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 Hill, Sir Basil Alexander KBE CB DSO JP played for England Internationals: 9 : 1903 I- S- ; 1904 W= I+ ; 1905 W- NZ- ; 1906 SA= ; 1907 F+ (1c) W- Basil Hill was born on 23 April 1880 Played as a Forward for: Newenheim College Heidelberg, Royal Naval Engineering College Keyham, The Army, United Services Portsmouth, Blackheath, Barbarians, Kent Profession: Royal Marine Artillery from 1897; Army Ordnance Department 1908. Eventually a Major General. War service: Served with Royal Marine Artillery during the Siege of Tsingtao in 1914 and later at Gallipoli. (Mentioned in Despatches) and Egyptian Expeditionary Force (Mentioned in Despatches twice). DSO 1 January 1917 and brevet Lieutenant Colonel. Remarks: Played for Kent to win County Championship 1904. Played for Barbarians: v Cardiff (0-9) v Newport (0-4) in 1901; v Swansea (0-17) v Cardiff (6-19) in 1902; v Swansea (0-28) v Cardiff (10-4) v Devonport (7-0) in 1903. Played for the Officers of the Army v the Officers of the Royal Navy in February 1907 (14-15), December 1907 (0-15) [both as captain] and 1909 (0-25). He was a 2-handicap golfer. Army representative on RFU board 1926-1939. President RFU 1937-1939. CB 1937; KBE 1941. Colonel Commandant, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 1942-1947. JP for Kent. He died on 31 July 1960
Hill Sir Basil Alexander, Major-General (1880 – 1960) 1936 - 1939 Director of Ordnance Service, War Office 1939 - 1941 Controller Ordnance Services, War Office 1941 Retired 1943 - 1945 Director of Hand Tools, Ministry of Supply Basil Hill England Full name - Basil Alexander Hill Born - April 23 1880, Broughty Ferry Died - July 31 1960, Coupar, Angus, Scotland aged 80 Major teams - England Position - Forward
