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 Booth, Ernest Edward (‘General’) played for New Zealand Internationals: 3: 1906 F+ ; 1907 A+ A= ; Ernest Booth was born on 24 February 1876, in Teschemakers Played as a Fullback for: Clyde Quay School Wellington, Athletic, Otago, Kaikorai, Southland, New South Wales, Newtown Profession: Journalist War service: 2nd Lieutenant, YMCA, Australian Imperial Force Remarks: NZ tour to Australia 1905, NZ tour to British Isles and North America 1905-06, playing in 16 matches, and the NZ tour to Australia 1907. He played 24 games for the All Blacks, including his 3 Internationals. Booth lived in Sydney in 1908 and 1909 and played for Newtown RFC as well as NSW. He accompanied the 1908-1909 Wallabies as a journalist. After the War, he returned to New Zealand and was appointed as a professional coach by the Southland RFU, an action that caused an outcry in New Zealand. The position was redefined and he stayed as coach. He died on 18 October 1935 in Christchurch
Thought this maybe of interest !! http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/north-otago/34877/uncle-ernie-named-all-blacks
Hi there, Uncle Erney as we called him had a home in Hampden with his brother Uncle Clarrie. He used to bike to Dunedin to rugby practice and we had his old bike at home for a long time, and man i dont how he did it. He was also praised for naming the all blacks as at a game in England someone was to ask him why the players all wore black. He told them because they were All Black and before he got back to NZ it was all over the papers that they were now called the All Blacks. He was my dads cousin and we remember visiting uncle clarrie and we were made to sit in the car until mum and dad went to see if he was home. We found out as we sneeked up behind them, that it was because they used to work in the garden naked.
