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 Baird, James Alexander Steenson New Zealand Internationals: 1: 1913 A+ James Baird was born on 17 December 1893, in Dunedin, son of James and Lucinda Charlotte Baird Played as a Centre for: Caversham School, Zingari Richmond, Otago Profession: Machinist Remarks: He played only two matches for Otago before All Black selection. The second 1913 test v Australia (won 25-13) was his only game for New Zealand, as he had to withdraw from the third test due to a hand injury. Baird was unable to play in the 1914 season due to illness. War service: 29720 Private, No 4 Company, 1st Battalion Otago Infantry Regiment, NZEF. He died of wounds on 7 June 1917, in France, and was buried in Ballieul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France [III. B. 26]
A snippet ..... 1913 - Australia toured NZ. The home team won the series, which was played in two parts, 2-1. The first test was played by the main All Black team, which was setting out for California. NZ won 30-5, the highest score against Australia until 1936 and the biggest winning margin until 1972, although it was equalled in 1936. The test was the only one ever played in quarters. Tom Lynch scored three tries, the only All Black test hat-trick on Athletic Park until 1999. Alex McDonald, the NZ skipper, was the last of the Originals to play test rugby. The main team sailed during the week before the second test, so a new side was picked. 13 were playing their first test. Two teenagers (James Baird and Bill Francis) played, the only time this has ever happened with the All Blacks in a test. Francis, aged 19 years, 221 days, remains NZ's youngest ever test forward. NZ won 25-13, before losing 5-16 at Christchurch. This represented both Lancaster Park's first test and NZ's first test loss at home. Their respective fullbacks led the two teams - Joe O'Leary remains the only fullback to captain an All Black test side. The two referees in the second and third matches (Alec Downes and George Nicholson), had represented NZ at cricket and rugby respectively. Six of the All Blacks who played in this series were killed in the First World War.
In Memory of Private JAS ALEX STEENSON BAIRD 29720, No. 4 Coy. 1st Bn., Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. who died age 23 on 07 June 1917 Son of the late James and Lucinda Charlotte Baird. Remembered with honour BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION (NORD)
