Lieutenant-colonel Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge (21 July 1879 – 28 August 1965) known as "The Bird" or "Birdie",[3] was a Welsh born British Army officer and international rugby union player who was capped for South Africa and was a member of the Barbarians in that side's first international, played against Wales in 1915.[4] He was also the founder of the Army Rugby Union.[3]
Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge was born 21 July 1879 in Llanthewy Court, Monmouth, near Abergavenny.[5] He was the eldest son of Joseph Partridge (born Beaufort House, Beaufort, Monmouth 1843) and his wife Jessie (née James, born 1846 on the border near Kington Herefordshire). He had three younger brothers. His cousin, war hero, Richard Crawshay Bailey Partridge shared his Crawshay middle name. Their Suffolk-born grandfather, William Partridge, ironmaster, manager of the Beaufort Ironworks who married locally born Charlotte Bevan, was the son of Elizabeth Bailey, sister of Crawshay Bailey and Joseph Bailey.
He was sent to school at the English public school, Dulwich College,[3] where he learnt his rugby. The school had a strong rugby tradition having already produced a number of international players by the time Partridge attended.
After leaving Dulwich, he went on to play for Newport RFC.[2] His commitments with the Welch Regiment took him away from his homeland, however, and as a lieutenant he was sent to South Africa to fight in the Boer War.[2] Whilst serving there, he joined the Pretoria Harlequins[9] and latterly the provincial side, Transvaal, later to be renamed the Golden Lions. He even represented South Africa after the war in 1903 in one of the three tests against a touring British XV,[2] who are retrospectively considered as the 1903 British Lions.
After he returned to the United Kingdom, whilst continuing to serve in the Army, he played club rugby for Blackheath[2] and London Welsh[2] captaining the former in the 1906 season. He also played for the Welch Regiment, the Army (caps 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910), and had an English trial.[3]
Partridge also had the distinction of playing for the famed invitational side, The Barbarians. He had the honour of being chosen to play in their first international match. Captained by Edgar Mobbs, the match was played to raise funds for the war effort. Ironically, the match was played against Wales which meant that Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge's only appearance in a Welsh international fixture was as a member of the opposition.
Formation of the Army Rugby UnionEdit
The idea of forming the Army Rugby Union, came to him whilst he was reading a newspaper on a train during a tour of Scotland with Blackheath RFC in the season 1905–06. He proposed his idea to his two travelling companions and teammates, Lieutenant WSD Craven of the Royal Field Artillery and Lieutenant CG Liddell (who later become General Sir Clive Liddell) of the Leicestershire Regiment. Having their support, a meeting was held on 12 November 1906 at which it was decided to form an Army Rugby Union (ARU). Captain REG Waymouth, having been appointed Honorary Secretary, duly wrote to the Army Council to obtain sanction for its formation and on 31 December 1906 sanction was granted.
International matches playedEdit
for South Africa
Great Britain, Johannesburg, 26 August 1903. Draw (South Africa (10) 10 - 10 (5) Great Britain)[10]
for Barbarians
Wales, Cardiff Arms Park on 17 April 1915. Barbarians won 26 - 10[4]
Later lifeEdit
After his retirement he remained in Abergavenny where he lived until his death in 1965 at the age of 86. His South Africa rugby cap was presented to the Regimental Museum in Cardiff.
Personal lifeEdit
Major Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge married Christine Mary Phillips of the famous brewing family Phillips & Sons Brewery.[11]
joseph, edward, crawshay, partridge, lieutenant, colonel, july, 1879, august, 1965, known, bird, birdie, welsh, born, british, army, officer, international, rugby, union, player, capped, south, africa, member, barbarians, that, side, first, international, play. Lieutenant colonel Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge 21 July 1879 28 August 1965 known as The Bird or Birdie 3 was a Welsh born British Army officer and international rugby union player who was capped for South Africa and was a member of the Barbarians in that side s first international played against Wales in 1915 4 He was also the founder of the Army Rugby Union 3 Birdie PartridgeBirth nameJoseph Edward Crawshay PartridgeDate of birth 1879 07 21 21 July 1879 1 Place of birthLlanthewy Court Abergavenny WalesDate of death28 August 1965 1965 08 28 aged 86 1 SchoolDulwich CollegeOccupation s Professional SoldierRugby union careerPosition s ForwardAmateur team s YearsTeamApps Points 1907 10Army Senior careerYearsTeamApps Points 1898 1901 2 1905 061899 19021904 11 2 Invitational1905 15Newport RFCBlackheath F C London WelshPretoria QuinsNewport RFCBarbarians16217 2 Provincial State sidesYearsTeamApps Points 1902 03Transvaal International careerYearsTeamApps Points 1903Invitational1915South AfricaBarbarians11 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 3 Rugby career 3 1 Formation of the Army Rugby Union 3 2 International matches played 4 Later life 5 Personal life 6 ReferencesEarly life EditJoseph Edward Crawshay Partridge was born 21 July 1879 in Llanthewy Court Monmouth near Abergavenny 5 He was the eldest son of Joseph Partridge born Beaufort House Beaufort Monmouth 1843 and his wife Jessie nee James born 1846 on the border near Kington Herefordshire He had three younger brothers His cousin war hero Richard Crawshay Bailey Partridge shared his Crawshay middle name Their Suffolk born grandfather William Partridge ironmaster manager of the Beaufort Ironworks who married locally born Charlotte Bevan was the son of Elizabeth Bailey sister of Crawshay Bailey and Joseph Bailey He was sent to school at the English public school Dulwich College 3 where he learnt his rugby The school had a strong rugby tradition having already produced a number of international players by the time Partridge attended Military career EditPartridge was commissioned an officer in the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers a Militia regiment where he was promoted to lieutenant on 14 March 1901 6 He saw active service in South Africa during the Second Boer War After the war ended in June 1902 he returned to the United Kingdom on the SS Syria two months later arriving in Southampton in early September 7 His later career in the British Army was with the Welch Regiment and he fought in the First World War He was mentioned in despatches 8 for his part in that conflict and eventually promoted to lieutenant colonel Rugby career EditAfter leaving Dulwich he went on to play for Newport RFC 2 His commitments with the Welch Regiment took him away from his homeland however and as a lieutenant he was sent to South Africa to fight in the Boer War 2 Whilst serving there he joined the Pretoria Harlequins 9 and latterly the provincial side Transvaal later to be renamed the Golden Lions He even represented South Africa after the war in 1903 in one of the three tests against a touring British XV 2 who are retrospectively considered as the 1903 British Lions After he returned to the United Kingdom whilst continuing to serve in the Army he played club rugby for Blackheath 2 and London Welsh 2 captaining the former in the 1906 season He also played for the Welch Regiment the Army caps 1907 1908 1909 1910 and had an English trial 3 Partridge also had the distinction of playing for the famed invitational side The Barbarians He had the honour of being chosen to play in their first international match Captained by Edgar Mobbs the match was played to raise funds for the war effort Ironically the match was played against Wales which meant that Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge s only appearance in a Welsh international fixture was as a member of the opposition Formation of the Army Rugby Union Edit The idea of forming the Army Rugby Union came to him whilst he was reading a newspaper on a train during a tour of Scotland with Blackheath RFC in the season 1905 06 He proposed his idea to his two travelling companions and teammates Lieutenant WSD Craven of the Royal Field Artillery and Lieutenant CG Liddell who later become General Sir Clive Liddell of the Leicestershire Regiment Having their support a meeting was held on 12 November 1906 at which it was decided to form an Army Rugby Union ARU Captain REG Waymouth having been appointed Honorary Secretary duly wrote to the Army Council to obtain sanction for its formation and on 31 December 1906 sanction was granted International matches played Edit for South Africa nbsp Great Britain Johannesburg 26 August 1903 Draw South Africa 10 10 10 5 Great Britain 10 for Barbarians nbsp Wales Cardiff Arms Park on 17 April 1915 Barbarians won 26 10 4 Later life EditAfter his retirement he remained in Abergavenny where he lived until his death in 1965 at the age of 86 His South Africa rugby cap was presented to the Regimental Museum in Cardiff Personal life EditMajor Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge married Christine Mary Phillips of the famous brewing family Phillips amp Sons Brewery 11 References Edit a b Birdie Partridge profile on Scrum com a b c d e f g h i Friends of Newport Rugby Trust a b c d Founding the Army Rugby Union 1906 Archived 1 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine a b Wales V Barbarians Classics 1915 permanent dead link 1881 Wales Census Class RG11 Piece 5233 Folio 5 Page 3 Line GSU roll 1342260 Hart s Army list 1903 The Army in South Africa Troops returning home The Times No 36852 London 21 August 1902 p 5 London Gazette 20 December 1918 page 14932 Profile on official site of Newport RFC Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Match details Great Britain tour Johannesburg 26 August 1903 Brew Hist 111 pp 37 63 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge amp oldid 1178037584, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
