Wigan Album
Wigan Rugby Players
7 Comments
Photo: Keith
Item #: 20669
Of the 21 playing members of the Wigan RL Club who enlisted in WW1, Lewis Bradley was the only one to lose his life, although C. Molloy was blinded. Part of Lewis’s obituary in the local Wigan paper read:-
“Quick off the mark he was often past his opposing threequarter before the latter realised Bradley had the ball. Shall we ever forget this speedy wing threequarter at Central Park? He was the idol of the crowd and it only seems like yesterday that he was dashing down the touchline, his long flowing hair blowing in the wind, those long raking strides, and that final natural swerve.”
Lewis was a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery and lost his life in the Somme area in June 1918, he’s buried at Vignacourt Cemetery along with over 500 other British soldiers. Although he was playing for Pontypool RU in 1911 when Wigan signed him, he was in fact English having been born near Cinderford in Gloucestershire, a hotbed of Rugby in that part of the world, near the Forest of Dean.
Forgot to add, Lewis was 29 when he died.
Poor lad.. what a waste.
I am struck by how many Wigan men joined the Royal Field Artillery.My Gt grandfather was also in the regiment he died in 1915 also in the Somme area, he was from Platt Bridge.
Keith do you have any information on a J. Coulthard who played at Wigan around 1909? I would be interested if you did know anything about him. i knew his son who was a parish priest near where I live now. In later life Father Coulthard was a sports coach at National level, coaching amongst others, Mary Peters.
Hi Wigwann, the statistics I take from Ian Morrison's book, "Wigan RLFC 1895 - 1986" and for J. Coultard it states he played for Wigan in 1906/07 and 1907/08, appearing 13 times for the club, scoring 2 tries and kicking 3 goals. It looks as if he played his first match on Oct.6th 1906 against Leigh and his final match on April 13th 1908 against Hunslet. He played at centre and sometimes full-back.Hope that's useful.
Sorry, correct spelling should have been J Coulthard.
Thanks Keith, that was something I didn't know and very helpful.
Lewis was my great great uncle, in August this year myself and my husband visited his grave at Vignacourt Cemetary. Very moving. So weird to see the place where he was laid to rest. I know my great Uncle would love to go but due to age this is now not possible. It is now up to the younger generations to tell his story and ensure that he is remembered.