This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during 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 Milroy, Eric (‘Puss’) played for Scotland Internationals: 12 : 1910 W- ; 1911 E- ; 1912 W- (1t) I- E+ SA- ; 1913 F+ W- I+ E- ; 1914 I- E- Eric Milroy was born on 4 December 1887, Edinburgh, son of Alexander McLeod and Margaret Walteria Milroy of 16 Abbotsford Park, Edinburgh. Played as a Scrum half for: George Watson’s College, Watsonians, Edinburgh University Profession: Chartered accountant Remarks: Illness prevented him playing more than 3 matches on the Great Britain tour of South Africa in 1910; he was not capped on the tour. He was one of the six members of the last pre-War Scottish team who were killed in action. War service: Lieutenant, 8th Battalion, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch), 26th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. He was killed in action on 18 July 1916, at Delville Wood, and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France [Pier and Face 10 A].
Eric Milroy was born in 1887 and entered Watson’s in 1895. He was a remarkable pupil in that he was highly talented both in the classroom and on the sports field. He played in the lst XV 1905/06, was a Sergeant in the Cadet Corps and an impressive debater in the Literary Society. He won an open bursary at Edinburgh University in 1906 and graduated with an Honours Degree in Mathematics after which he embarked upon a career as an accountant. He was a brilliant member of the Watsonian XV from 1906–1914 and played for Scotland in virtually every International Match from 1910–1914. Indeed, he Captained his country in the last two matches before the Great War. He also toured with the British Team in South Africa in 1910. In 1914, he joined the Watsonian Training Corps and then the ‘Dandy Ninth’ (9th Royal Scots) called that because it was the only battalion of the Regiment which wore the kilt. He won speedy promotion and was gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant to the 11th Black Watch. In July 1916, he was promoted to Lieutenant and was attached to the 8th Battalion Black Watch as Lewis Gun Officer. He crossed to France in 1915 and was engaged in severe fighting in the Ypres Salient. During the Battle of the Somme he was posted missing at Delville (Devils) Wood on 18 July 1916 and later presumed dead. His name is inscribed on the massive Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval Wood. His mother presented a trophy to the School for ‘Drop and Place Kicking’, her son’s speciality. Scroll to page 15 .... photos too ! http://www.gwc.org.uk/Parents/documents/trophies_and_prizes.pdf He worked for A&J Robertson Accountancy Firm Edinburgh http://www.watsoniansrugby.com/read_more.php?newsid=190 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article2402762.ece
