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 Clune, John Joseph played for Ireland Internationals: 6 : 1912 SA- ; 1913 W- F+ ; 1914 F+ E- W+ John Clune was born on 2 April 1890 Played as a Hooker/lock for: Blackrock College Profession: Medicine/RAVC War service: Second Lieutenant Army Veterinary Service from 2 February 1918 and Captain, Royal Army Veterinary Corps to 10 July 1919. He died in 1943
Annie It's quite possible. My sources don't have much/any information on his post-Great War career. I suppose that there was a need for vets in the Mediterranean Theatre - mules were still part of the transport arrangements. Gareth
This is from the Rugby History Society - Irish Internationals who Died in World War 2 Lieutenant Colonel John Joseph Clune 12th September 1942 Royal Army Veterinary Corps He was born on 2nd April 1890 and educated at Blackrock College . He played six times for Ireland between 1912 and 1914. He married Catherine Chichester. She was the daughter of Lt. Col. Alfred Chichester of the 28th Punjabi’s. She died on 25th June 1947, aged only 43, at the West Country Hospital, Penzance . She is buried at the Barnoon Cemetery , St. Ives. He died on 12th September 1943 aged 53 in the Mediterranean . He is commemorated at Brookwood Memorial
Upon further investigation the Army Medical Services Museum have confirmed to me that John Joseph Clune died on the RMS Laconia after it was torpedoed by a German U-Boat on 12th Sept 1942. I do not know why he was on a POW ship. As there were a few civilian passengers on board I can only guess that he was getting a lift home. Patrick Casey Rugby History Society
Something else the museum also confirmed his date of birth as 21st Jan 1893. He qualified as a Vet in Dublin on 12th December 1917 and joined the Royal Veterinary Corps, serving as a captain in the Mesopotamia campaign during the last years of World War One. After serving in Kurdistan in 1925 he worked at the Veterinary Hospital at Hinaidi, Baghdad, Iraq in 1927 still with the Royal Army Veterinary Corp. The hospital at Hinaidi was part of the RAF base there. He then served in India.
