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 Cuthill, John Elliot (‘Jock’) played for New Zealand Internationals: 2 : 1913 A+ US+ John Cuthill was born on 21 August 1892, in Inverleithen, Scotland Played as a Fullback for: Otago Boys’ High School, Taieri, University, NZ Universities, Otago, South Island Profession: Partner in firm of public secretaries. War service: 8/1724 Lieutenant, Otago Regiment; after being wounded, he was invalided back to New Zealand in 1916. Remarks: Jock Cuthill captained the 1913 NZ Universities side on a tour to Australia in 1913, when he was described in the Daily Telegraph: ‘Much of the spectacularity of the game on the Black side was provided by the light-haired Cuthill, the unassuming University captain. He has got ‘beautiful hands’ he takes the ball like an angel, and he kicks quickly, strongly and irritatingly far. He is a powerful chap, much more so than he looks, runs with his knees well up and his legs in a swervy fashion, which makes it difficult for the enemy to know where they are going to take him, and above all, - in these days of machine-like running and passing to the side – he goes straight ahead, keeps the fun going merrily, and to the unbounded admiration of his own side and the envy of the others, gets his wings into delightful scoring positions.” He played on the 1913 NZ tour of North America. Studies prevented him from being Captain of the NZ tour to Australia in 1914. Secretary of Southland Racing Club and Southland Trotting Club. He played 16 matches for the All Blacks, including 2 Internationals. He died on 22 April 1970, in Invercargill
OTAGO REGIMENT - NZEF HONOURS AND AWARDS 1914 - 1918 From the Official History of the Otago Regiment, NZEF in the Great War - 1914 - 1919 by Lieutenant A E Byrne (MC). (1930 J Wilkie & Co Dunedin) CUTHILL John Ernest (?) 8/1724 Lieutenant MID
The Auckland Weekly News CUTHILL, J E Lieutenant Convalescent, Alexandria Otago Batt 7th Oct 1915 CUTHILL, J E Lieutenant Recovered, ret.to front ex Alex'a Otago Batt 7th Oct 1915 CUTHILL, John Elliot Lieutenant Wounded OIB 19th Aug 1915 F: R Cuthill, Mosgiel http://www.ozlists.com/genies/defence/ww1/rollhono/c8.htm
