The ambitious project will see a monument erected in France next year as a permanent reminded of the sacrifices made by so many brave men. There will also be a Book of Remembrance in which the names of players from clubs around the world will be recorded.
“Considering that our players comprise . . . the very pick of men eligible for service in the Army, and considering that Welshmen have the reputation for not being wanting either in patriotism or pluck, we feel we shall not appeal in vain . . .
If only every man in every First XV in Wales were to enlist, what a magnificent body there would be at the service of our country, and even then there would still be plenty of players left to enable the game to be played as usual . . .
We therefore appeal with confidence to all Welsh Rugby Football players, untrammelled by imperative domestic ties, not to allow any selfish reason to prevent them from answering the urgent call of their King and Country.”
So read the appeal from the Welsh Football Union to its member clubs after the outbreak of war in 1914. It did not fall on deaf ears! Players from clubs all over the country stepped up to the mark to do their duty in World War 1.
There were 13 Welsh international players who fell during the four year conflict. The first to fall was the 51-year-old, Ruabon-born Charles Taylor. An Engineer Captain in the Royal Navy, he had won nine caps between 1884-87.
He died in the Battle of Dogger Bank while serving on HMS Tiger. The full list of Welsh international players who made the ultimate sacrifice is listed below, but while their names are recorded, what is uncertain is how many players from clubs around Wales, and across the wider rugby playing world, were lost during WW1.
In September next year it is intended to honour every rugby player who lost his life during the great conflict by unveiling a specially commissioned Monument in France dedicated to their sacrifice. A Rugby Players’ Book of Remembrance will also be opened with the aim of recording the names of as many rugby players as possible who were killed. The memorial is being designed by the former French Grand Slam skipper, Jean-Pierre Rives.
The proposed site for the World Rugby Memorial is at Craonnelle, Chemin des Dames, France. It will be based on land owned by the Conseil Department L’Aisne, and will be near the Basque Monument. In the lead up to the World Rugby Memorial weekend (12-14 May, 2017) there will be a rugby event for Under 14s in May based in Albert. There will also be a rugby festival at RC Amiens, a 30 minute drive from the Welsh Dragon memorial at Mametz Wood.
There are almost 150 international players from countries across the world who are known to have died during WW1, but an appeal via the respective World Rugby Unions to their member clubs is slowly, very slowly, unearthing more names of players who served and died.
The World Rugby Memorial committee wants to ensure every player is honoured and remembered. So far, the response from clubs in Wales has been patchy, although a lot of work has been undertaken. Newport have listed eight players, Swansea have uncovered 19 and Penarth 17.
The Neath secretary, Mike Price, has uncovered 18 players from his club who died and is continuing with his painstaking research to ensure nobody is forgotten. Llangennech RFC have listed brothers Evan and William Close among their four fallen players, while Pontypool RFC have listed the three sons of T.P.H Watkins. What a loss to one family!
“This is a project that has the full backing of the WRU and we are doing as much as e can to support the great work of John Dennison in ensuring the name of every rugby-playing servicemen who was killed in this terrible war is remembered,” said Peter Owens, the WRU archivist.
“We have sent John detailed information on the 13 Welsh players who died in WW1 together with the names of players from about 20 of our Clubs. We have sent two requests to our 300+ Clubs for information of players who appear on their ‘Roll of Honour’.
“As matters stand many of the Welsh rugby players who laid down their lives for King and Country during 1914-1918 will not be remembered, while the dead of other countries will be more comprehensively reported. That is something we desperately want to avoid.
“In December 1918 the WFU, as it was then, resolved to create a ‘Roll of Honour’ of those Welsh players who died in WW1. Sadly, after 18 months the idea was abandoned, seemingly because Clubs failed to supply the requested information to the Union.
“Now, almost 100 years on, we have another chance to ensure these brave men are not forgotten. It would be marvellous to have a late rush before the Monument is erected next year.”
If your Club would like to contribute to the project then please contact Peter Owens at the WRU (powens@wru.wales). And if any Club members or fans know of details of their grandparents or great grandparents who died during WW1, and which clubs they played for, then please pass on the information.
WELSH RUGBY INTERNATIONALS’ ROLL OF HONOUR FOR WW1
Eng Cpt. Charles Taylor, Royal Navy (HMS Tiger)
Died: 24/01/1915, Dogger Bank
Club: London Welsh
2nd Lt. Billy Geen, Kings Royal Rifle Corps
Died: 31/07/1915, Hooge
Club: Newport
Sgt. Louis Phillips, Royal Fusiliers
Died: 14/03/1916, Cuinchy
Club: Newport
Sgt. Major Dick Thomas, South Wales Borderers
Died: 07/07/1916, Mametz Wood
Club: Mountain Ash
Cpt. Johnnie Williams, Welsh Regiment
Died: 12/07/1916, Corbie
Cub: Cardiff
Sgt. David Watts, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
Died: 14/07/1916, Bazentein Ridge
Club: Maesteg
Cpt. Charlie Pritchard, South Wales Borderers
Died: 14/08/1916, Chocques
Club: Newport
2nd Lt. Horace Thomas, Rifle Brigade
Did: 03/09/1916, Ancle
Club: Swansea
Lt Col. Richard Garnons-Williams, Royal Fusiliers
Died: 27/09/1916, Loos
Club: Newport
Lt. Brinley Lewis, Royal Field Artillery
Died: 02/04/1917, Boesingle
Club: Swansea
Pte. Dai Westacott, Gloucestershire Regiment
Died: 28/08/1917, Wieltje
Club: Cardiff
Lt. Phil Waller, Royal Garrison Artillery
Died: 14/12/1917, Beaumetz-Les-Cabine
Club: Newport
Lt. Fred Perrett, Welsh Guards
Died: 01/12/1918, Bolounge
Club: Neath
