This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, 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 Ashcroft, Alec Hutchinson DSO played for England Internationals: 1: 1909 A- Alec Ashcroft was born on 18 October 1887, in Liverpool Played as a Fullback/Wing for: Birkenhead School, Cambridge University, Birkenhead Park, Blackheath, Edinburgh Wanderers, Cheshire Profession: Assistant Master Fettes College 1910-1914; Headmaster 1919-1945 War service: T/Major, 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, 33rd Brigade, 11th Division, in Gallipoli, Egypt and France; Mentioned in Despatches on 7 July 1916, 14 February 1917 and 28 December 1918. DSO Gazetted 1 January 1919. Ordine della Corona d’Italia (4th Class) He died on 8 April 1963 at Bath.
AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER T./Maj. Alec Hutchinson Ashcroft, 7th Bn., S. (Staffs. R) http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/issues/31092/supplements/17/page.pdf
Gareth, Blue's register:- ASHCROFT, Alec Hitchinson. Born 1887. Educated at Birkenhead School and Caius College, Cambridge. Played in Cambridge Fifteen 1908, 1909. International Football, England v. Australia 1909. Assistant Master at Fettes College, Edinburgh. Address: Burwood, Waterford Road, Oxton, Cheshire; and Fettes College, Edinburgh. Hutchinson is the right player sitting on the floor in this 1908 Cambridge Fifteen. Someone has borrowed my book on D.S.O.'s so cannot give you his entry in that as yet. Andy
