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 Hickey, John Joseph (‘Darb’) played for Australia Internationals: 2 : 1908 W- ; 1909 E+ John Hickey was born on 4 January 1887 in Sydney; married to Lillian Catherine Hickey. Played as a Centre for: NSW Profession: Butcher War service: 2676 Private, 56th (New South Wales) Battalion, (6th Reinforcements) Australian Imperial Force, enlisted 22 May 1916, departed from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 7 October 1916, returned to Australia 2 June 1919. Remarks: He was awarded a Gold Medal for Rugby at the 1908 London Olympic Games, and played a crucial role in the Australian victory over England. He played for NSW 12 times. Joined the Rugby League [Glebe RLFC 1910, Balmain RLFC 1911 – 10 games - and Glebe RLFC 1912-1915 – 52 games for Glebe] on his return to Australia and played in the matches between the Kangaroos and Wallabies staged by the NSWRL. He partnered H H ‘Dally’ Messenger as a centre for Australia v the 1910 Great Britain touring team, scoring a try and a goal. He coached Glebe RLFC in 1924. “Following World War I, in which he served in the Army, Hickey proudly displayed pictorial mementos of his union and league career for Australia in his butcher’s shop.” [The First Wallabies – Peter Sharpham] “Darb Hickey, who was so disgusted with what he had been through that on returning from the front he threw his war medals into Sydney Harbour.” [Gold, Mud and Guts – Greg Growden] He died in May 1950
