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1916 - North of England Military XV v Tees & Hartlepools Garrison

What we know about this image :

The centre spread of the programme for a forgotten Representative game held during the Great War played on the Victoria Ground in Clarence Road on the 29th April, 1916. The organisers of the North XV were Bob Oakes from Rovers and Rev Bertram Jones from West and being wartime, the North side was drawn from both Rugby Union and Northern Union (now called the Rugby League) codes. A crowd of 6000 turned out for the game which the North won by 22 pts to 6. A smoker was held at St George afterwards and as an additional draw it was hoped that Leiut. O'Leary V.C. would be in attendance. 

Also in the North XV was Harold Wagstaff, one of the NRU's all time great players along with his Huddersfield team-mate Ben Gronow, their club then being the top League side in this country. In the Hartlepool team is another Gronow family member, Ben's brother, Pte. W J Gronow (Bill?), at the time he ws Vice Captain of Bridgend RFC.

 Several of the players  including Bertram Jones, are marked with an asterisk next to their names, they had earlier in the month played for the North against the Anzacs XV at Leeds, the Anzac XV comprising those who had fought in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.  

Date (of image) : 29/4/1916

Donor : Harlepool Museums Service

Creator : B T Ord, Tower St West Hartlepool

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