In-Depth: Bristol Rugby and Remembrance

A total of 26 Bristol Rugby players lost their lives in World War One, with a further 17 perishing in World War Two. This week – on Wednesday evening (UK Armed Forces fixture), Saturday afternoon (Bristol Rugby vs Rotherham Titans) and Sunday morning (Remembrance Day Service) – we will remember them and the millions of others who have lost their lives on military duty.

Here’s some at-a-glance facts – courtesy of club historian, Mark Hoskins – about Bristol Rugby’s relationship with the UK Armed Forces:

• Bristol have played the Combined Services on six occasions, winning four times and losing twice. The first fixture was on November 29^th, 1924 and the most recent on November 3^rd, 1993. There was also one fixture against Combined Services & British Police.
• The fixture was usually played to give the Combined Services a warm-up match prior to a game with a touring team. For example, the game in 1970 preceded Combined Services vs Fiji and the game in 1972 preceded Combined Services vs New Zealand.
• Bristol has a long history of matches against services teams. Fixtures have been played against: The Army, Royal Navy, RAF, Royal Naval Engineering College, Devonport Services, United Services Portsmouth, Aldershot Services, A Services XV, Gloucestershire Regiment.
• In the 1931 Bristol v Combined Services match, Douglas Bader played for Combined Services. This was only a few weeks before he lost his legs in a flying accident.

• Bristol players, who have been regular members of the services, include Andy Hoon, Hamish Bryce, Garath Archer (Army), Paul Hull, Gavin Sharp, Stuart Crossland, Chris Moore (RAF), John Leigh, Bob Armstrong, Mick Reece (Royal Navy).
• The Bristol Supporters’ XV raised over £600 for various services charities during the Second World War.
• WSD Craven, one of the founders of the Army Rugby Union, played one game for Bristol.
• Ira Jones, the highest-scoring Welsh flying ace of World War One, played for Bristol in 1921-22.
• 26 men who played for the club fell in WW1 and 17 in WW2.
• Captain Manley Angell James VC played for Bristol. He was a native of the city and attended Bristol Grammar School.
• Reg Pickles, Bristol’s first post-WW1 captain, appeared for Mother Country in the 1918-19 Inter Services Tournament known as the King’s Cup.  

Bristol United take on the UK Armed Forces on Wednesday, 8^th November (7:45pm KO). You can purchase tickets by clicking here.