Following on from the outstanding success of the Help For Heroes Challenge match at Twickenham Stadium, when more than £1.3m was raised, the Welsh Rugby Union offered the charity collection to H4H for Wales’ first game in the Invesco Perpetual Series ’08 against the reigning world champions.
More than 120 collectors from the three services – HMS Westminster representing the navy, RAF St Athan representing the Air Force and the Royal Welsh representing The Army – will be operating at the Millennium Stadium and its surrounds throughout Saturday.
“We have a full house of more than 74,000 fans scheduled to pack the Millennium Stadium on Saturday and we hope that everyone will support the Help For Heroes and Royal British Legion appeals,” said WRU Chief Executive Roger Lewis.
“The fund raising target for the H4H Challenge Match at Twickenham was an ambitious £1m and so we have set the bar higher than ever for our charity collection this weekend.
“The game will be played the day before Remembrance Sunday and both teams will observe a minute’s silence before kick-off. There were 16 Welsh and five South African internationals lost in the two World Wars during the last century and their names will be honoured in our thoughts.”
The Royal harpist, Claire Jones, will join the British Lions Choir and the Royal Welsh Regimental Band in pre-match entertainment and then both captains, Wales’ Ryan Jones and South Africa’s John Smit, will carry wreaths onto the field as they lead their teams onto the pitch.
They will be laid on the half-way line as a mark of respect for the soldiers who fell during the old and recent conflicts. The Last Post will be played before kick-off.
The military theme will be continued at half-time when the crowd will be introduced to recent winners of the Military Cross from the British Armed Forces.
All monies raised on the day will be split between Help For Heroes and the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
At a time when the Nation is focused on the sacrifices of those who have served, and who are currently serving, in the British Armed Forces, the two charities are pleased to be joint beneficiaries of funds raised at the event under Prince William’s patronage.
Help For Heroes was created to provide support for the Servicemen and women wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq and is raising money to help improve facilities and services at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court and the NHS Hospital, Selly Oak.
The Royal British Legion protects the interests, welfare and memory of British serving and ex-Service people and their dependants.
LEST WE FORGET
The two Great Wars took a terrible toll on life and hundreds of Welsh rugby players were lost to the game. Of Wales’ international cast, 16 capped players fell during World War I and II.
WORLD WAR I
Charles Taylor was the first Welsh international to be killed in action. An Engineer/Captain of the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron, he was killed on HMS Tiger at the Battle of Dogger Bank on 24 January, 1915, aged 51.
Billy Geen helped Newport beat the Springboks in 1912 and won three Welsh caps before volunteering, at 22, to join 9th Battalion of The Kings’ Royal Rifle Corps. He died at Ypres on 31 July, 1915, aged 24..
Richard Williams won his only cap in the first Welsh team against England in 1881. A soldier before World War 1, he rose to the rank of Major in the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He retired at 34 before rejoining at 58 in 1914. He became a Lieutenant Colonel in the 12th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and was killed in action at Loos on 27 September, 1915, aged 59.
Lou Phillips helped Wales win the Triple Crown in 1900. When war broke out he refused a commission and enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers. He became a sergeant and was killed in action at Cambrai on 14 March, 1916, aged 38.
Dick Thomas, Johnnie Williams, David Watts and Charlie Pritchard all lost their lives in the space of 39 days on the Somme. Thomas and Williams made their Welsh debuts against the 1906 Springboks in a game in which Pritchard also played.
Thomas became a Company Sergeant Major in the Welch Regiment and was killed leading a bayonet charge with the 16th Battalion at Mametz Wood on 7 July, 1916, aged 32.
Williams scored17 tries in a 17 cap career that saw him help Wales win three Grand Slams. A Captain in the Welch Regiment, he was fatally wounded at Mametz Wood and died on 12 July, 1916, aged 34.
Watts was the first player to be capped from Maesteg, playing five times for his country. He became a Corporal in 7th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and fell fighting on the Somme on 14 July, 1916, aged 30
Pritchard was one of the heroes of the Welsh pack when they beat New Zealand in 1905. He was a Captain in the 12th Battalion South Wales Borderers when he died on the Western Front on 14 August, 1916, aged 33. He was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery under fire as he led his men on a daring raid in enemy territory.
Horace Thomas made his Wales debut in the 3-0 defeat by the Springboks in Cardiff in 1912. He served in the Calcutta Harbour Defence Force while working in India prior to World War I and was a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant with the 11th Battalion, Rifle Brigade on the Somme when he was killed in action on 3 September, 1916, aged 26.
Brin Lewis played for Swansea and won his two caps from there. He was a member of the Glamorgan Yeomanry who rose to the rank of Major in the Royal Field Artillery before he was killed in action at Ypres on 2 April, 1917, aged 26.
Dai Westacott won his only cap against Ireland in 1906. A private in the Gloucestershire Regiment, he was killed in action in France on 28 August,1917, aged 35.
Phil Waller won six Welsh caps and three for the 1910 British Lions in South Africa. After the Lions tour he settled in South Africa and enlisted in the South African Heavy Artillery Regiment. He rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and was killed by shellfire in Arras on 14 December, 1917, aged 28.
Fred Perrett won five Welsh caps before joining Leeds RLFC in 1913. At the outbreak of war he joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was a 2nd Lieutenant in 17th Battalion when he was badly injured in France. He died of his wounds after Armistice Day, on 1 December, 1918, aged 27.
WORLD WAR II
Cecil Davies won one cap against England in 1934 while playing for the RAF and London Welsh. He was killed in action on Christmas Day, 1941, aged 32.
John Evans won his only cap as captain of Wales against England in Cardiff in 1934. A Lieutenant in 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, he was killed in action in North Africa on 8 March, 1943, aged 31.
Maurice Turnbull was one of Wales’ greatest all-round sportsmen. He played cricket for England and rugby and hockey for Wales. A Major in 1st Battalion Welch Guards, he was killed in action on 5 August,1944, aged 38.
SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY’S INTERNATIONAL WAR DEAD
WW1: Adam Burdett, Sep Ledger, Toby Moll, Jacky Morkel, Gerald Thompson
