John Selwyn Moll
Moll playing for Blackheath in 1939
Full nameJohn Selwyn Moll
Date of birth1913
Place of birthGreenwich, London, England
Date of death24 July 1942(1942-07-24) (aged 28–29)
Place of deathBury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England
SchoolBedford School
Occupation(s)Banker
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1932–1938 Lloyds Bank ()
1938–1940 Blackheath ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1938 Kent ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1936 British Lions 2
1939 Barbarians 1
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
1939–1942 Rosslyn Park

John Selwyn Moll (1913 – 24 July 1942) was an English banker, British Army officer and rugby union player born in Greenwich, London. He worked as a banker for Lloyds Bank and played club rugby for Lloyds Bank RFC and Blackheath and played for the British Lions on their 1936 tour to Argentina as a centre.[1] He was killed during the Second World War whilst at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.[1]

Rugby career

Moll was born in Greenwich and was educated at Bedford School. After playing rugby for the school, he worked for Lloyds Bank and played for the bank's rugby club. In 1936, despite never being called up for the England national rugby union team,[2] he was called up to play for the British Lions on their tour of Argentina.[1] Upon returning, in 1938 he played rugby for Blackheath in Kent and played County Championship rugby representing Kent.[3] He also played for the Barbarians in 1939.[4] During the Second World War, he played rugby sevens for Rossyln Park.[5]

Military career

Moll was a member of the Army Cadet Force whilst at Bedford School and upon leaving he joined the Northumberland Hussars regiment of the Territorial Army. When the Second World War started in 1939, Moll signed up for the Royal Engineers.[1] In 1940, he was commissioned as an officer in the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).[6] Later he would be commissioned as a captain in the Regiment.[1] In 1942, he died as a result of an accident in Bury St Edmunds whilst his Regiment was training for deployment to Iraq.[7] Details of his death were not released however he was declared as having "died of wounds received on active service" by Lieutenant T. E. Redfern, a fellow rugby player from Rossyln Park.[8] He was listed on the regiment's Roll of Honour.[7] He was buried at Christ Church, Shamley Green in Surrey.[9] A memorial plaque dedicated to Moll was also installed inside the church.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ask John: Wolfhounds and Handel". ESPN. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  2. ↑ Jones, Stephen (2021). Behind the Lions: Playing rugby for the British and Irish Lions. Birlinn. ISBN 9780857905291.
  3. ↑ "Southern Counties". The Guardian. 20 October 1938. Retrieved 12 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "J. S. Moll in form for Barbarians". Evening Standard. 2 March 1939. Retrieved 12 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "London District fix seven rugby games next season". Evening Standard. 20 April 1942. Retrieved 12 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Supplement, page 3262" (PDF). The London Gazette. 31 May 1940. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Shamley Green". They Gave Their Today. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Kent rugby player killed". Evening Standard. 28 July 1942. Retrieved 12 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "John Selwyn Moll". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 24 July 1942. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Capt J S Moll". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
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