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 Chantrill, Bevan Stanlislaus played for England Internationals: 4 : 1924 W+ I+ F+ S+ Bevan Chantrill was born on 11 February 1897 Played as a Fullback for: Bristol Grammar School, Clifton, Royal Air Force, Durban Rovers (SA), Natal, Weston-Super-Mare, Bristol, Richmond, Manchester, Rosslyn Park, Gloucestershire, Somerset Profession: Goldminer War service: Queen’s Own Hussars from August 1914 (aged 17); Second Lieutenant, Gloucestershire Regiment, and from February 1918, the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force; he was commissioned as an Observer Officer from 1 August 1918. Remarks: Goldmining in South Africa 1929-1963. He served during the 1939-1945 War in the South African Air Force to 1942 and later the Royal Air Force in Flying Control. He died on ?
A small but fearless fullback, Bunny Chantrill played in all four of England's Five Nations games when they achieved the Grand Slam in 1924. A slightly controversial call-up, he played well in the win against Wales in the first match and retained his place for the remainder of the season when his fearsome defence was key to side's success. "I love tacking more than anything else in rugby," he said. "What a glorious feeling it is". But, as The Times noted, by the time the next campaign started he had "fallen from grace with almost alarming rapidity", not helped by injury. He continued to play well for Bristol and subsequently Rosslyn Park, also being an excellent kicker, without ever coming back into the selectors' thoughts. His career continued when he headed to South Africa in 1929 to prospect for gold, playing for Natal, and also returning to Bristol for a short time when he came back to England in 1931 before emigrating to South Africa for good. He served in the SAAF in World War Two, having served with the Royal Flying Corp in World War One. He died in South Africa in 1988 http://www.cliftonrfchistory.co.uk/internationals/england/chantrill/chantrill.htm Name Bunny Chantrill Position Full Back Date of Birth 11/2/1897 Date of Death 1988 Honours Gloucestershire, England Career 1922-26 127 games Scored 130 pts (1t, 40c, 9pg, 5dg) “Bunny” Chantrill was one of the most capable full backs to have donned the Bristol jersey. A small but immensely powerful man, he relished the physical side of the game. Tackling was his forte, and countless attacking players were “Chantrilled”, as the local press described his powerful tackling. Bevan Stanislaw Chantrill was educated at Bristol Grammar School, and played rugby for Clifton before the First World War. He served in the Queens Own Hussars, Gloucestershire Regiment and latterly the Royal Flying Corps during the war. He played for Richmond and Weston super Mare immediately after the war before joining Bristol and making his debut as a centre against Cardiff in January 1922. He scored a try in a rare victory at the Arms Park. After a couple of seasons during which Chantrill terrorised sundry attackers he was selected for England. He played in all four matches in the 1924 championship in which England won the Grand Slam. He had an exceptional game against Scotland, a hugely talented side, and it was only through his courage and appetite for the tackle that England won. Injury robbed Chantrill of the chance to add to his international caps the following season but the genial full back played for Bristol and Gloucestershire. He also continued to play tennis, another sport at which he excelled. Chantrill was an outstanding kicker of the ball, both from hand and floor. He wasn’t the regular place kicker for Bristol but when asked to kick goals he proved more than capable. He was also remarkably fit and used weights to build his upper-body strength, an unusual practice at the time. In the summer of 1926 he moved to London on business. He played for Rosslyn Park before heading for South Africa to prospect for gold in 1929. His last game for Bristol was against Guys Hospital in October 1926 when Bristol made their first visit of the season to London. Chantrill played rugby for Natal before returning to Bristol in 1931. He finally emigrated to South Africa shortly afterwards and remained there until his death in 1988. He served in the South African Air Force during the Second World War. Chantrill had strong views on the amateur ethos of rugby, and had little time for those who strove to gain financially from the game. Bunny Chantrill will forever be associated with his defence and he once said: “I love tacking more than anything else in rugby. What a glorious feeling it is”. http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/4811.php
Bunny Chantrill shakes hands with the King before the match v Scotland at Twickenham on 15th March 1924 when England won the Grand Slam
Snippet * http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ed-to-add-steel-to-englands-cause-423876.html Back Row (L-R): E.Seymour-Bell, G.Hasler, W.F.Gaisford, E.C.Ball, T.N.Bowerbank, E.G.Everett, J.Dommett, R.D.Just. Middle Row: G.Ellis, T.D.Lewis, A.N.Carruthers, Mr.H.W.Beloe, F.M.Arkle, B.S.Chantrill, J.L.W.Ewens. Front Row: J.Bromhead, J.P.Hitchings, L.C.Waters. Below the Clifton XV towards the end of the 1920-21 season. The above photo includes the England player Bevan (Bunny) Stanishaw Chantrill. He played for Clifton pre-war and since demobilization had been stationed in London and played regularly for Richmond. He played for Clifton again from the Boxing Day match of 1919 v Weston until the end of the season. Bunny Chantrill emigrated to South Africa in 1929 where he prospected for Gold. While there he played for Natal before returning to Bristol in 1931. Shortly afterwards he finally emigrated to South Africa for good
I'd say that he's second from the right in the middle row - next to the odd looking bloke who looks like he's been cut and pasted into the photo. Gareth
