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Percy Dale
‘Toggie”
Kendall
was born in Prescot on August 21st 1878 the son of Francis and
Margaret Kendall. After starting his education at the
Elleray
School
,
New Brighton
, in his native Merseyside he later progressed to
Tonbridge
School
where he developed into a useful scrum half before attending university at
Cambridge
. Whilst here
Kendall
was to play rugby for his university, but was never selected for the varsity
match missing out on his blue. At times he also turned out for Blackheath whilst
he lived and studied in
Cambridge
.
Completing his
education and now employed as a solicitor Kendall returned to the
North West
where he became a stalwart member of both the
Birkenhead
Park
and
Cheshire
teams, captaining his county at times over the following years. Although
overlooked by his Captains at Cambridge the Barbarians soon saw his potential,
and he was to play in their famous black and white hooped jersey a total of nine
times. His first outing for the Barbarians was on Boxing Day 1899 against
Cardiff
during a twenty seven point to three defeat. 1900 proved a busy year for both
Kendall and the Barbarians as he travelled to
France
for an early match outside of the British Isles against
Le Havre
on February 7th cruising to a forty one point to three victory.
After this he joined the Barbarians for their usual Easter tour to
Wales
in April, enjoying victory a over
Cardiff
this time although losing to both
Gloucester
and
Newport
. The Christmas Holidays were also surrendered by Kendall to the Barbarians that
year as they travelled to the North East defeating Hartlepool Rovers on Boxing
Day by four points to three and
Percy
Park
by twenty four points to eight the day after.
Kendall’s
progression both as a player and through the ranks of rugby union had been duly
noted and he was selected for his first international cap against
Scotland
in a match held at Blackheath on March 9th 1901. For
Kendall
it was not the best of debuts as he played behind an English pack that was
dominated by the stronger Scots. Both he and his half back partner, H. Outhred,
were regarded as having poor games, seen as “slow
in getting the ball and uncertain in passing, they never really gave their
three-quarters a chance”, although in fairness on the day the whole
English backline misfired. This, the last match of the international season,
resulted in a heavy eighteen points to three loss for the English as they took
the wooden spoon and
Scotland
the championship.
Despite this poor
first match Kendall was again selected to play for his country in the opening
match of the 1902 campaign against
Wales
on January 11th, held again at the Rectory field in Blackheath. Both
teams played well during a fine spectacle in a hard fought game. Wales, though,
were the better side and despite valiant English defense to quell their attacks
snatched an eight points to nine win and would go on to take the championship
that year. Once more this was not the best of games for Kendall, who was still
finding it difficult to adjust to the international level. In it’s match
report the Times wrote of his performance “Kendall
of
Cheshire
did not distinguish himself at half for
England
” and after these two mediocre to poor performances
Kendall
was dropped by the English selectors. Despite this disappointment Kendall was
again invited to join the Barbarians as they travelled to Wales at Easter 1902,
playing a further two matches for the club during a seventeen points to nil
defeat by Swansea on April 1st and also
loosing to Cardiff the following day by sixteen points to nine.
The following
season saw Kendall recalled to the
England
side for their last match of the year against
Scotland
on March 21st 1903 at
Richmond
.
Kendall
was also handed the honor of captaining his country for this match that was
played in front of a good crowd in excess of twenty five thousand. Although not
a great game it was interesting to watch as the result remained in doubt right
up until the last minute. Played at speed the match was characterized by poor
passing from both sides. As expected
Scotland
edged to a six points to ten win, the better side on the day although not by
any great margin. Be this as it may the victory was enough for
Scotland
to again claim the international championship and Calcutta Cup whilst
consigning
England
to the wooden spoon. Although Kendall had a better game and “twice
cleared with a capitol kick” it was to be his last match in the white
shirt of
England
.
Returning home
Kendall
continued to play for both club and county. The highlight of his later career
was an appearance for
Cheshire
against the visiting New Zealanders, who became known as the All Black
Originals, in a match held at his home club of
Birkenhead
Park
on December 9th 1905. After the tourists crossed for an early try
Cheshire
never really recovered, remaining weak defensively throughout and leaking eight
tries during the course of the thirty four points to nil defeat. Although a
crushing loss for Cheshire it was not quite such a bad game for Kendall himself
and in the Times’ match report it was said of his play that “Kendall… at half back for Cheshire [was] energetic and extremely
useful. “
With the outbreak
of war Kendall enlisted in the King’s
Liverpool
Regiment, being posted to the 1/10th Battalion, more commonly known
as the Liverpool Scottish. Commissioned as a Lieutenant he soon found himself on
the Western front with his battalion in the area around the
Ypres
salient. By January 1915 the first battle of
Ypres
was over. The German offensive towards this area had been halted, although at a
huge cost in both men and materiel. As the front settled down the famous
trenches of the First World War became the norm. Stretching from the North Sea
to
Switzerland
they left little opportunity for a flanking maneuver, meaning that head on
assault as the only, bloody, means of advance.
Ypres
itself had become almost a touchstone to the British public, a reminder of the
stout defense during the opening stages of the war. From a tactical perspective
it may have been preferable to evacuate the salient, although there were few
better defensive options in
Flanders
, but the nature of it’s capture and the losses that it had incurred made it a
symbol that could not be relinquished. Between the end of the first battle of
Ypres in November 1914 and the start of the second in April 1915 life in the
Ypres
salient was miserable for the British forces. The conditions in the trenches
were appalling. There were too few troops, too few supplies and too little
ammunition. Futile attacks against the well prepared German lines were made and
repulsed. Losses from this, as well as snipers and mining operations were high.
Against this backdrop Percy Kendall fell in action on January 25th
1915. He left a wife, Katherine, behind him.
Sources
"The
Complete Who's Who of England Rugby Union Internationals", R Maule,
Breedon 1992
The
Times Online Digital Archive
Wikepedia
www.1914-1918.net
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The
Rugby History Society