FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16357, 11 October 1916, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME,

TRIBUTE TO FRANK WILSON

A tridcte to the memory of the late Lieut Frank R. Wilson, who was killed in action in the recent operations on tho Somme. lias beet, forwarded by "His Chum.' He writes: " Among the many noble fellows who have so unselfishly offered up their lives in the ilefenco of tho Empire few will bo more lamented than Frank Wilson. He was Ihu stamp of man our Dominion can ill afford to lose. His name aloue, among adults as well as children, was a synonym for all that _ was clean and manly in sport. For years ~ he was the popular hero of the Auckland Jj tootbal! public, more particularly among the _ class who lorin 'lie keenest critics ot all tlio schoolboy:,. is there any among 113 wuo can loigot ttic expectant roar 01 eninusHum, tne rising waves 01 spectators on the grandstand, a* the oval snot out to Frank, and tho joyful acclamations »«. alter a clean crisp run tiirongh the. delence, ho (lashed over tot the coveted try/ let ho was never selfish, . mid herein lay the true value ut his example f to the younger generation, for Frank wan never the one to sacrmce. the success of his J side for personal glory, men, again, his extreme versatility made hun eminently suited for a teacher— teacher who loved his boys and believed firmly in the ' sound I mind, sound-body' principle. Many 1 promising athlete can look back gratefully to the early training lie received from Frank. 1 have heard more than one fond mother remark: 1 could wish for nothing better than that my boy should follow m Frank Wilson's footsteps.' In cricket, lawn tennis, running, and swimming it was tho lame. Ho was thorough in everything ho undertook, and made * success ol all branches of athletics. Few, indeed, could boast ot better nil-round ability, and yet he boasted not, lor he was like all men truly great, of a shy and retiring disposition; ami finally, when be heard tho Empire's call, ho laid aside I'll his beloved pastimes, that were as the breath of life to him and. though he had had no previous military experience, his characteristic energy soon won him the rank of lieutenant. And now a heroic death has closed the bright young life of him who could never stoop to any action mean or paltry. No more fitting epitaph could v.'o write to his memory than this: 'He was. Indeed, a man.' "