War Diary 1/10th King's (Liverpool) - Rugby Legends

[CarylW]

More about P D Kendall. Came across this lurking in my files

Birkenhead News January 30th 1915

Famous Park Footballer killed

P D Kendall of the Liverpool Scottish

'Last evening the news circulated in Birkenhead that P D Kendall, the famous Rugby club and Cheshire County and England player, in France with the Liverpool Scottish, had been killed in action. Unhappily the report proved to be only too well founded, for we all are informed that Mrs F H Kendall of Dalehurst Rock Ferry, the soldier-sportsman's mother, last night received official intimation of the death of her son. Particulars are not yet to hand. Mr P D Kendall held commissioned rank in the Liverpool Scottish, and went to the front about two months ago, just after the death in action of Captain Twentyman. He ranked as acting captain. The gallant officer married, four years ago, Miss Catherine Higginson, youngest daughter of Mr H B Higginson of Rock Ferry and has two children.
Our Sports Editor writes:-

Lieut. P.D. Kendal, who is reported killed in action, was a member of the well-known firm of Liverpool solicitors, Banks, Kendall, and Taylor. Mr Kendall was educated at Tonbridge school and eventually entered Cambridge University, where he had a successful scholastic career, and took his B.A.
In Rugby football he was one of the greatest players of his time, and although he dropped out of the more serious games, he continued to coach the younger generation at Birkenhead Park Club up to the end of last season.
Lieut. Kendall played for Cheshire on thirty-six occasions and in 1900 was awarded his North cap, appearing in the subsequent seasons of 1901 and 1903. His play on his first trial secured him his international cap against Scotland at Blackheath.
In the England v The Rest match played in Somerset in 1901, Lieut. Kendall scored a meritorious try, and played an important part in the seniors'
heavy score of 24 points. The next season Mr Kendall was elected captain of the England team v Scotland at Richmond, where he again displayed that famous grit which kept him in the forefront of great players. In 1902 he played against Wales, and in the spring of 1903 P D Kendall and F C Hulme, the latter being his club colleague and equally famous international, were partners against Durham, who were badly beaten as the result of their effective combination. In 1904-5 Lieut. Kendall led the Rest against Kent (champion county), and appeared for Cheshire against the famous "All Blacks". No player did better service to the amateur code than Lieut. Kendall who was a leading light in the Cheshire Union, of which he was vice-president. A good sportsman, he leaves a host of friends and admirers and will be remembered as a splendid captain of the Birkenhead Park Club and a man of the true type of English gentleman'

I've also another article from a later copy of the Birkenhead News

Caryl

[CarylW]

This article about the death of Lieut. P.D Kendall was in the Birkenhead News a few days later

Death of Lieut. P D Kendall

Killed by German sniper

'The announcement contained in Saturday's "News" of the death at the front of Lieut. P.D.Kendall, of the Liverpool Scottish, created a profound feeling of sorrow and sympathy in all parts of the town and among all sections of the public. The gallant lieutenant, who was an Acting Captain with the "Scottish!" and went out to take the place of the late Captain Twentyman, was home for a few days leave only a fortnight ago, and spent a happy time with his wife and their two children. He was married only four years ago to Miss Catherine Higginson, daughter of Mr H.R.Higginson. of Rock Ferry, and the utmost sympathy is felt for the young widow so tragically bereaved
Very little information has yet come to hand as to the manner of the gallant lieutenant's death, but it is known that he fell victim to a German sniper.
Lieut. Kendall was a member of the well-known firm of Liverpool solicitors Banks, Kendall, and Taylor. He was educated at Tonbridge School, and eventually entered Cambridge University, where he had a successful scholastic career, and took his B.A..
In Rugby football he was one of the greatest players of his time, and although he dropped out of the more serious games, he continued to coach the younger generation of the Birkenhead Park Club up to the end of last season. Lieut. Kendall played for Cheshire on 36 occasions, and in 1900 was awarded his North cap, appearing in the subsequent seasons of 1901 and 1903
His play in his first trial secured him his international cap against Scotland, and reached the summit of his career in being elected captain of the English fifteen.
Our Sporting Editor contributes the following appreciation of Percy Dale Kendall :-
The death of that prince amongst sportsmen, "Toggie" Kendall, of Birkenhead Park, was referred to in Saturday's "News" (writes "C.C"), but as one who knew him intimately, a final word on the passing of a noble life will not be out of season. Lieutenant Kendall gave twenty years of what very often was sacrificing service to Birkenhead Paek and the game of Rugby football in general - first as a Tonbridge School boy, then as a Cambridge graduate, and finally as a captain in turn of Birkenhead Park and Cheshire County and an England team. To know P.D.Kendall was to be associated with all that was good in the common life. His ideals were not acquired, they were inbred, and he was one of nature's own gentleman. In the old days "Toggie" was at the apex of his fame, we had met in almost every great centre of "Rugger". At Newport, Twickenham, Edinburgh, and Dublin we had discussed the big game of the afternoon, and when he gave up first class football and settled down to coach the young 'uns and give his help to the County Union he was always the same good natured fellow. Birkenhead Park football has produced many great men in its 45 years of existence (1870-1915) but few have gained a higher rank of excellence than P.D Kendall. A few months ago I had discussed the prospect of the coming season. Today he lies low, the target of a sniper, the victim of a German bullet. I'm sure the whole....'.(unfortunately my camera at that time didn't catch the last sentence)

His obituary from The Times, Tuesday, Feb 02, 1915
'Fallen officers
Lieut Percy Dale KENDALL of the Liverpool Scottish, whose death was announced on Saturday, was killed near Ypres on January 27th, son of the late Mr F. H. Kendall and Mrs Kendall of Rock Ferry, and was married. Mr Kendall was a member of the Birkenhead Park Rugby Football Club, played for England against Scotland in 1901 and 1903, and against Wales in 1902. A memorial service will be held at St Nicholas's Liverpool on Friday at 12.30p.m'.

[Fattyowls]

We visited the memorials to Percy and Fred last Thursday lunchtime to pay our respects. We had a couple of goes to find the headstones as they aren't in the little CWGC plot at the front of the church but tucked around the side; it's a nice spot even if it's unlikely that much of their remains are in situ sadly.The sheer destruction of the churchyard and the village in the 1918 fighting is shown in a contemporary photograph posted by Roel in the view from Kemmel post. My friend Kevin took the photographs so I'll post them when he sends them over.

Pete.

[Andrew Hesketh]

Thanks for the interesting additional info Caryl.

Pete - many thanks. Hope the trip went well.