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West Leeds: Rugby club war fallen to be honoured
Past president Raymond Johnson with honorary secretary Lynda Gomersall (left) and club member Diane Walker.
They sacrificed their lives during two world wars to honour King and country.
Dozens of players from a Leeds rugby union club signed up to fight in the trenches of Europe in the First World War: 14 never returned home.
Among the Yarnbury Rugby Club team to be killed were brothers John and George Benton from Cardigan Road, George aged just 17 in 1915 and his brother a year later aged 28.
The club, in Horsforth, is now hoping to honour their memories alongside other players who died during the First and Second World Wars.
They are hoping to create a lasting memorial listing the names of dozens of soldiers who were killed in action.
Members of the club are appealing for information about the names and regiments of soldiers to create the memorial at the club’s Brownberrie Lane ground.
Secretary Lynda Gomersall said: “We are hoping that they have quite local families that might be able to help us out.
“It was very common for whole rugby teams to sign up.
“They would have been at an age where they were ready for the call up and a lot of them were trying to stay together.”
The memorial will also help the club to celebrate its 140th birthday.
Diane Walker, whose two sons used to play for the club, has traced the graves of players who died in the First World War in Belgium.
She placed Yarnbury club pennants on their graves to pay tribute to their Yorkshire roots.
Diane also traced the grave of a 20-year-old soldier called A Flesher, who used to play for the club, at his family plot in Yeadon.
He was a member of the Royal Medical Corps but died just six days before the end of the war.
Diane said: “We are looking to see if there are any relatives who could help us. We have managed to find out more about players who died in World War One but not so much about those who died in World War Two.”
Honorary president Raymond Johnson, who headed the club for 30 years, praised the memorial and added: “I think it’s wonderful because we are the second largest club in Yorkshire.
“Some of the players came back to play after the war but I think it is important that the memory of those who died live on.”
Contact Lynda on 07752 853441 or email: lynda.gomersall@ntlworldcom
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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