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 Collins, William Edward CMG, VD, MB, MRCS England Internationals 5 : 1874 S+ ; 1875 I+ S= I+ ; S+ (1t) William Collins was born on 14 October 1853, in Monghyr, India Played as a Half-back for: Cheltenham College, Old Cheltonians, St George’s Hospital, Oxford University Profession: Medicine War service: 3/744 Colonel, New Zealand Medical Corps, Hospital Ship Maheno*, CMG 24 January 1917 Remarks: Played in Hospital Cup Final, St George’s v Guy’s 1875. Worked at Brompton Hospital for Consumptives prior to emigrating to New Zealand in 1878, where he first went to Nelson, then Wellington. Honorary physician Wellington Hospital 1879-1882; honorary surgeon Wellington Hospital 1886-1905. President of the NZ Branch of the British Medical Association 1904. Husband of Isobella Georgina David Collins. Played cricket as a wicket-keeper for Wellington, New Zealand (2 first class matches 1887-1888 and 1888-1889). Member of Legislative Council of New Zealand from 1907. * The SS Maheno was wrecked on Fraser Island, Queensland, in the 1930s, and the remains are still there. He died on 11 August 1934, in Wellington, New Zealand
Same information ....... but heres a photo ...... William Edward COLLINS CMG MB (Lond) MRCS (Eng) Born Darjeeling, India 1853 Died Wellington 11.08.1934 Educated at Cheltenham College, England. Played rugby for England 1874 - 1876 Medical education at London University and St Georges Hospital, London. MRCS (Eng)1876 MB (Lond) 1877 Worked at Brompton Hospital for Consumptives Came out to NZ, initially to Nelson, but then settled in Wellington. Honorary Physician, Wellington Hospital 1879-1882 Honorary Surgeon, Wellington Hospital 1882-1905 President, NZ branch BMA 1904 MLC 1907-1934 WW1 service as Lieut.-Colonel in charge of hospital ship Maheno
Annie Thanks very much. The man in the photo doesn't look like someone who would be feeding a scrum - we all change as get older, I suppose. Gareth
Here's his obituary too ! http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=2445539&pageindex=1 ..... we all feel we're 18 till we look in the mirror !!
Annie Thank you for the extra detail. It's funny how mirrors sometimes don't reflect what you think they should . . . Gareth
