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 Geen, William Purdon played for Wales Internationals: 3: 1912 SA- ; 1913 E- I+ William Geen was born on 14 March 1891, in Newport Played as a Wing/centre for: Haileybury and Imperial Service College, Oxford University (Blue 1910-1912), Newport, Barbarians Profession: Remarks: Nephew of Frank J Purdon (4 Welsh caps 1881-1883). He made 37 appearances for Newport, where he scored 20 tries and 1 dropped goal. Played for Barbarians: v Cardiff (8-15) v Cheltenham (8-3) v Cardiff (0-19) in 1911; v Leicester (11-15) in 1912; v Royal Army Medical Corps (10-3) in 1915. Monmouthshire County Cricket Club War service: 2nd Lieutenant, 9th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 42nd Brigade, 14th Division. He was killed in action on 31 July 1915, at Hooge, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium [Panel 51 and 53].
Willie Purdon Geen was educated at Northam Place, Potters Bar, Haileybury Coll and Oxford. Haileybury Cricket XI wicket-keeper and captain / centre of Haileybury XV. Barbarians, Blackheath. Oxford Blue - played vs Cambridge 1910,11,12 and 13. Monmouthshire Cricket in Minor Counties. Nephew of Frank Purdon. 3 Welsh caps 1912-13 (SA,E,I). Joined 60th Kings Royal Rifle Corps August 1914 and after training in Petworth, Sussex went to front in May 1915. Battalion withdrawn but 2 days later ordered back with 9th to reinforce 41st brigade in Second Battle of Ypres. 2nd-Lieut - killed in action Hooge, Flanders, 31st July 1915. One of 350 killed that day from B Company 9th King’s Royal Rifle Corps. No grave - remembered at Menin Gate. Newport RFC : 1910/1-1913/4 : 37 apps / 20t /1dg. http://www.historyofnewport.co.uk/players/players.php?id=000139
In Memory of Second Lieutenant W P GEEN 9th Bn., King's Royal Rifle Corps who died on 31 July 1915 Remembered with honour YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Being the nosey person I am ...... I had to find out who Frank Purdon was ..... !! Frank Thomas Purdon (8 November 1857-?) was an Irish-born rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and Swansea. Purdon was capped four times for Wales including the very first Wales international, against England in 1881. Purdon was selected, while a Newport player, for Richard Mullock's Wales to face England in the first ever Welsh international at Blackheath on 19 February 1881. Wales were humiliated, and the national press blamed the team selection, with the players apparently chosen to appease the principal rugby clubs rather than selected on the basis of ability. Many of the Welsh players from that game never played for Wales again, but Purdon was back for Wales second international game, played in 1882 against Ireland in Dublin. Purdon played his last two matches for Wales after transferring to Swansea, and was a member of the Welsh squad that took part in the first Home Nations Championship under the captaincy of Charles Lewis. Wales lost both games and Purdon was not re-selected for the 1884 tournament. Full Name - Frank Purdon Position - Forward Date Of Birth - 08-11-1857 Place Of Birth - County Westmeath Clubs - Machen / Newport / Swansea Honours - Wales Swansea RFC 1889-90 Season Played: 29, Won: 22, Lost: 4, Drawn: 3. Points for: 240, Against: 56. Honours: Premier Team of Wales. Back Row(L to R): Tom Williams, George Bowen, Sam Goldsworthy, -?- (official), W H Howells, D Morgan, John Meredith. 2nd Row(L to R): -?-, Teddy Bishop, William Bowen (Captain), William Gwynn, W J Bancroft, Frank Purdon. Front Row(L to R): Evan James, W H Jones, David James. This is one of the earliest photographs of Swansea players in the club's possession. Among the players shown are William Bowen [Captain] (2nd Row 3rd from left), W J Bancroft (2nd Row 5th from left), and the James brothers Evan and David (Front Row 1st & 3rd from left), the latter three in their first season with Swansea. http://www.ourwales.org.uk/index.ph...sk=show&id=5398&option=com_joomcaw&lang=en-GB
