Into Touch: Rugby Internationals Killed in the Great War

by Nigel McCrery

Among the million plus British and Empire soldiers that fell in the slaughter of The Great War were an elite band of International Rugby players.

Tragically, over 130 ‘caps’ from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – and France - lost their lives on land, in the air and at sea.

Even their legendary strength, fitness and courage were not enough to spare and save them.

The book will contain a brief history of International Rugby up to and including The First World War and there will be biographies of each player along with their individual and team photographs. Details of the manner of their death, their burial place and any memorials will also be included, alongside their international playing record.

Nigel McCrery is best known for his crime writing but his previously published works reflect his interest in The Great War, notably All The King’s Men, a best seller and successful film starring David Jason.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 2013

About the author

Nigel Colin McCrery was an English screenwriter, producer and writer. He was the creator of the long-running crime dramas Silent Witness (1996–present) and New Tricks (2003–2015).

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about the 135 international rugby players who lost their lives during the First World War. It gives a short biography on each player which includes his schooling, his rugby career, as well as his wartime service and tragic end. The Scottish Rugby Union lost the most men (31), while there is also one American which was interesting out of a rugby viewpoint. All the individual biographies are quite detailed for its length, though only the 21 Frenchmen's are a bit thin as those records were not as well held. All these men's service records covers all the services and campaigns, and each one's service and life was unique. These men from the game of rugby truly lead from the front and the majority of them were officers, and while reading you are just overcome again by the thought of how much better the world could have been had these men lived.

These men were all mostly household names and some of them were the greatest players of their time, yet they all still answered their countries call to action. It is hard to imagine that the sporting superstars of today would fight for their freedoms, yet I hope that we will never again have to find out. This is the best Nigel McCrery book I have read thus far and would highly recommend it to all sporting and World War 1 enthusiasts.

PS: GR gives the ebook as 274 pages when it is in fact 610 pages.

[Mielou!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

(lu pour le mémoire)