|
William George
Ernest Luddington was born at the
Ferndale
Hospital
in
Aldershot
on February 8th 1894, the son of Thomas and Jessie. His father, a
soldier by profession was posted soon after the birth from Hampshire to
Devonport and it was in this area that the young Luddington grew up, eventually
following his fathers footsteps into the armed forces, although choosing to
enlist in the Royal Navy rather than the Army. Early in his naval career
Luddington’s love for the game of rugby union became apparent. Playing in the
front row of the pack more often than not he could usually be found in the thick
of the action and his athleticism soon marked him out as a player to watch. As
his rugby career progressed he played as possible within the demands of naval
life turning out for Devonport Services, United Services and the
Devon
County
fifteen. He soon came to the notice of the Royal Navies own selectors and was
first capped for his service in 1921. In total he was to play a total of sixteen
caps for the Navy over the next few years, encountering the Army and the Royal
Air Force eight times each and rising to captain the side as time went on.
During his early years with the Navies fifteen he came into contact with
Engineer Commander EW Roberts, who along with encouraging Luddington to
persevere with his goal kicking was also an
England
selector. It was little wonder that his country was soon to call Luddington to
serve on the rugby pitch as well as afloat.
Luddington’s
first cap for
England
came with the start of the 1923 international season on January 20th
at Twickenham against
Wales
. A crowd of forty thousand had decided to brave a cold and windy day, not to
mention the aftermath of their New Year’s celebrations to watch the game.
Although their home form had been good the Welsh team had never as yet tasted
victory at the home of English rugby and this again was not to be their day as
soon became apparent when
England
scored from the kick off. Although their backs were indifferent on the day the
English pack held firm and were faster than their Welsh opponents. Luddington “did
not spare [himself] or anybody else in the mauls” as
England
cruised to a comfortable seven points to three win.
On November 1st
1923 Luddington took part in a spectacle held at
Rugby
School
to celebrate the centenary of Rugby Union itself. Luddington took the field for
a combined English and Welsh side against the Irish and Scots in front of a very
limited crowd of two thousand comprised of eight hundred schoolboys and the
select guests of the headmaster of Rugby School and the Rugby Football Union
included were all the surviving players from the very first international played
between England and Scotland in 1871 and a representative from all of the clubs
who had been members of the union for more than fifty years. On a glorious
autumn afternoon a close and exciting game ensued.
England
and
Wales
had the better of the first half, leading by nine points to six by half time,
although their Irish and Scottish opponents managed to pull level during a
thrilling second half. Towards the end of the game
England
and
Wales
managed to score a final try that Luddington converted to add his own little
touch to the festivities as the match was won by twenty one points to sixteen.
Luddington soon
became a valued member of the English pack. Although his international career
was only to last three short seasons in this time Luddington was to gain
thirteen caps for his country. During these matches he was to win ten times,
drawing twice and loosing just the once whilst scoring 5 conversions and one
penalty and in the process became a household name. He also played in every
match of the two back to back grand slam winning sides of the 1923 and 1924
seasons.
His greatest
moments in an
England
shirt both came against the Scottish and both were away from home. In his third
international on March 17th 1923
England
travelled to Inverleith to attempt to retain the Calcutta Cup. During a
desperately close game played in front of the Duke of York both sets of forwards
played well. With seconds left to play
England
scored a second try that brought the scores level. From near the touchline
Luddington stepped up to score a conversion that stole the match. As the Times
rugby correspondent enthused in his report “all
the more honour for Luddington for refusing to let his knees or his toe
wobble… at the critical moment.” Ironically the other event that
Luddington will be best remembered for came in the only match in which he played
in an
England
shirt and lost. Travelling again to
Scotland
on March 21st 1925 to play in the first international to be held at
the new Murrayfield stadium, the game was eventually taken by a younger, faster,
Scottish side by fourteen points to eleven, although the English did not make it
easy for them. Early in the game Luddington successfully took a penalty and thus
entered the history books as the first player ever to score international points
at the new Scottish stadium.
Luddington’s
international career ended as it had begun in a match against
Wales
, although this time in
Cardiff
on January 16th 1926.
England
found the pace of the game difficult as they had the previous year against
Scotland
and they were lucky to escape with a three all draw. Luddington, along with
several other members of the
England
side, was by now in his early thirties amd it was time to leave international
rugby to younger men. Despite this he continued to play for the Royal Navy as
his duties allowed until 1930, but with the greater demands of representative
rugby now behind him also found time to settle down, marrying Vera Jackson at
the church of St James the Less in Plymouth on February 17th 1927 and
more quietly continued with his Naval career.
By the outbreak
of the Second World War in September 1939 Luddington was serving as a Master at
Arms on board the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. Launched in 1939 Illustrious
was commissioned in May 1940, finally joining the fleet in August that year.
Carrying a complement of thirty six aircraft she was immediately dispatched to
the
Mediterranean
. Although the principal duty of the Illustrious was to protect the vital
convoys that were carrying much needed supplies to
Malta
she undertook other missions as required. These included striking against the
airfields at Maritza on August 31st with a further mission against
Benghazi
on September 16th. In the thick of the action Illustrious became the
first aircraft carrier to strike against an enemy fleet on November 11th
as her aircraft attacked the Italian Battleship group at
Taranto
by night, sinking one battleship and seriously damaging two others. By early
1941 Illustrious, Luddington on board, was back to her more usual convoy duties
when she was discovered and attacked by an force of enemy planes including the
famous Junkers 87 Stuka dive bomber to the east of
Sicily
on January 10th. During the course of the attack Illustrious was hit
by eight large armour piercing bombs that caused severe structural damage to the
ship which would eventually keep her out of action until 1942. During the course
of the attack Master at Arms William Luddington, former star of the
England
rugby team, was killed in action. His name is recorded in remembrance on the
war memorials both in
Plymouth
and at Twickenham Stadium.
Sources
"The
Complete Who's Who of England Rugby Union Internationals", R Maule,
Breedon 1992
The
Times Online Digital Archive
Wikepedia
www.cwgc.org www.rootsweb.com
|
The
Rugby History Society