Lieut-Col Arthur Cecil Corfe, DSO & two bars

Arthur Cecil Corfe (5 December 1878 – 30 January 1949) was a New Zealander who made state and international representative rugby union appearances for Australia in 1899.

Corfe, a flanker, was born in Christchurch and claimed 1 international rugby cap for Australia during the inaugural Test series played by Australian representative sides. His debut game was against Great Britain, at Brisbane, on 22 July 1899 during the 1899 British Lions tour to Australia. Three weeks earlier he had made a state appearance for Queensland against those same tourists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Corfe

Arthur served as a private with the 3rd Queensland Contingent in the South African Boer War, and later as adjutant to the 10th New Zealand Contingent. At one time he was ADC to the great South African, General Smuts. In World War I he served in the Royal West Kent Regiment, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and being awarded the DSO and two Bars, and the Croix de Guerre. He was wounded twice and taken prisoner. Later, he became a member of the League of Nations Commission for the repatriation of Greeks and Bulgarians. He died in England on 30 January 1949, leaving a wife Violet (nee Boyd), two sons and three daughters.

DSO Gazetted 4 June 1917.

The citation for the first bar to his DSO in the Gazette of 9 January 1918: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of his battalion. By the prompt and skilful measures which he took on encountering serious opposition, he was able to attain his objective, and by his personal example and cheerfulness the moral of his men was maintained during a very trying period and under most adverse weather conditions.”

The citation for his second bar was in the Gazette of 19 March 1918: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of his battalion during an attack. The assaulting troops in front were checked by heavy rifle fire from a strong point. He at once went forward, and by his inspiring presence and personal leadership reduced the strong point and killed the occupants. He was severely wounded, but continued to advance until exhausted from loss of blood. His splendid example was of the highest value at a critical moment.” This action near Zandvoorde during the Third Battle of Ypres on 20 September 1917 is described by Sapper Albert Martin, 41st Signal Company, Royal Engineers: “The Hants could get no further. They had lost all their officers and a great many men. Colonel Corfe of the Kents tried to rally the men but was soon hit by a bullet in the shoulder, but he held on until the post had been outflanked. Then he collapsed.”

http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/TheTeam/WallabiesProfilePage.aspx...

http://www.militarian.com/threads/arthur-corfe-rugby-player.8112/