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 Gronow, Benjamin played for Wales Internationals: 4: 1910 F+ (1t) E- S+ I+ Ben Gronow was born on 3 or 10 March 1887 in Tondu, near Bridgend Played as a Forward for: Bridgend Profession: Stonemason and road haulier Remarks: He kicked off for Wales at Twickenham in 1910 [in the first international match played at the RFU’s new home ground], following which F E Chapman scored a try for England in the first minute of play. Joined the Rugby League (Huddersfield RLFC) in 1910, later played for Featherstone Rovers RLFC and Batley RLFC. 7 Great Britain RL Internationals and 8 Wales RL Internationals. He went on Rugby League tours to Australia in 1920 and 1924, and played as Captain-Coach for Grenfell RLFC in NSW in 1926 In 1936 he coached Morley RFC but, due to his RL connection, his name was deliberately omitted from the caption to a photograph in the Club’s Centenary brochure when it was printed in 1978. War service: Army Service Corps He died on 24 November 1967 in Huddersfield.
Benjamin GRONOW 1887 – 1967. Ben Gronow was one of the best rugby league forwards in the world during the mid 1920’s, and was the only player from an English club to move to Australia in the first 50 years of the game Down Under. In December 1909, at Newport, Ben Gronow played in his first international trial match and so impressed the Selection Committee that he was “capped” for the Wales v. France match, played at Swansea on the 1st January 1910. In this match he scored a try. Next he played against England at Twickenham, the match which celebrated the opening of the Twickenham ground. As he also played against Ireland and Scotland, Ben represented his country in all her international matches that season. In 1915 Ben joined the War effort and was transferred to the Army Service Corps M2/103369 and was raised to the rank of Serjeant, in charge of a motor depot at Ypres. In 1920 Gronow was one of five Huddersfield players selected for the Australian Tours. When he retired he settled in Yorkshire and in the 1930s became the coach at Morley Rugby Union Club. Ben was survived by three sons (his other son like him a Serjeant in the Royal Army Service Corps died in Egypt in 1943 and is buried in Heliopolis War Cemetery.) http://gronow-one-name-study.blogspot.com/search/label/Benjamin Gronow 1887-1967 http://www.rl1908.com/rugby-league/Gronow.htm
