This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Kershaw, Cecil Ashworth (‘K’) played for England Internationals: 16 : 1920 W- F+ I+ S+ (1t) ; 1921 W+ (1t) I+ S+ F+ ; 1922 W+ I+ F= S+ ; 1923 W+ I+ S+ F+ Cecil Kershaw was born on 3 February 1895, the son of Sir Lewis Kershaw KCSI. Played as a Scrum half for: Wharfedale School Ilkley, Royal Naval College Osborne, Royal Naval College Dartmouth, United Services Portsmouth, Blackheath, Royal Navy Profession: Royal Navy; Instructor Lieutenant 1920, Lieutenant Commander 1925, retired 1935. He then became Commercial Manager with Richard Costain Ltd before being recalled to service in 1939 War service: Royal Navy; he served in submarines in the Baltic. Cross of St Stanislaus Remarks: Record 14 appearances for England with W J A Davies. Played in the Centenary match at Rugby School in 1923. Fenced for Great Britain in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics and v USA in 1921 and lost only one bout. Distinguished hockey player and cricketer. Served as a Captain on on Naval planning staff for the 1944 Normandy landings during the 1939-1945 War. He died in November 1972.
KERSHAW, CAPT. CECIL ASHWORTH, who died on November 1, aged 72, played cricket for the Royal Navy. He was best known as a brilliant scrum-half, he and W. J. A. Davies, for the Royal Navy and for England, forming one of the most celebrated partnerships in the history of Rugby football. Kershaw assisted United Services and the Harlequins and appeared 16 times for his country between 1920 and 1923. A splendid all-round sportsman, he was British Sabre Champion on three occasions and fenced in three Olympic Games. He played hockey for Suffolk, was a fine quarter-mile runner and excellent at squash rackets. 03.02.1895 - 01.11.1972 Worthing A/S.Lt. ? S.Lt. ? Lt. 15.02.1917 Lt.Cdr. 15.02.1925 Cdr. 31.12.1930 (retd 14.07.1933; own request) Capt. (retd) 03.02.1940 (reverted to retd < 04.1946) MID 12.08.1941 Lofoten raid 02.41 MID 14.11.1944 Operation Neptune 06.44 Education: W[...]dale School; RN Colleges, Osborne & Dartmouth Played rugby for England, 1920-1923. 15.01.1908 entered RN 19.04.1923 - (08.1923) HMS Barham (battleship) & as Squadron Physical & Recreational Training Officer, 1st Battle Squadron (Atlantic Fleet) 28.07.1924 - (01.1925) RN College, Greenwich (for Physical & Recreational Training duties) [HMS President] 08.1926 - (07.1927) HMS Hood (battlecruiser) & as Squadron Physical & Recreational Training Officer, Battle Cruiser Squadron (Atlantic Fleet) 30.04.1928 - (04.1930) HMS Ganges (training establishment, Shotley) 21.01.1931 - (09.1932) Executive Officer, HMS Dragon (cruiser) (America and West Indies) 08.12.1939 - (04.1940) HMS Collingwood (training establishment, Fareham, Hampshire) 02.1941 - (02.)1941 Commanding Officer, HMS Queen Emma (troop carrier) 01.10.1941 - (02.)1943 Commanding Officer, HMS Alaunia (armed merchant cruiser / repair ship) 1943 - (06.)1943 Royal Indian Navy 06.1943 - (12.)1943 HMS Salsette (Combined Operations base, Bombay) 20.12.1943 - (06.1944) Commanding Officer, HMS Bulolo (armed merchant cruiser) (07.1945) no appointment listed
Fenced for GB at Antwerp Olympics 1920 (Foil and Sabre team and Indiv) and Paris in 1924 (Sabre team and indiv).
