St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

PH061

Photograph, B&W, mounted and titled. 2nd N.Z.E.F. Rugby Football team "Kiwis" 1945-1946. Photograph by Lt. Lee Hill Official 2nd N.Z.E.F. photographer. Dimensions: w15 1/2" x h13 1/2" (w40cm x h34.5cm)

Photograph

CIC

1945-1946

The 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force Rugby Football team who toured the UK, Eire, France and Germany during 1945-1946. P: 33, W: 29, D: 2, L: 2, Pts for: 605, ag: 185. They were known as the "Kiwis" rugby team. As they toured Britain and Europe in 1945-46 at the end of WW II they were acclaimed for the open, adventurous style of football played. They played Swansea at St Helens on 27 October 1945 winning by 22 pts to 6 pts in a game more characteristic of a Barbarians fixture. Thier captain Major C K "Charlie") Saxton actually played a match for Swansea against the barbarians on easter Monday 1946 (lost 6 - 11) and later returned to the UK as Tour manager of the acclaimed 1967 All Blacks, who played with some of the spirit of the famous "Kiwis" team of 1945-1946. Back Row (L to R): L/Bdr. R L Dobson, Cpl. E G Boggs, Capt. N J McPhail, Pte. K D Arnold, Pte. W A Meates, Lt. N H Thornton, Pte. J G Bond, Gnr. D S Bell, Pte. F N Haigh, Dvr. R W H Scott. 2nd Row (L to R): Capt. P J Guyton, Pte. J G Simpson, Lt. J R Sherratt, Maj. G B Nelson, Sgt. L A Grant, Cpl. S A Young, Tpr. A W Blake, Cpl. S W Wooley, Dvr. W G Argus, Lt. J A Gasson. 3rd Row (L to R): Maj. V C Butler, Pte. R D Johnstone, Capt. P K Rhind, Maj. C K Saxton (captain), Col. A H Andrews (Manager), Maj. J Finlay (Vice-captain), Pte. J B Smith, Lt. F R Allen, Lt. W J McCarthy. Front Row (L to R): Pte. W S Edwards, Pte. I Proctor, Tpr. H E Cook, Tpr. J C Kearney, Pte. M S Ingpen, Gnr. A N King. Absent: Dvr. J Maclean.

photograph, kiwis, new zealand, 1945-1946, NZEF, charlie saxton, lee hill, R L Dobson, E G Boggs, N J McPhail, K D Arnold, W A Meates, N H Thornton, J G Bond, D S Bell, F N Haigh, R W H Scott, P J Guyton, J G Simpson, J R Sherratt, G B Nelson, L A Grant, S A Young, A W Blake, S W Wooley, W G Argus, J A Gasson,V C Butler, R D Johnstone, P K Rhind, C K Saxton, A H Andrews, J Finlay, J B Smith, F R Allen, W J McCarthy, W S Edwards, I Proctor, H E Cook, J C Kearney, M S Ingpen, A N King, J Maclean,