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 Gracie, Archibald Leslie MC played for Scotland Internationals: 13 : 1921 F- W+ I- E+ ; 1922 F= W= I+ E- ; 1923 F+ W+ (1t) I+ E- (1t) ; 1924 F- Archibald Gracie was born on 15 October 1896 in Columbo, Ceylon. Played as a Centre for: Eltham College, Oxford University, Harlequins, Manchester Profession: War service: Second Lieutenant, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. MC Gazetted 17 September 1917: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as Battalion Signalling Officer. Throughout an intense bombardment he continued to show the very greatest coolness and gallantry, doing his utmost to maintain communications by every means in his power under circumstances of the greatest difficulty, and with complete disregard for his own safety. He also did exceptionally fine work later in the day when he had been put in command of a tunnelling company, keeping them steady, and finally enabling them to withdraw across a river by his splendid personal example of coolness and cheerfulness during a very trying time.” Remarks: He was carried shoulder high by Welsh spectators after scoring the brilliant try which won the 3 February 1923 international. The Scots were down 6-8 when they won a scrum on the Welsh “25” in the last minute of play. The try involved an overhead pass, a diagonal scything run, a final dummy pass to future Olympic sprinter Eric Liddell, and a perilous run back inside along the dead ball line with defenders in close pursuit. When he grounded the ball one of his boots struck a small boy sitting behind the dead ball line, who lost some teeth. He was asked to play one last match prior to retirement: Cardiff v Harlequins at Cardiff Arms Park, Easter Monday 1929. He died on 2 August 1982 in Northamptonshire
His papers are at Liddell Hart Centre presented by his family in 1995 http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cats/21/471.htm
