James Baird : Rugby player

Discussion in 'Sportsmen & women' started by Dolphin, Apr 30, 2009.

  1. Dolphin

    Dolphin New Member

    This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during 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

    Baird, James Alexander Steenson New Zealand

    Internationals: 1: 1913 A+

    James Baird was born on 17 December 1893, in Dunedin, son of James and Lucinda Charlotte Baird

    Played as a Centre for: Caversham School, Zingari Richmond, Otago

    Profession: Machinist

    Remarks: He played only two matches for Otago before All Black selection. The second 1913 test v Australia (won 25-13) was his only game for New Zealand, as he had to withdraw from the third test due to a hand injury. Baird was unable to play in the 1914 season due to illness.

    War service: 29720 Private, No 4 Company, 1st Battalion Otago Infantry Regiment, NZEF.

    He died of wounds on 7 June 1917, in France, and was buried in Ballieul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France [III. B. 26]
     
  2. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    A snippet .....

    1913 - Australia toured NZ. The home team won the series, which was played in two parts, 2-1. The first test was played by the main All Black team, which was setting out for California. NZ won 30-5, the highest score against Australia until 1936 and the biggest winning margin until 1972, although it was equalled in 1936. The test was the only one ever played in quarters. Tom Lynch scored three tries, the only All Black test hat-trick on Athletic Park until 1999. Alex McDonald, the NZ skipper, was the last of the Originals to play test rugby. The main team sailed during the week before the second test, so a new side was picked. 13 were playing their first test. Two teenagers (James Baird and Bill Francis) played, the only time this has ever happened with the All Blacks in a test. Francis, aged 19 years, 221 days, remains NZ's youngest ever test forward. NZ won 25-13, before losing 5-16 at Christchurch. This represented both Lancaster Park's first test and NZ's first test loss at home. Their respective fullbacks led the two teams - Joe O'Leary remains the only fullback to captain an All Black test side. The two referees in the second and third matches (Alec Downes and George Nicholson), had represented NZ at cricket and rugby respectively. Six of the All Blacks who played in this series were killed in the First World War.
     
  3. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    In Memory of
    Private JAS ALEX STEENSON BAIRD

    29720, No. 4 Coy. 1st Bn., Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
    who died age 23
    on 07 June 1917
    Son of the late James and Lucinda Charlotte Baird.

    Remembered with honour
    BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION (NORD)

     

Share This Page