This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Bedell-Sivright, David Revell (‘Darkie’) played for Scotland and Great Britain Scotland Internationals: 22 : 1900 W- ; 1901 W+ I+ E+ ; 1902 W- I- E- ; 1903 W+ I+ ; 1904 W- I+ (2t) E+ ; 1905 NZ- ; 1906 W- I+ (1t) E- SA+ ; 1907 W+ I+ E+ ; 1908 W- I- ; Great Britain Internationals: 1 : 1904 A+ David Bedell-Sivright was born on 8 December 1880, in North Queensferry. Played as a Forward for: Fettes College, Cambridge University (Blue 1899-1902), Edinburgh University, Barbarians Profession: Medicine (Edinburgh University – where he is commemorated on the Roll of Honour); BA (Cambs). He spent some time as a stock rearer in Australia. Remarks: The Scottish heavyweight boxing champion. He was described as being a giant of a man and, one night following some riotous celebrations after an international, is reputed to have rugby tackled a carthorse in Princes Street, Edinburgh. On another occasion, he is reputed to have lain across tram tracks for an hour, stopping traffic – no policeman dared to move him! In 1902 he played with his brother John v Wales. He toured South Africa with the Great Britain team in 1903. In 1904 he was appointed as Captain of the Great Britain tour to Australia and New Zealand. A fellow team member was Blair Swannell of Northampton, who was to be killed in action with the Australian Imperial Force at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. During the tour match v Newcastle, NSW, the referee, Mr H Dolan, sent off British player Denys Douglas Dobson (Oxford University and England) for allegedly addressing an obscene remark to him after awarding two free kicks to the home side. Bedell-Sivright then took the rest of the team off the field. A discussion was held involving Mr Dolan, Bedell-Sivright and Edward Morgan, the tourists’ vice-captain (Guy’s Hospital and Wales – later to achieve renown as the try scorer in Wales’ 3-0 victory over the 1905 All Blacks), during which the visitors stated that they would return to the field only if Dobson was also allowed to return. However, Mr Dolan was adamant that a player sent off must stay off. After a delay of 20 minutes, Bedell-Sivright had to lead his players back onto the field to avoid the loss of the match (eventually won by the tourists 17-3). After the match, Bedell-Sivright claimed that he regarded the referee’s decision as a reflection on the personal character of the whole team. Dobson denied the offence, and said that the referee had his back to the guilty player at the time, i.e. a case of mistaken identity had occurred. In a later hearing, Dobson was cleared of the charge of using indecent language, but found guilty of using an improper expression, without further penalty. [Dobson became District Resident at Ngama, Nyasaland, and was killed on 10 July 1916 after being charged by a rhinoceros.] Bedell-Sivright played in the first international v Australia, in Sydney, (won 17-0) but not in the second (won 17-3) nor the third (won 16-0). In New Zealand, Bedell-Sivright broke a leg in the opening match of the section v South Canterbury, Canterbury and West Coast (won by GB 5-3), and did not play again on tour. After Great Britain lost the international v New Zealand (9-3) he admitted his team had been beaten by a better side, but thought that they were tired and out of sorts after all their travelling. He also suggested that the lavish NZ hospitality could have damaged their cause. In The All Blacks, T P McLean states that “From the start of the visit to New Zealand, Bedell-Sivright was patronising in attitude. By word and manner, he conveyed disparagement of the Colonials.” After New Zealand’s victory over Great Britain [he] “tried to diminish it, declaring in typically sour terms, that if New Zealand were to visit the Old Country, its players might succeed against underdog teams but would stand no chance of defeating the four national sides.” Played for the Barbarians v Cardiff (10-4) and Devonport (7-0) in 1903, v Cardiff (0-8), Devonport (8-19) and Plymouth (8-26) in 1904, and captained the Barbarians v Cardiff (0-17) in 1907. War service: Surgeon, Royal Navy. He died of Septicaemia on active service on 5 September 1915, at Gallipoli, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, UK [Panel M.B., B. A. 7].
In 1915 Bedell-Sivright was a surgeon serving with the Medical Unit of the Royal Naval Division stationed at Gallipoli during the Dardanelles Campaign of First World War. After a period onshore in the trenches while serving at an advanced dressing station, he was bitten by an unidentified insect. He complained of being fatigued and was taken offshore and transferred to the hospital ship HMHS Dunluce Castle ... two days later - on September 5 he died of septicaemia and was buried at sea. Scotland Surgeon David Revell Bedell-Sivright Over rugby’s long history, some players, events and games have become the stuff of legend, where fact and fiction combine to make a great tale. Many of these stories centre on post match celebrations, and perhaps two of the best anecdotes are linked with David Bedell - Sivright. David was a large, physical and skilful player, considered to be one of the best forwards of his day. It is alleged that one night, following some riotous celebrations after an international, David rugby tackled a cart-horse in Princess Street, Edinburgh, and that on another occasion he lay down on the cable tram rails in the city and held up traffic for an hour, no policeman being foolhardy enough to disturb him! David may have liked to enjoy himself away from the rugby field but on the pitch he was a serious player who led by example. He was also a keen boxer and was Scottish Amateur Heavyweight Champion in 1909. But it was in rugby that his real talent laid. From school rugby, to captain of both Edinburgh and Cambridge Universities’ first teams, David went on to play for Scotland on 22 occasions between 1900 and 1908 - their most successful ever period. David also went on two British Lions tours, captaining the second tour in 1904. In 1915, while serving with the Medical Unit of the Royal Naval Division during the Gallipoli campaign, David contracted Septicaemia, a disease of the blood. He died on 5 September and was buried at sea. He is commemorated by name on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial http://www.cwgc.org/admin/files/Rugby leaflet.pdf back row ... on the left !
Please see attached images of David Bedell-Sivright in Lions colours (hoops) and in official team photo at Edinburgh University 1906/07 and 1907/08
