Rugby club remembers its fallen war heroes

Oct 22 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

Rugby club remembers its fallen war heroes

A LIVERPOOL rugby club has commemorated the courage of its fallen war heroes.

Nineteen former Sefton Rugby Club players killed in action or honoured for bravery in the two World Wars were remembered for their devotion to the sports club and ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Members of the West Derby club, which is marking its centenary season, asked the Commanding Officer of its local Royal Artillery regiment to unveil a plaque bearing the names of the 19 ex-players, all of whom played in the full back position at one time.

The memorial will take pride of place above a fireplace in the Leyfield Road clubhouse. Club member Ged Scully explained how important it was for the club to recognise the bravery each man showed.

He said: “We were founded in 1907 so this is our 100th season.

“When one of our members, Geoff Dailey, started researching the club’s history, we found there were some amazing and emotional stories of our ex-players and the bravery that they showed.

“Every one of the fallen soldiers played in the full back position at some point.

“It is not surprising that the full back is the last man standing at the back staring at 15 men coming at them.”

Among the men remembered in the new memorial is Lance Corporal Albert Ernest Hickling, an assistant master at St Lawrence School, who died in France in WW1.

A few days before he was wounded, he wrote: “I am afraid we are bound to have losses in the next few days and if I am among the number I hope my friends will remember what an infinitely small thing the loss of one life is in comparison with the principle for which we are fighting.”

Other astounding acts of bravery have also been discovered in newspaper reports of the time.

Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Whelan, Commanding Officer of 103 Regiment Royal Artillery, which has its HQ in St Helens, as well as a training base in Aigburth, unveiled the plaque.

The 103 Regiment brought one of its mighty 105mm Light Guns, which fired a blank round to start the match taking place between Sefton and Orrell Anvils RFC.

carolineinnes