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Remembered Today:

Rugby Football Internationals Roll of Honour


rflory

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Your not trying to tell us are you that RL men didn't enlist ?

Arnie

RL players certainly did enlist but, unlike the NSWRU and the QRU, which encouraged enlistment and had to cease major competitions due to the absence of so many of their players, the NSWRL tried to keep its players out of uniform. In 1914 the administrators of the still fledgling RL realised that if they closed down for the duration, re-starting would be very difficult, if not impossible. Hence, the RL competition continued through the War, without too many players leaving to join the Army, and by the Armistice it was firmly established as the major code in Sydney and Brisbane.

Only in recent times has Australian Rugby regained its pre-1908 place as the major international football code.

See Australian Rugby - the Game and the Players by Jack Pollard, and The Australian People and the Great War by Michael McKernan.

Gareth

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Only in recent times has Australian Rugby regained its pre-1908 place as the major international football code.

but RL is still the most poular game in Australia and the fastest growing game in Britain.

Arnie

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Arnie

This is getting away from things 1914-1918, but Australian Rules is the most popular code of football in Australia. Rugby League is still played by large numbers in Sydney and Brisbane but, despite what the RL-dominated media says, its appeal appears to be be lessening. A well-nigh constant stream of off-field unpleasant incidents hasn't done the code any favours. RL player numbers in rural and regional areas have certainly declined in the past decade or so, while Rugby numbers have increased.

As I said, Rugby is the most popular international code: Aussie Rules doesn't really have an international competition (other than a hybrid game with Ireland); RL internationals struggle to attract anyone in the big cities, so they're played in regional centres; Soccer gets reasonable crowds; major Rugby internationals are sell-outs.

Regards

Gareth

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  • 3 years later...
  • 1 year later...

Dick,

Grateful for Sewell entries on AL Harrison VC, Capt AF Todd and AJ Dingle, all players with my club.

Many thanks

Stephen

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Capt. Arthur James Dingle, 6 E Yorks

Born at Hettom-le-Hole, Durham in 1891, the son of Rev. A. T. Dingle, Rector of Eaglesclife

Educated at Durham School from Sept 1904 to July 1910 (King's Scholarship, 1906; monitor and head of school, 1910; rowed in first crew, Wharton Cup, 1910; in XV, 1907-09; Captain of Gymnasium, 1910) and at Keble College, Oxford (Oxford XV, 1911-12; BA, 1913)

Played center three-quarter for Oxford against Cambridge in 1911

Returned to Durham School as a Junior Master in Sept 1913 and played regularly for the Richmond Club, Surrey and for Durham County in 1913.

Got his English Cap in 1913 against Ireland and in 1914 against Scotland and France

Played for the North of England, 1911-12 and in the Rugby Union's Trial Matches.

Gazetted 2nd Lieut, 6 Bn, E Yorks in Sept 1914

Captain, 9 August 1915

Served at Gallipoli and on 22 August 1915 at Sulva Bay was shot through the head at dawn while occupying a trench that had been captured the previous day.

Sources: The Rugby Football Internationals Roll of Honour; The War Record of Old Dunelmians; Durham School Register, Third Edition; Keble College Register 1870-1925.

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Magnificent as ever. You compile several sources as if they were one entry, and I am grateful for the seamless work behind these posts.

A sad and slightly ghoulish observation - of my Rosslyn Park rugby players, the number who died shot through the head is quite extraordinary. A sad corollary of being a leader to the fore, first over the top, and probably the fate of many 2/Lts, Lts and captains.

best wishes Stephen

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Stephen: Thank you for the kind remarks. Here is what I have on Lt-Cdr. Harrison:

Lt.-Cdr. Arthur Leland Harrison, VC, RN

Born at Torquay on 3 Feb 1886

Educated at Dover College from 1895 to 1900

At Britannia, 1901

Naval Cadet, Sept 02

Lieutenant, RN, Oct 08

Played for United Services (1906 to 1914 and Hampshire (1912-1914) and then for Navy vs. Army in 1914

International Cap for England as forward vs. Ireland and vs. France in 1914

Lt.-Cdr., RN, Oct 16

Present at the Battle of Heligoland, 1916; Dogger Bank and Jutland 1916 on HMS Lion

Mentioned in Despatches for Jutland

Second in command of HMS Vindictive at Zeebrugge on 23 April 1918. Was in command of the storming party from Vindictive on the mole. He was wounded in the head by shell fragments before the landing and was killed on the mole while leading the attack on a machine gun.

VC, London Gazette, 17 March 1919

Sources: The Rugby Football Internationals Roll of Honour; [Dover College War Services, Roll of Honour and Honours and Awards 1914-1918/i];Dover College Register 1871 to 1924.

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Captain Alexander Findlater Todd

Born at Forest Hill, London on 20 Sept 1873

Educated at Mill Hill School from 1885 to 1892 (School Monitor, IX, XV and XI) and at Caius College, Cambridge University from 1892 to 1895 (XI 1893-95; BA, 1895; MA, 1899).

From 1895 to 1900 he played for Blackheath

Got his English Cap against Ireland and Scotland in 1899-1900.

Served with Roberts' Horse in South Africa at Diamond Hill (wounded)

Later played cricket for Berkshire and the London County Cricket Club

Commissioned into the 3rd Bn, Norfolk Regiment

Went to France with the Regiment in October 1914

Captain, April 1915

Died of wounds at Hill 60, Ypres on 20 April 41 at the age of 41.

Mentioned in Despatches.

Sources: The Rugby Football Internationals Roll of Honour; Book of Remembrance and War Record of Mill Hill School 1914-1919; The Register of Mill Hill School, London 1807-1926; War List of the University of Cambridge 1914-1919.

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Kate: Here is the photo of 2nd Lt. Harry Alexander, 1st Batt., Grenadier Guards. I was not sure whether you wanted just the photo or the photo and a synopsis of the write-up on him and Thomas. If you wanted the write-ups let me know and I will post them. Regards. Dick Flory

Hi Dick,

Found this list of international Rugby players Kia ww1 on another forum site, I wonder if there is anybody out there that know about their regiments, how and where they met their end

Australia: Harold Wesley George; died on 10 May 1915

Australia: Bryan Desmond Hughes MC; died on 6 August 1918

Australia: Hubert [Herbert] A Jones; died on 9 July 1918

Australia: Edward Rennix (‘Teddy’) Larkin; died on 25 April 1915

Australia: William George (‘Twit’) Tasker; died on 9 August 1918

Australia: Arthur (‘Jack’) Verge; died on 8 September 1915

Australia: Clarence (‘Doss’) Wallach; died on 22 April 1918

England: Harry Alexander; died on 17 October 1915

England: Henry Berry; died on 9 May 1915

England: Arthur James (‘Mud’) Dingle; died on 22 August 1915

England: Leonard Haigh; died on 6 August 1916

England: Reginald Harold Myburgh Hands; died on 20 April 1918

England: Arthur Leyland VC Harrison; died on 23 April 1918

England: Harold Augustus Hodges; died on 24 March 1918

England: The Reverend Rupert Edward Inglis; died on 18 September 1916

England: Percy Dale (‘Toggie’) Kendall; died on 21 January 1915

England: John Abbott King; died on 9 August 1916

England: Ronald Owen Lagden; died on 1 March 1915

England: Douglas (‘Daniel’) Lambert; died on 13 October 1915

England: Alfred Frederick Maynard; died on 13 November 1916

England: Edgar Robert DSO Mobbs; died on 29 July 1917

England: William Moore Bell Nanson; died on 4 June 1915

England: Arthur Winstanley Newton; died on ??

England: Francis Eckley Oakeley; died on 25 November 1914

England: Robert Lawrence Pillman; died on 9 July 1916

England: Ronald William Poulton (later Poulton-Palmer); died on 5 May 1915

England: John Edward Raphael; died on 11 June 1917

England: Reginald Oscar Schwarz MC; died on 18 November 1918

England: Lancelot Andrew Noel Slocock; died on 9 August 1918

England: Francis Nathaniel Tarr; died on 18 July 1915

England: James Henry Digby (‘Bungy’) Watson; died on 15 October 1914

England: Charles Edward Wilson; died on 17 September 1914

England: Arthur James Wilson; died on 1 July 1917

England: George Eric Burroughs L d’H Dobbs; died on 17 June 1917

England & Great Britain: Alexander Findlater Todd; died on 21 April 1915

France : Marie Jean Baptiste Joseph (Joé) Anduran; died on 2 October 1914

France: René Emile Henri Boudreaux; died on 8 September 1915

France: Maurice Jean-Paul Boyau; died on 16 September 1918

France: Marcel Burgun; died on 2 September 1916

France: Jean Jacques Conilh de Beyssac; died on 11 June 1918

France: Paul Henri Decamps; died on 27 June 1915

France: Julien Dufau; died on December 1916

France: Paul Edouard Dupré; died on 15 May 1915

France: Albert Eutrope; died on 26 May 1915

France: Marc Giacardy; died on 20 August 1917

France: Pierre Guilleman; died on 9 October 1915

France: Maurice Hedembaigt; died on 5 August 1918

France: Emmanuel Iguiniz; died on 20 September 1914

France: Daniel Ihingoue; died on 16 April 1917

France: Henri Emmanuel Isaac; died on 20 June 1917

France: André Lacassagne; died on 11 November 1916

France: Gaston Lane; died on 23 September 1914

France: Jean Aimé Larribau; died on 31 December 1916

France: Marcel Legrain; died on 27 June 1915

France: Xavier Adrien Alfred (‘Gastofer’) Mayssonnie; died on 6 September 1914

France: Jean François Poeydebasque; died on 21 December 1914

France: Theódore Varvier; died.

Great Britain: Charles Young Adamson; died on 17 September 1918

Great Britain and Australia: Blair Inskip Swannell; died on 25 April 1915

Ireland: Jasper Brett; died on 4 February 1917

Ireland: Robert Balderstone Burgess; died on 9 December 1915

Ireland: Ernest Cotton MC Deane; died on 25 September 1915

Ireland: William Victor Edwards; died on 29 December 1917

Ireland: Basil Maclear; died on 24 May 1915

Ireland: Vincent McNamara; died on 29 November 1915

Ireland: Albert Lewis DSO Stewart; died on 4 October 1917

Ireland: Alfred Squire Taylor; died on 31 July 1917

New Zealand: James Alexander Steenson Baird; died on 7 June 1917

New Zealand: Robert Stanley Black; died on 21 September 1917

New Zealand: Henry (‘Norkey’) Dewar; died on 19 August 1915

New Zealand: Ernest Henry Dodd; died on 11 September 1918

New Zealand: Albert Joseph (‘Doolan’) Downing; died on 8 August 1915

New Zealand: David Gallaher; died on 4 October 1917

New Zealand: Eric Tristan Harper; died on 30 April 1918

New Zealand: James McNeece; died on 21 June 1917

New Zealand: Alexander James Ridland; died on 5 November 1918

New Zealand: George Maurice Victor Sellars; died on 7 June 1917

New Zealand: Reginald Taylor; died on 20 June 1917

New Zealand: Hubert Sydney (‘Jum’) Turtill; died on 9 April 1918

Scotland: Cecil Halliday Abercrombie; died on 31 May 1916

Scotland: David McLaren Bain; died on 3 June 1915

Scotland: Patrick Charles Bentley Blair; died on 6 July 1915

Scotland: John Argentine Campbell; died on 1 December 1917

Scotland: William Campbell Church; died on 28 June 1915

Scotland: Walter Michael Dickson; died on 26 September 1915

Scotland: John Henry Dods; died on 31 December 1915

Scotland: Walter Torrie MC Forrest; died on 19 April 1917

Scotland: Rowland Fraser; died on 1 July 1916

Scotland: William (R?) Elphinstone Gordon; died on 30 August 1918

Scotland: James Young Milne (‘JY’) Henderson; died on 31 July 1917

Scotland: David Dickie Howie; died on 19 January 1916

Scotland: James Laidlaw Huggan; died on 16 September 1914

Scotland: William Ramsay Hutchison; died on 22 March 1918

Scotland: George A W Lamond; died on 25 February 1918

Scotland: Eric (‘Puss’) Milroy; died on 18 July 1916

Scotland: Thomas Arthur Nelson; died on 9 April 1917

Scotland: James Pearson; died on 22 May 1915

Scotland: Lewis Robertson; died on 3 November 1914

Scotland: James (‘Jummy’) Ross; died on 31 October 1914

Scotland: Andrew Ross; died on 6 April 1916

Scotland: Ronald Francis Simson; died on 14 September 1914

Scotland: Stephen Sebastian Leonard (‘Beak’) Steyn; died on 8 December 1917

Scotland: Walter Riddell Sutherland; died on 4 October 1918

Scotland: Frederick Harding (‘Tanky’) Turner; died on 10 January 1915

Scotland: Albert Luvian Wade; died on 28 April 1917

Scotland: William Middleton Wallace; died on 22 August 1915

Scotland: John George Will; died on 25 March 1917

Scotland: John Skinner Wilson; died on 31 May 1916

Scotland: Eric Templeton Young; died on 28 June 1915

Scotland/GB: David Revell (‘Darkie’) Bedell-Sivright; died on 5 September 1915

South Africa: Septimus Heyns Ledger; died on 13 April 1917

South Africa: Tobias Mortimer (‘Toby’) Moll; died on 14 July 1916

South Africa: Jan Willem Hunter (‘Jackie’) Morkel; died on 15 May 1916

South Africa: Gerald W (‘Tommy’) Thompson; died on 20 June 1916

Wales: William Purdon Geen; died on 31 July 1915

Wales: Brinley Richard Lewis; died on 2 April 1917

Wales: Frederick Leonard Perrett; died on 1 December 1918

Wales: Louis Augustus Phillips; died on 14 March 1916

Wales: Charles Meyrick Pritchard; died on 14 August 1916

Wales: Charles Gerald Taylor; died on 24 January 1915

Wales: Edward John Richard (‘Dick’) Thomas; died on 7 July 1916

Wales: Horace Wyndham Thomas; died on 3 September 1916

Wales: David Watts; died on 14 July 1916

Wales: David Westacott; died on 27 August 1917

Wales: Richard Davies Garnons Williams; died on 28 September 1915

Wales: John Lewis Williams; died on 11 July 1916

Wales & Great Britain: Phillip Dudley Waller; died on 14 December 1917

Regards

Will Daies

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  • 2 weeks later...
Found this list of international Rugby players Kia ww1 on another forum site, I wonder if there is anybody out there that know about their regiments, how and where they met their end

Will Daies

Will,

I had started a thread a while back but it never took off:

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...alists&st=0

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Hi Dick

I've never come across this particular thread of yours before but I'd be very grateful if you could post the entries and photos for Major Roland Gordon RFA and Surgeon James Watson RN both ex King's Canterbury. I have a rather poor picture of each but they are poor! Also be interested in anything else it might have on them.

Hope to have a couple more RFA men from the school archives to pass on soon to add to those I sent you a while back

Thanks as ever John

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Major Roland Elphinstone Gordon, MC, RA

Born at Selangor, Straits Settlements on 22 Jan 1893, the son of George Dalrymple Gordon

Educated at King's School, Canterbury (XI, 1909-11; XV, 1909-10;Fives Pair, 1909-11) and at RMA, Woolwich (centre three-quarter on Shop XV, Captain, 1912)

Played for Scotland against France, Ireland and Wales in 1913

Posted to 82nd Battery at Kirki in 1913

Later played in India

Went to Mesopotamia in November 1914 and severely wounded during Summer 1915

Invalided home to Devon

During his convalescence he was posted to the RFA Cadet School at Exeter and played for the Cadet XV during Winter 1916-1917

Wounded in 1917 and 1918

Military Cross, London Gazette, 3 June 1918

Severely wounded in France in August 1918 while OC, C Battery, 251st Brigade, RFA

DOW in England on 30 Aug 1918, aged 25.

Source: Rugby Football Internationals Roll of Honour; King's School, Canterbury Register 1859-1931.

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Temp. Surgeon James Henry Digby Watson, RN

Born at Southsea on 31 August 1890, the son of Engineer Commander J H Watson, RN of 8 Fernwood Road, Jesmond, Newcastle-on-Tyne

Educated at King's School, Canterbury from 1899-1906 (1st XV); at Edinburgh Academy from 1906-1908 (1st XV; XI); and Student of Medicine at Edinburgh University from 1908-1913 (MB, ChB, 1913).

Captain of the Edinburgh Academicals as centre three-quarter

Played for Blackheath and London Hospital

Reserve three-quarter for Scotland in 1912-13

Represented Scotland against Ireland at Athletics and won the Long Jump with 22 feet, 9 1/2 inches.

Won the High Jump at Edinburgh Academy every year he was there

Won the Edinburgh University Middleweights Boxing Competition

In 1914 played for England against Scotland, Wales and France

Appointed as a RN Surgeon in August 1914

Drowned when HMS Hawke was sunk in the North Sea on 16 October 1914

Sources: Rugby Football Internationals Roll of Honour; University of Edinburgh Roll of Honour; The Edinburgh Academy Register 1824-1914; War Supplement to Edinburgh Academy Register; King's School, Canterbury Register 1859-1931.

If you would like higher resolution photos of either Watson or Gordon PM your email address and I will send them to you.

Regards, Dick Flory

post-765-1260602961.jpg

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Dick

Many thanks for the photos. I have you email so I'll send a couple of artillerymen I have and see if you mind sending the high res versions

Thanks again John

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I was lucky enough to obtain a copy of the Rugby Internationals Roll of Honour for the Great War and it arrived today. A great book with interesting biographies and nice portraits. Below is a list of the names of the officers and men who are in the volume:

Lt CH Abercrombie, RN

2Lt Harry Alexander, Grenadier Gds.

Cpt D McL Bain, Gordon Highlanders

Pvt JAS Baird, NZ

Surg DR Bedell-Sivright, RN

Cpl Henry Berry, Gloucester Rgt.

Cpl RS Black, Canterbury Bn, NZ

2Lt PCB Blair, Rifle Bde

2Lt JT Brett, R Dublin Fus.

Cpt, R B Burgess, RE

Lt JA Campbell, Inniskilling Dgns

Cpt WC Church, 1/8 Scottish Rfl.

Cpt EC Deane, MC, RAMC

Sjt Henry Dewar, Wellington Mtd Rlfs

Lt WM Dickson, A & S Hldrs

Cpt AJ Dingle, E Yorks

LCol GEB Dobbs, RE

Sjt Albert Downing, Wellington Bn, NZ

Cpt WV Edwards, R Irish Fus

Maj WT Forrest, MC, KOSB

Cpt Rowland Fraser, Rifle Bde

Sjt David Gallaher, Auckland Bn, NZ

2Lt WP Geen, KRRC

Maj RE Gordon, RA

Cadet Off. Leonard Haigh, OTC, ASC

Cpt RHM Hands, SA Arty

LCdr AL Harrison, VC, RN

Lt JYM Henderson, Highland Lt Infy

Cpt HA Hodges, 3rd Monmouths

2Lt DD Howie, RFA

Lt JL Huggan, RAMC

Rev RE Inglis, CF

Lt PD Kendall, Liverpool Rgt

LCpl JA King, Liverpool Rgt

Cpt RO Lagden, KRRC

Lt Douglas Lambert, The Buffs

Sjt SH Ledger, SA Infy

Maj BR Lewis, RFA

Cpt Basil Maclear, R Dublin Fus

2Lt Vincent M'Namara, RE

Pte James M'Neece, NZ

Lt AF Maynard, RNVR

Lt Eric Milroy, Black Watch

LCol ER Mobbs, DSO, Northants

2Lt TM Moll, Leicestershire Rgt

Tpr JWH Morkel, 1st Mtd Bde Scouts Corps, SA

Sjt WMB Nanson, Manchester Rgt

Cpt TA Nelson, 1st Lothian and Border Hse.

Lt FE Oakeley, RN

Lt RWP Palmer, R Berkshire Rgt

Pte James Pearson, 9 Royal Scots

Sjt LA Phillips, R Fusiliers

Cpt RL Pillman, Royal W Kent Rgt

Cpt CM Pritchard, S Wales Borderers

Lt JE Raphael, W Riding Rgt

Cpt Lewis Robertson, Cameron Hldrs

Sjt Andrew Ross, 29th Canadians

Pte James Ross, London Scottish Rgt

Maj RO Schwarz, KRRC

Pte GMV Sellars, Auckland Bn, NZ

Lt RF Simson, RFA

2Lt LAN Slocock, Liverpool Rgt

Maj Robertson Smyth, RAMC

Maj AL Stewart, DSO, R Irish Rifles

Lt SSL Steyn, RFA

2Lt WR Sutherland, Seaforth Hldrs

Lt FN Tarr, Leicestershire Rgt

Cpt AS Taylor, RAMC

Engr Cpt CG Taylor, RB

Cpl Reginald Taylor, NZ

2Lt HW Thomas, Rifle Bde

CSM Richard Thomas, R Welsh Rgt

Cpt AF Todd, Norfolk Rgt

Lt FH Turner, Liverpool Scottish

Lt AL Wade, Middlesex Rgt

Lt WM Wallace, Middlesex Rgt, attd. RFC

2Lt PD Waller, SAHA

T/Surg JHD Watson, RN

Pte David Westacott, Gloucester Rgt

Lt JG Will, Leinster Rgt

Cpt JL Williams, Welsh Rgt

LCol RDG Williams, Royal Fusiliers

Cpt CE Wilson, R West Surrey Rgt

Lt FR Wilson, Auckland Bn, NZ

LCdr JS Wilson, RN

Cpt ET Young, 8th Scottish Rifles

Regards. Dick Flory

Hi Dick

Would it be possible to get a copy of the Biography and photo of Lt John Edward Rapheal as it would be of great interest to me, also if anybody would have the War Diary for 18th Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps for the date he was wounded he was wounded at Messines Ridge and died of wounds 11/06/1917, any help in either of these would be of great help. Kindest Regards DaveC

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  • 1 month later...

Evening Dick

Sorry to bother again you but would you kindly look up Captain F G Glenday 12th Northumberland Fus and 70th Sqdn RFC please whenever you have the time.

He attended Keble College Oxford.

I become even more envious of your collection with every book you add to it!

Many thanks

Alan Wallace

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Sorry Dick - I drifted off at a tangent - I would be obliged If you could look F G Glenday up for me in the Keble book.

I was just once again blown away by your library!

Cheers

Alan Wallace

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Dick

Can you let me have details of the title of the book and publisher.

It would be greatly appreciated.

Pete

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  • 4 months later...

Dick,

could i trouble you for info on Lt Col GEB Dobbs and if there is a picture i would really appreciate it

regards Martin

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  • 5 years later...

And just to round things off - a photo of Lieut. Stephen Sebastian Lombard Steyn, RFA a South African whose father was a cousin of President Steyn of the Orange Free State and who got his International Cap in March 1911 playing for Scotland vs. England, nine months before he received his Blue playing for Oxford vs. Cambridge. Regards. Dick Flory

Dick,

As requested, here are the 1911 and 1912 OURFC XV team portraits showing Steyn ...

gallery_20192_897_64556.jpgpost-20192-0-04369300-1443219043_thumb.j

gallery_20192_897_52149.jpgpost-20192-0-93857100-1443219055_thumb.j

I have mailed you about the other matter.

Cheers!

Mark

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