Charles Taylor (rugby player)
| Full name | Charles Gerald Taylor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 8 May 1863 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ruabon, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 24 January 1915 (aged 51) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Dogger Bank, North Sea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School |
Royal Naval College, Portsmouth Royal Naval College, Greenwich |
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| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position(s) | Three-quarter | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Amateur team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| ? 1885-? ? |
Ruabon RFC London Welsh RFC Blackheath F.C. |
() | |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1884–1887 |
 Wales
|
9 | ((0)) |
Engineer Captain Charles Gerald Taylor LVO (8 May 1863 – 24 January 1915) was a Royal Navy officer and Wales international rugby union player who played club rugby for Blackheath. He was the first Welsh international to be killed in action during World War I. Taylor was an all-round athlete, and at one time was the Welsh pole vault champion.
Born in Ruabon, Wales on 8 May 1863, Taylor joined the Royal Navy on 1 July 1885, when he was rated an acting assistant engineer. Following his initial training he was confirmed in the rank on 1 July 1886. He was promoted to engineer on 1 September 1890, and chief engineer on 30 December 1900. He became an engineer lieutenant on 26 March 1903, and on 30 December 1904 was promoted to engineer commander. On 3 February 1911 King George V appointed him a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order On 7 February 1912 he was promoted to engineer captain.
Much of Taylor's career was spent at training or other shore establishments. However, shortly after the outbreak of World War I he was posted to the battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary, on 16 September 1914. On 20 November he was transferred to HMS Tiger. On 24 January 1915, Tiger was one of the vessels engaged in the Battle of Dogger Bank. HMS Tiger was struck by fire from the German cruiser SMS Blücher, and Taylor died during the engagement. Taylor was not buried at sea, and his body was returned to Britain to be buried at Tavistock New Cemetery in Devon.
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