Ronald William Poulton Palmer, 1st/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, 145th Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division. Killed in action 5 May 1915, age 25. Grave B.11.
Lieutenant Percy Dale Kendal, 10th Battalion The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division. Killed in action 25 January 1915, age 36. Grave Special Memorial 14.
Lieutenant-Colonel George Eric Burroughs Dobbs, Killed in action 17 June 1917, age 32. Grave XIII.A.25. Lieutenant John Edward Raphael, 18th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 122nd Infantry Brigade, 41st Division. Killed in action 11 June 1917, age 35. Grave XIII.A.30.
Captain Ronald Owen Lagden Mentioned in Despatches, 4th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 80th Infantry Brigade, 27th Division. Killed in action 3 March 1915, age 25.
Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Roberts Mobbs, Twice Mentioned in Despatches, D.S.O., 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, 73rd Infantry Brigade, 24th Division. Killed in action 31 July 1917, age 37.
Captain Alexander Findlater Todd, 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, 15th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. Died of wounds 20 April 1915, age 41. Grave II.M.7.
Lieutenant Francis Nathaniel Tarr, 1st/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, 138th Infantry Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division. Killed in action 18 July 1915, age 27. Grave I.E.8.
IRELAND
Major Albert Lewis Stewart, Mentioned in Despatches, D.S.O., 22nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps, Killed in action 4 October 1917, age 28. Grave VII.E.15.
Captain Basil Maclear Mentioned in Despatches, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division. Killed in action 24 May 1915, age 34.
Captain Alfred Squire Taylor, R.A.M.C. attached 10/11th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. Killed in action 31 July 1917, age 28. Grave III.B.21.
NEW ZEALAND
26923 Private George Maurice Victor Sellars, 1st Battalion Auckland Regiment, 1st New Zealand Infantry Brigade, New Zealand Division. Killed in action 7 June 1917, age 31.
32513 Sergeant David Gallaher, 2nd Battalion Auckland Infantry Regiment, 1st New Zealand Infantry Brigade, New Zealand Division. Killed in action 4 October 1914, age 41. Grave III.D.8.
82738 Lance Corporal Reginald Taylor, 1st Wellington Infantry Battalion, 1st New Zealand Infantry Brigade, New Zealand Division. Killed in action 20 June 1917, age 28. Grave B.6.
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