Frank Reginald Wilson (28 May 1885 – 19 September 1916) was a New Zealand

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player who represented his country in 1910. Wilson was educated at Ponsonby School and then

Auckland Grammar School Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...

, where he was a member of the 1st XV in 1900. A wing three-quarter, Wilson represented at a provincial level. He was called into the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, to tour Australia in 1910 because of

Donald Cameron Donald Cameron may refer to: Scottish Clan Cameron * Donald Cameron of Lochiel (c. 1695 or 1700–1748), 19th Chief, and his descendants: ** Donald Cameron, 22nd Lochiel (1769–1832), 22nd Chief ** Donald Cameron of Lochiel (1835–1905), Scott ...

's withdrawal. He played a game against Wellington before he departed for Australia where he scored his only points for the All Blacks. He played in the first game in Australia but received an injury and did not appear again. An all-round sportsman, Wilson was considered one of Auckland's fastest sprinters. He also captained the Ponsonby Cricket Club, as well as being a well-known swimmer and tennis player. In

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, Wilson enlisted in the

New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

in March 1915 and embarked for service overseas in August that year. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in August 1916, and was wounded in action during the

Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme ( French: Bataille de la Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place bet ...

on 17 September 1916. He died as a result of his wounds two days later. He was buried in the

Dernancourt Dernancourt (; pcd, Dèrnincourt) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography Dernancourt is situated on the D52 road, some northeast of Amiens. Population Places and monuments The commune was con ...

Communal Cemetery Extension.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Frank 1885 births 1916 deaths Rugby union players from Auckland People educated at Auckland Grammar School New Zealand rugby union players New Zealand international rugby union players Auckland rugby union players Rugby union wings New Zealand military personnel killed in World War I New Zealand Military Forces personnel of World War I New Zealand Army officers