Frederick Belson
Encyclopedia
Frederick Charles Belson (13 February 1874 – 10 August 1952) was an English
international rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Clifton
and Bath
, and county rugby for Somerset. Belson played international rugby for the British Isles
on their 1899 tour of Australia
.
in Kent
in 1874 to Berkley George A. Belson, a retired Royal Navy Commander originally from Woolwich
and Sarah Belson from New South Wales
, Australia. His family were originally from Portsmouth, but Belson moved to the South-West of England as a child, where he was educated at Clifton College
. As an adult he entered the banking profession and worked for the National Provincial Bank
. He followed a banking career for several years taking up positions around the Somerset and Wiltshire areas, and even took a post in Abergavenny
in Wales in 1896; but by 1897 he was back in Somerset. In 1899, Belson was invited to join the British Isles rugby team on their tour of Australia, but was denied the six-month leave by his employers. He decided to take the opportunity regardless, and left for Australia in May that year, understanding his job was forfeit. In September 1899, a month after the end of the rugby tour, the Bath Chronicle reported that Belson had taken an appointment in Sydney, showing a commitment to stay in Australia.
In 1900, Belson joined the newly formed Imperial Yeomanry
, and travelled to South Africa
to serve the British Army
in the Second Boer War
. He joined Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry
, and reached the rank of Lieutenant. He left South Africa on 16 July 1902, leaving Cape Town on the SS Canada and returned to Britain a war invalid. Between leaving Africa and the outbreak of the First World War, Belson moved to British Columbia
in Canada, but returned to Britain to serve his country after the outbreak of war in 1914. He joined the Royal Army Service Corps
, but did not appear to have seen active duty. During the War years Belson saw the birth of two sons, in 1916 and 1917. Between 1920 and 1924, he returned to British Columbia to continue his governmental duties. He died in Southsea
in 1952.
, but was back in the Bath team by February 1897. During the same period (late 1896 to early 1897), Belson is also recorded as playing several games for Bristol
. In September 1897, Belson turned out for a trial game for Newport RFC, but there are no records of him playing a full game for the senior XV.
In 1899 Belson was invited to join Matthew Mullineux
's British Isles team, on their tour of Australia. There is conflicting evidence to how many games Belson played out of the 21 matches of the tour, ranging from four to seven. There is no doubt over Belson's single international game, and all sources state that he played in the First Test against Australia
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
forward who played club rugby for Clifton
Clifton Rugby Football Club
Clifton Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club founded in Clifton, Bristol, England. Over the years the club's home games have been played in a variety of locations in northern Bristol, though never in Clifton itself; since 1976 they have been based at the southern end of Cribbs Causeway.Clifton...
and Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
, and county rugby for Somerset. Belson played international rugby for the British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
on their 1899 tour of Australia
1899 British Lions tour to Australia
The 1899 British Isles tour to Australia was the fourth rugby union tour by a British Isles team and the second to Australia; though the first tour in 1888 was a private venture, making the 1899 tour the first official undertaking of Australia...
.
Personal life
Belson was born in RamsgateRamsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
in 1874 to Berkley George A. Belson, a retired Royal Navy Commander originally from Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
and Sarah Belson from New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia. His family were originally from Portsmouth, but Belson moved to the South-West of England as a child, where he was educated at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
. As an adult he entered the banking profession and worked for the National Provincial Bank
National Provincial Bank
National Provincial Bank was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1833 until its merger into the National Westminster Bank in 1970; it remains a registered company but is dormant...
. He followed a banking career for several years taking up positions around the Somerset and Wiltshire areas, and even took a post in Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
in Wales in 1896; but by 1897 he was back in Somerset. In 1899, Belson was invited to join the British Isles rugby team on their tour of Australia, but was denied the six-month leave by his employers. He decided to take the opportunity regardless, and left for Australia in May that year, understanding his job was forfeit. In September 1899, a month after the end of the rugby tour, the Bath Chronicle reported that Belson had taken an appointment in Sydney, showing a commitment to stay in Australia.
In 1900, Belson joined the newly formed Imperial Yeomanry
Imperial Yeomanry
The Imperial Yeomanry was a British volunteer cavalry regiment that mainly saw action during the Second Boer War. Officially created on 24 December 1899, the regiment was based on members of standing Yeomanry regiments, but also contained a large contingent of mid-upper class English volunteers. In...
, and travelled to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to serve the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He joined Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry
Mounted infantry
Mounted infantry were soldiers who rode horses instead of marching, but actually fought on foot . The original dragoons were essentially mounted infantry...
, and reached the rank of Lieutenant. He left South Africa on 16 July 1902, leaving Cape Town on the SS Canada and returned to Britain a war invalid. Between leaving Africa and the outbreak of the First World War, Belson moved to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in Canada, but returned to Britain to serve his country after the outbreak of war in 1914. He joined the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
, but did not appear to have seen active duty. During the War years Belson saw the birth of two sons, in 1916 and 1917. Between 1920 and 1924, he returned to British Columbia to continue his governmental duties. He died in Southsea
Southsea
Southsea is a seaside resort located in Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island in the county of Hampshire in England. Southsea is within a mile of Portsmouth's city centre....
in 1952.
Rugby career
Belson joined Clifton RFC in 1891 and continued playing for the team until 1894 when he began playing for Bath. After his banking job was moved to Wales in 1896, he played several games for Abergavenny RFCAbergavenny RFC
Abergavenny Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club team based in Abergavenny. Today, Abergavenny RFC plays in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Three East league and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons....
, but was back in the Bath team by February 1897. During the same period (late 1896 to early 1897), Belson is also recorded as playing several games for Bristol
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
. In September 1897, Belson turned out for a trial game for Newport RFC, but there are no records of him playing a full game for the senior XV.
In 1899 Belson was invited to join Matthew Mullineux
Matthew Mullineux
Matthew Mullineux MC was an English rugby union scrum-half who, although not capped for England, was selected for two British Lions tours. He gained one cap during the 1896 tour to South Africa and captained the 1899 tour of Australia...
's British Isles team, on their tour of Australia. There is conflicting evidence to how many games Belson played out of the 21 matches of the tour, ranging from four to seven. There is no doubt over Belson's single international game, and all sources state that he played in the First Test against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
.