Final Scrum by Nigel McCrery

Author:Nigel McCrery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / World War II
ISBN: 9781473894525
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2018-02-27T16:00:00+00:00

Ireland

Commander Charles Hallaran

Albert Medal

Ireland

Fifteen tests

Royal Navy, HMS Springbank

Died 21 March 1941, aged 43

Lock

‘A priceless man’

Gave his life to save a junior sailor

Charles Francis George Thomas Hallaran was born on 10 June 1897 in Ceylon. He was the son of Colonel William Hallaran of the Indian Army and educated at Eastman’s Royal Naval Academy College followed by the Royal Naval College Dartmouth. He played in the first XV at Dartmouth where his talent for the game was quickly recognized.

He was commissioned as a midshipman on 2 August 1914 and served on the Iron Duke-class battleship HMS Benbow from 1914, taking part in the Battle of Jutland in 1916. In the same year he was transferred to the Azalea-class sloop HMS Zinnia and became involved in submarine hunting being awarded an MiD (London Gazette 10 August 1917) for his services against enemy submarines. He was promoted sub-lieutenant in 1917 and served on HMS Resolution for the remainder of the war, seeing no further action. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1918.

His father Colonel William Hallaran played once for Ireland against Wales on 12 April 1884. Oddly, he played the match under the pseudonym R.O.N. Hall – his father was the archdeacon of Ardfelt and formerly canon of St. Mary’s, Limerick, and apparently wouldn’t have approved. Serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps, Colonel William became a surgeon and died in Jabalpur, India, on 23 January 1917 while director of medical services. His name is on the Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital Great War Memorial, Dublin.

Charles continued with his rugby playing for the Royal Navy as well appearing five times for the Barbarians between 1920 and 1923. He played against Penarth, Swansea, Neath, and the Leicester Tigers twice. He also turned out for Surrey RFC. Hallaran made fifteen international appearances for Ireland between 1921 and ’26.

He made his debut in the Five Nations against England at Twickenham on 12 February 1921. Seven players made their debut that day which might go someway to explaining their 15-0 defeat. He next appeared against Scotland on 26 February at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, being defeated by the narrow score of 9-8. Against Wales on 12 March at the Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast, Ireland went down again, this time 0-6. It was Hallaran’s final game of the 1921 season (he didn’t play in the final match of the season against France on 9 April; Ireland lost the match twenty points to ten). Ireland finished last getting the wooden spoon having made only two points to show for their efforts.

Keeping faith with Hallaran, he was selected to play once again during the 1922 Five Nations. The season kicked off against England on 11 February at Lansdowne Road, Ireland going down by three points to twelve. Scotland were next at Inverleith. Ireland went down again, this time by six points to three, although they had been three up at half time. Against Wales at St Helen’s, Swansea, on 11 March, Ireland were defeated again, this time by eleven points to five (as

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