Charles Sherrard
| Birth name | Charles William Sherrard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 25 December 1849 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | London[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 1938 (registered in December), Bromley, Kent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Rugby School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Charles Sherrard RE was a rugby union international who represented England from 1871 to 1872.[1] Additionally, along with Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton RE, he was the first member of the armed forces to represent their national side.[2]
Early life
Charles Sherrard was born on 25 December 1849 in London, the son of James Corry Sherrard, Esq. of Reigate. He attended Rugby School, and was a member of Hutchinson House, leaving in 1865.[3]
Rugby union career
Sherrard played for Blackheath F.C., an open membership club originally set up for the old boys of Blackheath Proprietary School, which by the time Sherrard was playing was dominated by old boys from Rugby School, amongst whom was counted Sherrard himself. He was selected for the very first international in 1871, alongside his club captain Frederick Stokes and fellow Royal Engineer Charles Crompton. He made his international debut on 27 March 1871 at Edinburgh in the Scotland and England match.[1] Scotland won that match but Sherrard was also involved in the return match on 5 February 1872 at The Oval which England won.[1]
Army service
Sherrard was gazetted to the Royal Engineers in 1870 rising to the rank of Captain in 1882, through to Major in 1888, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1895 and finally Colonel by 1899. He also served as the Instructor in Fortifications, at the Royal School of Military Engineering, in Chatham from 1882-8. He served in the South African War, in 1879 and was decorated with the Medal with Clasp for that campaign. In 1901 he was commanding the Chatham Sub-District and was a member of the United Service Club.[3]
Family and later life
Charles Sherrard married Elizabeth Ballantyne in 1922, at the age of 73. He died in Bromley, aged 89, in 1938.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d Charles Sherrard Profile on scrum.com
- ^ Army Players and International Representation (1871 onwards)
- ^ a b Rugby School; Michell, Arthur Tompson, 1853-1923, RUGBY SCHOOL REGISTER. VOLUME II - FROM AUGUST, 1842, TO JANUARY, 1874.
- ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 20 September 2011.