Charles Sherrard

Charles Sherrard

Full name	Charles William Sherrard
Date of birth	December 25, 1849
Place of birth	London[1]
Date of death	1938 (registered in December), Bromley, Kent
School	Rugby School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Forward
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
-	Blackheath West Kent Football Club
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1871-1872	England	2

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 December 25, 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 March 27th, 1871 at Edinburgh in the Scotland and England match.^[1] Scotland won that match but Sherrard was also involved in the return match on February 5th, 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

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Charles Sherrard Profile on scrum.com
2. ^ Army Players and International Representation (1871 onwards)
3. ^ ^{a b} Rugby School; Michell, Arthur Tompson, 1853-1923, RUGBY SCHOOL REGISTER. VOLUME II - FROM AUGUST, 1842, TO JANUARY, 1874.
4. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=p4HTH9s4WqPlWaEjrpYcSA&scan=1. Retrieved 20 September 2011.