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 John Abbott King played for England Internationals: 12 : 1911 W- F+ I- S+ ; 1912 W+ I+ S- ; 1913 SA- W+ F+ I= S+ John King was born on 21 August 1883, in Leeds, son of John Abbott King and Mary Jane King, of Ben Rhydding, near Ilkley, Yorkshire. Played as a No 8/lock/hooker for: Giggleswick School, Durbanville, Somerset West (South Africa), Headingley, Barbarians, Yorkshire Profession: Farmer at Ben Rhydding, Yorkshire. Remarks: At 5ft 5ins, he was one of England’s smallest players and was described as a ‘pocket Hercules’. Played for Yorkshire (0-24) v the 1908-1909 Wallabies. He broke his ribs early in the match v Scotland 1912, and played on. Played for Barbarians: v Leicester (6-13) in 1911; v Leicester (5-3) in 1914. He volunteered for military service on 6 August 1914, leaving his three sisters to run the family farm. Yorkshire Rugby players then gathered in the harvest for the family War service: Trooper, Yorkshire Hussars, then 357176, Lance Corporal, 1/10th (Liverpool Scottish), Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, South Lancashire Brigade, 55th (South Lancashire) Division. He went to France in April 1915. During the 8-9 August 1916 attack on Waterlot Farm-Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme, the 55th Division were stopped by fierce resistance on the first day. Two further attacks were made by the 1/10th King’s at 04.20 on 9 August, but again without success. L/Cpl King was killed in action on 9 August 1916, at Guillemont, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France [Panels 1 D 8 B and 1 D 8 C]. Fellow England International 2/Lt L A N Slocock, also of the 1/10th King’s, was killed on the same day.
In Memory of Lance Corporal JOHN ABBOTT KING 357176, 1st/10th Bn., The King's (Liverpool Regiment) who died age 32 on 09 August 1916 Son of the late John Abbott King and Mary Jane King, of Ben Rhydding, near Ilkley, Yorks. Former England Rugby Football International. Remembered with honour THIEPVAL MEMORIAL I found this old newspaper article !! http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/10/27/148112.html
