I know he's not WW1 but ..... Eric Liddell .. played wing for Scotland and won the 440yards at the Paris Olympics in 1924. Became a missionary and died it an interment camp in China during WW2. Chariots of Fire film about the '24 Olympics Eric Liddell, "Chariots of Fire," gold medal in the Olympics, missionary in China, died in a Japanese internment camp. He played for Scotland. "Liddell had a distinguished (but brief) international career, abbreviated by his focusing on track and field because of his sprinting prowess in the 100M. He was a wing and was noted for his tremendous speed and leadership abilities. In fact, he and a fellow named Lesley Gracie (a center) formed a tandem known as the "Gracie-Liddell" wing that was very well-known. In the early 20th century, international matches were not as numerous as they are now, so the archives only show Liddell as having seven caps or so. However, it was noted in the biographies about him - that he was in every Scottish international he was eligible for in his two year career as a Scottish player (1920-22). Because of his track and field abilities he stopped playing international rugby in 1923 to focus on track. He went on to legendary status in the 1924 Olympics. He was favored to win the 100M, but as told in "Chariots of Fire" he refused to run the qualifying heats because they were on Sunday. Liddell was the son of a Scottish missionary, and (like All Black legend, Michael Jones) refused to take part in sports on Sunday. The movie shows that instead of the 100M, he runs in the 400M (which he was given no shot at all of winning). Liddell not only won, but set a world record! What is interesting is that the movie does not mention that Liddell also won the bronze medal in the 200M. Eric Liddell was a huge star because of his accomplishments. However, in contrast to track stars of today he did not capitalize on it. Upon his return from the Olympics, Liddell graduated from Edinburgh University and continued in his father's footsteps as a missionary in China. It is interesting to note that he still played rugby and ran track recreationally while there. He was interned during WW2 with other European citizens (mostly missionaries) in China by the Japanese. He was a leader in the handling the prisoner's affairs at the camp he was in (Wieshin). There is a touching story about how he gave up his own moratorium on doing sports on Sundays to officiate athletic contests of the prisoner's children on Sunday so they would have something to do. Sadly, this great man died of a brain embolism a few months before the war ended. He was buried in China and in mid 90's memorials from China and Scotland was placed on his grave. Eric Liddell is still revered today in Scotland as one their greatest sports heroes. When "Chariots of Fire" came out, there was a story the movie's producer (Hugh Hudson) told that the Scottish Rugby Union offered him the use of Murrayfield (the Scottish National pitch) for use in the movie, even to the extent of tearing up the ground to make a track if need be, if Hudson could not find a location to shoot the Olympic footage. Another site was found but that shows how highly Liddell was regarded. This should be no surprise as he was a rugby player after all, but all accounts of Liddell said he was a great man with a very down to earth manner. Even though he was very religious, he was not the sort to make you feel inferior if you did not share his beliefs. There are two great biographies on Eric Liddell "The Flying Scotsman" by Sally Magnuson came out after "Chariots of Fire". "Eric Liddell: Pure Gold" by Dave McCasland - both are very enjoyable and inspiring reads.." In Memory of Civilian ERIC HENRY LIDDELL Civilian War Dead who died age 43 on 21 February 1945 Husband of F. Liddell, of 21 Gloucester Street, Toronto, Canada. Died at Weihsien. Remembered with honour CHINA
Eric Henry Liddell was born on the 16th January 1902 in Tientsin (Tianjin) in North China, second son of the Rev & Mrs James Dunlop Liddell who were missionaries with the London Mission Society. He was educated from 1908 to 1920 at Eltham College, Blackheath, a school for the sons of missionaries. Eric, with his older brother Rob, were left at their boarding school while their parents and sister Jenny returned to China. During the boys' time at Eltham College their parents, sister and new brother Ernest came home on furlough two or three times and were able to be together as a family - mainly living in Edinburgh. In 1920, Eric joined his brother Rob at Edinburgh University to read for a BSc in Pure Science. He graduated after the Paris Olympiad in 1924. Athletics and rugby played a large part in Eric's University life. He ran in the 100 yards and the 220 yards for Edinburgh University and later for Scotland. He played rugby for Edinburgh University and in 1922 played in seven Scottish Internationals with A. L. Gracie. As a result of having insufficient time for both running and rugby he chose the former, aiming for the 100 metres in the Paris Olympics. When he learned that the heats were to be run on a Sunday, he switched to the 400 metre competition as he was not prepared to run on that day. Being a godly man he dedicated Sunday to the Lord and in extreme dedication to Him he would not make any exceptions to the rule. He won a gold medal for the 400 metres and a bronze medal for the 200 metres at the Paris Olympics. After the Olympics and his graduation he returned to North China where he served as a missionary from 1925 to 1943 - first in Tientsin (Tianjin) and later in Siaochang. During his first furlough (1932) he was ordained as a minister. On his return to China he married Florence Mackenzie (of Canadian missionary parentage) in Tientsin (1934). They had three daughters, Patricia, Heather and Maureen, who now all live in Canada. Living in China in the 1930s was potentially very dangerous and in 1937 when Eric was sent to Siaochang where he joined his brother Rob. He was now crossing the Japanese Army lines. In 1941 life in China was becoming so dangerous that the British Government advised British nationals to leave. Florence and the children left for Canada. During 1941 - 1943 Eric stayed in Tientsin, then in 1943 he was interned in Weishien Camp until his death in 1945.
Eric Liddell's body was laid to rest in the little cemetery where all who died while interned in Weihsien CAC were buried. It was located in the SE corner of the camp near the forbidden quarters occupied by the Japanese - a simple cross but his name spelt out with shoe polish ..... that was in 1945 ...... then the dedication of Eric Liddell Memorial Stone at Weifang China, June 9 1991
Eric Liddell played seven times for Scotland: 1921 v France, Wales and Ireland (1 try); 1922 v France (1 try), Wales (1 try), Ireland and England. RIP Gareth
