Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge
Encyclopedia
Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge (21 July 1890 – 28 August 1969) known as "The Bird" or "Birdie", was a Welsh born 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. He was also the founder of the Army Rugby Union
.
and Joseph Bailey
who went on to become 1st Baronet of Glanusk Park
.
He was sent to board at the English public school, Dulwich College
, 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.
took him away from his homeland, however, and as a lieutenant he was sent to South Africa to fight in the Boer War
. Whilst serving there, he joined the Pretoria Harlequins
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, 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
and London Welsh 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.
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. Ironcically, 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.
, 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 team mates, 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.
was with the Welch Regiment
. He fought in the Boer War
and in the First World War. He was mentioned in dispatches
for his part in that conflict. He was eventually promoted to lieutenant-colonel. 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.
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...
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. He was also the founder of the Army Rugby Union
Army Rugby Union
The Army Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the British Army and a constituent body of the Rugby Football Union . The ARU was formed on 31 December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant J.E.C...
.
Early life
Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge was born in 1879 in Llanthewy Court, Monmouth, near Abergavenny. He was the elder son of Joseph Partridge (born 1843) and his wife Jessie (née James, born 1847). Both English, they had moved to Wales before Joseph was born. He had a younger brother, Robert L Partridge. Joseph's middle name, Crawshay, was inherited through his father's side and was indicative of his connections to the influential Crawshay/Bailey family who had gained their position through their activities in the iron industry. His cousin, the celebrated war hero, Richard Crawshay Bailey Partridge also had this middle name. Joseph's father, Joseph, an Estate Agent Auctioneer, was the eldest son of William Partridge and Charlotte Bevan. William, in turn, was the son of James Partridge and Elizabeth Bailey, the latter being the daughter of John Bailey and Susannah Crawshay, and therefore the older sister of Crawshay BaileyCrawshay Bailey
Crawshay Bailey was an English industrialist who became one of the great iron-masters of Wales.-Early life:Bailey was born in 1789 in Great Wenham, Suffolk, the son of John Bailey, of Wakefield and his wife Susannah...
and Joseph Bailey
Sir Joseph Bailey, 1st Baronet
Sir Joseph Bailey, 1st Baronet was an English ironmaster and Member of Parliament .Bailey was born in 1783 in Great Wenham, Suffolk, the son of John Bailey, of Wakefield and his wife Susannah...
who went on to become 1st Baronet of Glanusk Park
Glanusk Park
Glanusk Park is an estate in Britain. It is situated near Crickhowell, Powys, within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire. It was established in 1826 by a "retired" ironmaster, Sir Joseph Bailey. The park features in the hereditary title Baron Glanusk which was given to Sir Joseph's grandson,...
.
He was sent to board at the English public school, Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
, 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.
Rugby career
After leaving Dulwich, he went on to play for Newport RFC. His commitments with the Welch RegimentWelch Regiment
The Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.-History:It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the 69th Regiment of Foot...
took him away from his homeland, however, and as a lieutenant he was sent to South Africa to fight in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
. Whilst serving there, he joined the Pretoria Harlequins
Pretoria Harlequins
-History:The Pretoria Harlequins started life as the Civil Service Club, but when the membership needed to be extended beyond the Civil Service, it was decided in February 1906 to change the name to “The Harlequin Rugby Club” and to ask for permission to use the London Harlequins colours and...
and latterly the provincial side, Transvaal
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
, later to be renamed the Golden Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
. He even represented South Africa after the war in 1903 in one of the three tests against a touring British XV, 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
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
and London Welsh captaining the former in the 1906 season. He also played for the Welch Regiment
Welch Regiment
The Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.-History:It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the 69th Regiment of Foot...
, the Army
Army Rugby Union
The Army Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the British Army and a constituent body of the Rugby Football Union . The ARU was formed on 31 December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant J.E.C...
(caps 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910), and had an English trial.
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
Edgar Mobbs
Edgar Roberts "Mobbsy" Mobbs DSO was an English rugby union footballer who played for and captained Northampton R.F.C. and England. He played as a three quarter....
, the match was played to raise funds for the war effort. Ironcically, 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
The idea of forming the Army Rugby UnionArmy Rugby Union
The Army Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the British Army and a constituent body of the Rugby Football Union . The ARU was formed on 31 December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant J.E.C...
, 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 team mates, Lieutenant WSD Craven of the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
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
Army Council
The Army Council was a term first used in 1647 to describe an institution which coordinated the views of all levels of the New Model Army. During the Interregnum it metamorphosed into the Council of Officers....
to obtain sanction for its formation and on 31 December 1906 sanction was granted.
International matches played
- for South Africa
-
Great Britain, Johannesburg, 26 August 1903. Draw (South Africa (10) 10 - 10 (5) Great Britain)
-
- for Barbarians
- , Cardiff Arms Park on April 17, 1915. Barbarians won 26 - 10
Military career and later life
His career in the British ArmyBritish 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...
was with the Welch Regiment
Welch Regiment
The Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.-History:It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the 69th Regiment of Foot...
. He fought in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
and in the First World War. He was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
for his part in that conflict. He was eventually promoted to lieutenant-colonel. After his retirement he remained 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...
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.