On 2025's Armistice Day, everyone connected with St.Helens R.F.C. will have in their thoughts the sacrifices made by so many during conflicts, particularly in both World Wars.
Like most prominent sports clubs, St.Helens has been touched by tales of tragedy and bravery from players, officials and supporters who paid the ultimate price or suffered severe physical and mental effects from such challenging circumstances.
It was over 110 years ago, on 1st May 1915, that Saints played in the last Challenge Cup final, against Huddersfield, before competitions were halted by the First World War. At right centre was Jimmy Flanagan who was making his 231st appearance for the Club, before embarking for France with his regiment, 11th South Lancs, the famous St Helens Pals. It was to be his last match. Sadly, three years later, on 14th May 1918, Lance Sergeant Flanagan [Service Number 20984] was killed in action and is buried at Arneke British Cemetery in Northern France.
Saints Heritage Society have discovered another First World War casualty this year. George Warburton, a speedy winger signed from Salford, played 12 matches for the Saints first team in the 1910-11 season.
At the time he was living at Kingstown Street, Tranmere, Birkenhead with his widowed mother, Elizabeth, and his sister`s family, working as a Ships Draughtsman for the Cammell Laird Company. Just before the outbreak of war he secured a post as Departmental Manager at Palmers Shipbuilding Yard in Jarrow on Tyne, a job which he fulfilled until joining the Royal Engineers in August 1916. He later transferred his commission to the Royal Flying Corps.
George lost his life in an air accident in October 1917 whilst serving with the Royal Flying Corps. He was a Second Lieutenant and must have known the perils of flying, given what was a relatively new technology. George was engaged in a training flight over his air base in Norfolk when his plane caught fire and nose-dived to earth causing fatal serious injuries.
He left behind a son William and a grieving family in Tranmere. Sadly, his mother had to contribute money to have his name added to a memorial stone in Birkenhead.
We are grateful to Mark Warburton, George’s great grandson – a Saints fan – for providing the superb images of him in his blue and black Saints jersey and in his Royal Flying Corps garb.
2025 saw the 80th anniversary of both VE [8th May] and VJ Day [15th August]. Our player casualties from the Second World War were remembered during the match against Huddersfield Giants on 17th August with families also taking part during the match day as part of the recognition of their loved one’s supreme sacrifice – click here to read more.
It also included a moving account on our website by Chairman Eamonn McManus – which you can read by clicking here. Eamonn’s father, Thomas was captured at the fall of Singapore in 1942 and incarcerated in the infamous Changi Prison. He survived 18 months on the brutal Thai Burma Death Railway, which claimed the lives of over 12.000 Allied Prisoners of War. We cannot imagine the suffering these guys must have endured. His brother Billy, a member of Orde Wingate’s famous Chindits was also killed by the Japanese in 1944 and buried in the British Cemetery in New Delhi, India.
For the record, here are the names of Saints’ own Glorious Seven, together with their final resting places. It brings into sharp focus the words from the Rupert Brook poem, the Soldier:
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England.
#420 James Leyden [second row] Royal Engineers [#2139411]
Died: 11th January 1943
Buried: Benghazi War Cemetery
#436 William Hough [second row] Flying Officer 44 Rhodesia Squadron
Died: 16th July 1944
Commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
#445 Patrick Dullard [hooker] Lance Sergeant Irish Guards [#2716800]
Died: 24th October 1944
Buried: Jonkerbos Military Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands
#463 Harold Briscoe [scrum half] Royal Army Service Corps/Number 2 Commando Unit [#T26467]
Died: 17th April 1945
Buried: Commonwealth War Cemetery, Ravenna, Italy
#485 Abel Tatum [front-row] Sapper Royal Engineers
Died: 11th August 1944
Buried: Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados
#559 Ronnie Webb [second row] Sergeant Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve [#1149761]
Died: 24th January 1943
Commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
#578 Robert Thompson [Loose forward} Royal Scots Fusiliers [#3455013]
Died:10th November 1944
Buried: Hierlo War Cemetery, Netherlands
“Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
