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 Burger, Wilhelm Augustus George (‘Bingo’) played for South Africa Internationals: 4 : 1906 S- I+ W+ ; 1910 BI - Wilhelm Burger was born on 12 August 1883 in Hamburg, Cape Province Played as a Forward for: Border Profession: N/k Remarks: South Africa tour to the United Kingdom 1906-1907. He played for South Africa in the King’s Cup series in 1919. War service: Sergeant, unit unkown He died on 8 August 1963.
Bingo Burger South Africa Full name Wilhelm August George Burger Born August 12, 1883, Hamburg, Cape Prov. Died August 8, 1963, Alice, Ciskei (aged 79 years 361 days) Major teams South Africa Position Forward http://www.rugbyrelics.com/Pages/misc/SA06.htm WILLIAM A. BURGER (Alberts, Kingwilliamstown; and Border) was born in the district of Peddie, in 1884, and is one of the soundest and best forwards in South Africa. He is built for forward work, standing just over 5 feet 11 inches in height, and weighing over 14 stone. He is one of the youngest members of the team, but for all that has had plenty of experience. He bas learned all his football in Kingwilliamstown. For three years he played with the Pirates there, but then threw in his lot in 1903, with the Alberts, where, under the careful coaching of Billy Robertson, he developed those qualities that have made him more or less what he is to-day. In that year he played for Kingwilliamstown and District against the English team. In the following year he represented the Border in the Currie Cup Tournament, and in my opinion he was one of the five best forwards who took part in the tournament; and on that form I considered that he would be a certainty for any South African team visiting England; in fact, I considered .that both he and his elder brother would get their places. Unfortunately for South Africa the elder brother dropped out of football. In 1906 WA Burger again represented the Border in the Currie Cup, and he played a magnificent game for that centre, and was one of the best forwards playing in the tournament. Occasionally he played three-quarter, and even there he was one of their best men. In this tour he has been one of the mainstays of the forwards, one of the first men to go into the pack, always showing his best, always on the ball; although he has not been prominent he has always been doing good, solid work, and it is impossible to fully estimate his worth in the team http://www.rugbyrelics.com/Museum/countries/SA/tr-1906.htm Back Row - WA 'Piet' Neill , WA 'Bingo' Burger, AF ‘Barley’ Burdett, Arthur Marsberg, Arthur Burmeister, Anton Stegmann, Japie le Roux, Standing - Dietlof Mare, DFT 'Dougie' Morkel, HG 'Oupa' Reid, JWE 'Klondyke' Raaff, DJ 'Koei' Brink, D Brooks, DC 'Mary' Jackson, WA 'Billy Millar', Seated - Andrew Morkel, HJ 'Pinkie' Daneel, Pietie le Roux, Paul Roos, Cecil 'Daddy' Carden, HW 'Paddy' Carolin, FJ 'Uncle' Dobbin, WC 'Rajah' Martheze, HA 'Boy' de Villiers, Floor - Sydney de Melker, Steve Joubert, Jack Hirsch, Bob Loubser, Insets - Japie Krige, WS 'Sommie'; Morkel.
Annie Thanks for that. As we saw earlier today, the standard of South African forward play remains as high as it was in Burger's day. Gareth
