I have recently been asked by the Club President Jim Lacey to research information on the number of players from Bangor RFC and Bangor Grammarians RFC who died during the Second World War.

At the outset of war all official rugby football games were cancelled. However during the course of the war, a number of clubs re-formed and continued to arrange friendly fixtures for the duration of hostilities.

According to a Bangor Spectator article, dated 27th September 1939, Bangor Grammarians RFC was formed following a general meeting when 28 members joined the club and an additional 50 gave expressions of interest.

The Grammarians first fixture was against a Queen's University XV on Saturday 3rd of October 1939, with the Grammarians winning by 11 points to 5. The team list for the match is as follows:

C. Craig
A.R. Finlay
P. Taylor
H.C. Hughes
G.S. Balmer
H. Greer*
W.W. Gaw
L. McWilliams
F.C. Humphreys
H. Millar
C. Hill
T. Henderson
C. Clarke
E.J. Cairns
G. Ellison

* H Greer was an Irish International later in the War, and played for NIFC then.

Fixtures continued for the duration of the war, by the end of which I have compiled a list of the names of 12 club members whose deaths were recorded in: columns and obituaries in the Spectator; from reports of club AGMs, death notices, and especially a list kindly provided by the current Principal of BGS, Mr S. Gilmore.

20/10/1940 G. Baird (civilian) aged 39, a passenger aboard the SS Rutland (sunk by torpedo)

04/04/1941 W.F.G. Gault aged 20, Pilot RAF

10/04/1941 D.F. Henderson aged 18, Sergeant RAF

05/05/1941 J.N.Hamilton aged 36, 2nd Lt Pioneer Corps

12/06/1941 H. Hannay aged 21, Pilot RAF

28/08/1941 W. M. MacDonald aged 20, Pilot RAF

27/07/1942 T.A. McCann aged 23, Pilot RAF

30/09/1942 D.A. Morrow aged 29, 2Lt Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

22/07/1943 R.H. Rutherford aged 20, Flying Officer RAF Volunteer Reserve

26/07/1943 J.S. Smyth aged 29, Pilot RAF Volunteer Reserve

15/09/1943 D.F.A. Hollywood aged 20, sub lieutenant RNVR

22/02/1945 W.W. Millar aged 21, DFC Flying Officer RAF

The names above are the result of my researches to date. Should any club members or relatives of the above wish to provide further information in the form of team photographs or anything else I would be very pleased to receive it.

Hopefully the list of deaths arrived at can be recorded on a suitable memorial plaque to be formally placed in the Bangor RFC clubhouse in time for the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War (TBC this year).

I should like to record my sincere thanks to the following who have been most co-operative in providing information, especially : the Principal of BGS Mr S Gilmore; the manager and staff of North Down museum, in particular Jonathan Magee. I also consulted Barry Niblock's excellent book on the war dead of North Down and Ards (1939- 1945).

Gerry Drennan 07816 785807