William Rawlinson (rugby union)

William Cecil Welsh Rawlinson
Born(1855-12-17)17 December 1855
Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
Died14 February 1898(1898-02-14) (aged 42)
Northampton, England
SchoolClifton College
Rugby union career
Position Forward
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
– Blackheath F.C.
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1876 England national rugby union team 1

William Cecil Welsh Rawlinson (17 December 1855 – 14 February 1898) was an English rugby union international who represented the England national team in 1876. He later pursued a career in the British Army, reaching the rank of major in the Lincolnshire Regiment.

Early life and education

Rawlinson was born on 17 December 1855 at Chedburgh, Suffolk.[1] He was the eldest surviving son of the Reverend William Chapman Rawlinson, formerly Rector of Chedburgh.[2]

He was educated at Clifton College in Bristol.[3] He played cricket for the school.[4] In August 1877 he was listed among the successful candidates for the Royal Military College, placed tenth in order of merit with 4,917 marks.[5]

Rugby career

A forward, Rawlinson played for Blackheath F.C. during the formative years of English rugby. He won his only international cap for England against Scotland at The Oval on 6 March 1876, in one of the earliest fixtures in the history of international rugby union.[6]

Military career

Rawlinson entered the British Army in 1878, receiving his lieutenant's commission the same year.[7] He trained at the Royal Military College and later served with the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1885.[8]

In 1888 he served during the Sikkim Expedition and received the India General Service Medal with clasp “Sikkim 1888”.[8][9] The following year he was serving as aide-de-camp on the personal staff of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal.[10]

In 1894 he was appointed temporary Instructor in Fortification at the Royal Military College and later Instructor in Tactics.[11][12] He was promoted to major in 1896[13] and retired from the service in October 1897, receiving a gratuity.[14]

Death

Rawlinson died at St Andrew's Hospital, Northampton, on 14 February 1898, aged 42.[13][2] Administration of his estate was granted in London later that year.[15]

References

  1. ↑ UK, British Army Records and Lists, 1882–1962, Official Army List, January 1892 (The National Archives, Kew).
  2. 1 2 Bury Free Press, 19 February 1898.
  3. ↑ The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 2544; Folio: 82; Page: 47; GSU roll: 835258.
  4. ↑ Western Daily Press, 20 June 1874.
  5. ↑ The Broad Arrow, 25 August 1877, p. 253.
  6. ↑ Match report, England v. Scotland, 6 March 1876, p. 154.
  7. ↑ Public Opinion, 18 February 1898, p. 214.
  8. 1 2 Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 4 October 1894.
  9. ↑ India General Service Medal Roll, Sikkim 1888 clasp entry.
  10. ↑ Allen’s Indian Mail, 18 February 1889, p. 13.
  11. ↑ Lincolnshire Chronicle, 27 February 1894, p. 2.
  12. ↑ Reading Mercury, 10 March 1894, p. 4.
  13. 1 2 Naval & Military Record and Royal Dockyards Gazette, 24 February 1898.
  14. ↑ Army and Navy Gazette, 9 October 1897.
  15. ↑ Principal Probate Registry (London), Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration, 1898.
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