War Blacks: The extraordinary story of New Zealand's WWI All Blacks

by Matt Elliott, Darren Holt (Cover Design)

Rugby and war have played major roles in the forging of a national New Zealand Identity. This is the story of where both met, on the hot sands of Egypt and Palestine and the muddy fields of Britain and France during World War I.

War Blacks presents, for the first time, the stories of the more than 90 All Blacks who served in the 1914-18 war, wearing the double silver fern of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force or the badges of other nations.

The impact of this era on New Zealand rugby was long-lasting. The mighty rivalry between the All Blacks and the Springboks can be traced to this period. And when the famous 'Invincibles' toured the Northern Hemisphere in 1924-25, the ex-soldiers in the team made a point of visiting the battlefields they had fought on only a few years earlier, as well as the graves of their fallen comrades.

The legendary Dave Gallaher, captain of the 'Originals' All Blacks in 1905, was one of 13 All Blacks killed in action during World War I. Others were wounded and left suffering the effects of active service for the rest of their lives. Some, however, like Maurice Brownlie, went on to become greats of the game.

From the playing field to the battlefield. War Blacks is the fascinating and moving story of rugby players who wore the silver fern in war and in peace.

Genres: History

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Gary Pointon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gets a bit samey really and starts feeling like homework