If only a moderately successful All Black, Beethoven Algar enjoyed many distinctions, especially in the latter stages of his long life. His Christian name was one obvious cause for intrigue. His family was deeply involved in music and hence his being named after the famous German classical composer. Algar was also well into his 96th year when he died in 1989 and had been for many years the oldest surviving All Black. A versatile player, Algar was equally adept playing at either first five eighths, second five eighths, centre and wing and the six appearances he made for the All Blacks covered all four positions. Being tagged a utility was not the big drawback to Algar's rugby career, though. Rather he was one of those many players whose best rugby years were lost to a world war. In 1914 as a 20-year old he had made his debut for Wellington, starring in the successful Ranfurly Shield challenge against Taranaki by scoring a try and kicking a dropped goal. But three matches for Wellington in 1915 ended Algar's active rugby for the next four years and he saw active service with the Wellington Mounted Rifles. In 1919 he resumed his rugby career and played a prominent part in Wellington's shield defences in 1919 and 1920, gaining a place in the All Black team for a tour of Australia. He played only two of the seven matches in Australia, but two of the preliminary matches in New Zealand and against Wellington when the team arrived home. Algar's last appearance for the All Blacks was against New South Wales at Christchurch in 1921, a lineup which may have been termed New Zealand "A" today as it included few of the players from that year's test series against the Springboks. Though he did not play in the match he was in the All Black squad for the final test against the South Africans. In 1921 Algar had made the last of his three appearances for the North Island but he struggled to make other selections and missed Wellington's match against the Springboks. He made just one appearance for Wellington in 1922, bringing his tally for the union to 31 matches, before retiring. Algar was a stalwart of Wellington's Poneke club and captained the senior side from 1919-22. When he retired he continued to give the club sterling service as an administrator and from 1978 until his death 11 years later he was the club's patron. His brother Doug represented Wellington 1920-22,24. All Blacks FULL NAME - Beethoven Algar BORN - Monday, 28 May 1894 in Wellington DIED - Tuesday, 28 November 1989 in Levin POSITION - Five-eighth and Centre three-quarter RUGBY CLUB (First made All Blacks from) - Poneke PROVINCE - Wellington
"Beet", named after the German composer Beethoven by his classical music loving mother, departed for the Great War with the 8th Reinforcements - New Zealand Mounted Rifles - Wellington Mounted Rifles. Sailing on the 13th November 1915 to the Middle East. He was to be recruited in Egypt to serve with the Imperial Camel Corps from 1916 where he rose to the rank of sergeant. Beet saw action with the "15th" (New Zealand 15th Company, ICC) during actions across the Sinai, including Magdabah and then the three attacks on Gaza. During the third attack on Gaza that began 31st October 1917 he was twice wounded. He was evacuated by chacholet (camel stretcher) and sent to a Cairo hospital where he remained for many months before finally being sent home in 1918. Beet had served on occasion as bodyguard and camel escort to Colonel Lawrence, the Englishman who was to become famous as 'Lawrence of Arabia", as he made visits to scattered Arab tribes looking to gain military support against the Turk. "His job was to unite the Arabs, and he has to travel round seeking out all the Sheiks. Our job was to escort him and stand by in case anything ever happened", commented Beet in an interview with Jack Baker in 1989. Jack Baker had a few months earlier published a number of photos of the Cameliers he had discovered in a long lost and undisturbed family cabinet draw. A printed column in the "RSA Review" (Returned Servicemen's Ass) asked members interested in the photos to contact him. Beet was one of a number of the old Cameliers who responded. Many of the men met again with Jack and the RSA's help - the subsequent newspaper article was part of the result of that meeting. Regaining fitness after the war Beet went on to gain the ultimate Kiwi sportsman's accolade when he was selected as an All Black in 1920. He had previously in 1913 represented Wellington at provincial level before the Great War. http://www.nzmr.org/support.htm
