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 Fea, William Rognvald played for New Zealand Internationals: 1 : 1921 SA= William Fea was born on 5 October 1898 in Dunedin Played as a First five-eighth for: Otago Boy’s High School, University, Combined Services, New Zealand Universities, Otago, South Island Profession: Medicine Remarks: Played in the New Zealand Army team that won the 1919 King’s Cup tournament, and then toured South Africa as the youngest member of that team. Chosen in the New Zealand team to play in the deciding third international v South Africa in 1921, Fea played in a rain-sodden scoreless draw. This was his only match in All Black colours. In 1922 he captained Otago University, New Zealand Universities, Otago and South Island. He coached Timaru High School Old Boys from 1926 to 1930. New Zealand Squash Champion 1936-1937. He served as Lieutenant Colonel in the 8th New Zealand Field Ambulance in the 1939-1945 War. War service: 74721, Private, NZEF He died on 27 December 1988 in Hamilton.
William Rognvald Fea, MB, ChB NZ 1924. Regd 18 May 1925: Wellington Hosp/Timaru/Hamilton. Born in Dunedin 5 Oct 1989 of Orcadian stock and educated at Otago BHS. An All Black 1921. GP in Timaru and hon physician Timaru Hosp. Then GP in Hamilton. Served in Pacific theatre in WW2. Died in Hamilton 27 Dec 1988 aged 90. Father-in-law of Dr Geoffrey Wynne-Jones (regd 1950). http://thecommunityarchive.org.nz/node/74448 FEA William Rognvald Otago M.B. Ch.B. 1925 http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/university9.html
A few notes on Dr Fea and Dr Geoffrey Wynne-Jones ! http://www.braemarhospital.co.nz/connections/index.html
By the way ... he was also known as Billy !! http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Gov14_12Rail-t1-body-d15.html
He was a farmer before the war !! - that's how he must have got into shape for rugby !! FULL NAME - William Rognvald Fea FORENAME(S) - William Rognvald SURNAME - Fea WAR - World War I, 1914-1918 SERIAL NO. - 74721 FIRST KNOWN RANK - Private OCCUPATION BEFORE ENLISTMENT - Farmer NEXT OF KIN - D.M. Fea (father), Tahakopa, Otago, New Zealand BODY ON EMBARKATION - New Zealand Expeditionary Force EMBARKATION UNIT - 40th Reinforcements Specialist Company EMBARKATION DATE - 10 July 1918 PLACE OF EMBARKATION - Wellington, New Zealand TRANSPORT - HMNZT 107 VESSEL - Tahiti DESTINATION - Plymouth, England NOMINAL ROLL NUMBER - 86 PAGE ON NOMINAL ROLL - 19 SOURCES USED - Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume IV. Wellington: Govt. Printer, 1919 http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/data...?OriginalID=112226&SearchID=7750068&Ordinal=2
