Blair Swannell

Blair Swannell

Major B. I. Swannell
Full name	Blair Inskip Swannell
Date of birth	(1875-08-20)20 August 1875
Place of birth	Weston Underwood, Buckinghamshire, England
Date of death	25 April 1915(1915-04-25) (aged 39)
Place of death	Gallipoli, Turkey
Height	177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	77 kg (12 st 2 lb)
School	Repton School
Rugby union career
Position(s) forward, number 8 Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) ?–1904 1904–? Olney RFC Western Turks Northampton Northern Suburbs Rugby Club 116 () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1899,1904 1905 British Isles Australia 7 1 (3) (0)

Major Blair Inskip Swannell (20 August 1875 – 25 April 1915) was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Northampton, and internationally for the British Isles and later Australia. He was invited to tour with the British Isles on their 1899 tour of Australia and then their 1904 tour of Australia and New Zealand. He played a total of seven Test matches on these tours, and scored one Test try – against Australia during the 1904 tour. After settling in Australia, Swannell played a single game for his new home when they faced New Zealand. He was viewed as a violent player, and this made his unpopular with other players. Former Australian captain Herbert Moran said of him that "... his conception of rugby was one of trained violence".

During the Second Boer War, Swannell served in the British Army in South Africa, rising to the rank of lieutenant. During the First World War he joined the Australian Imperial Force and was appointed with the rank of major, serving with the 1st Battalion. He was killed on 25 April 1915 while taking part in the Landing at Anzac Cove, during the first day of the Gallipoli Campaign.

Swannell was born in Weston Underwood, Buckinghamshire on 20 August 1875 to William and Charlotte Swannell, and was the third child of at least five siblings. His father was a farmer, who ran a 423-acre (1.71 km²) farm which employed 17 adults and children. He was home schooled as an infant before beginning his formal education at Repton School. After leaving school he attended the Thames Nautical Training College where he gained qualifications as a second mate. He remained single throughout his life. In 1897 he made his first visit to Australia, as a mate on a schooner. On his return to Britain, Swannell joined the British Army and served in South Africa during the Second Boer War, where he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 35th Battalion (Buckinghamshire) Imperial Yeomanry on 20 January 1902. He retained the rank of honorary lieutenant when he resigned his commission on 3 February 1903. It was reported that during his time in South Africa, he was personally recommended on the field for a commission by General Lord Methuen.