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 Allen, Charles Peter PC MP played for Wales Internationals: 2: 1884 E- (1t) S- Charles Allen was born on 2 December 1861, in Sedgely Park, Prestwich Played as a Back for: Rugby School, Oxford University (Blue 1881-83), Manchester {Rugby Who’s Who has him playing for Beaumaris RFC, which didn’t exist in the 1880s] Profession: Barrister (called to the Bar of the Inner Temple in November 1888), newspaper proprietor, Member of Parliament for Stroud in mid-Gloucestershire 1900-1918, Charity Commissioner in 1910 and a Privy Councillor in 1912. Remarks: Scored Wales’ first try v England 1884. Married in 1890; unsuccessfully contested Stroud in 1895, elected in 1900 with a majority of 313; did not contest the 1918 election but was defeated in 1922. Hobbies included golf and fly-fishing, after retiring from Rugby and cricket. War service: Major, ‘C’ Company, 2/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (formed at Gloucester in September 1914), 184th Bde, 61st Division. He died on 18 September 1930, in London.
Blues Register:- ALLEN, Charles Peter Born 1861. Educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford. Played in Oxford Fifteen 1881, 1882, 1883; International Rugby, Wales v. England 1884, obtaining first try ever scored by Wales v. England, against Scotland 1884. Barrister, newspaper proprietor, M.P. (Liberal) for Mid-Gloucester from 1900, Charity Commissioner. Privy Council 1912. Address: Farmhill Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire. Picture is the Oxford XV 1881, Allen is 3rd from right in the standing rear row. Andy
