Reginald Dancey was an Englishman who was living in New Zealand when war came. He volunteered immediately, possibly entering the Artillery because his father was a veteran of that service back Home. A rugby player, he captained the Anzac team - already British Army champions - which won the "Somme Cup" in 1917, beating the French team 40-0.
ON SERVICE
NEWS OF SOME NEW ZEALANDERS.
Mr. Harry Dancey, organist at All Saints' Church, Putney, has four sons; all of whom are with the colours. The eldest is in the New Zealand Force (with the artillery), the second with the Honorable Artillery Company (the premier volunteer company of London), the third with the Field Artillery (Territorials), and the fourth with the 24th County of London Battalion. Mr. Dancey himself served for four years with the London Territorial Artillery. -Evening Post, 12/1/1915.
LA COUPE DE LA SOMME.
HISTORIC FOOTBALL THROUGH FRENCH EYES.
NEW ZEALANDERS IN PARIS.
For British people French football has still a little of the interest of novelty. How interesting, therefore, is a French account of a war match played in Paris, in which the players on one side were New Zealanders from the firing-line and on the other warworn French Poilus. We have had the match described from the English point of view; the following is from two issues of the Journal that have been lent to a member of the Star staff by a French lady in Auckland. The Journal promoted the match, giving for a prize “La Coupe de la Somme," only the cup was not like so many cups, an ugly uninteresting trophy, but a bronze figure of a French soldier in the act of throwing a bomb. The accounts in the Journal of the match and the preparations for it are interesting for, among other things, their finely-phrased tributes to our men, enthusiasm for the game, and proof of the extent to which our football terms are being used in France. We give these extracts feeling sure that many lovers of the great game will like to know how, set in the frame of the sterner game of war, Rugby appeals to the mind of our great ally.
ATHLETES WHO ARE ALSO HEROES. “This afternoon at three o’clock, on the Vincennes ground, will be played the great Rugby football match (le grand match de football rugby), organised by the Journal and the Union of French Athletic Societies, between teams representing the French Army and the New Zealand Army, champion of the British Armies — Poilus against Anzacs, to use the popular expressions.
“This match of ours has had for some days the importance of a great popular event. The public of Paris, with its sure instinct, has at once realised that, together with the sporting interest of the wonderful spectacle offered by the World’s Champions in Rugby football, the finest, the most perfect, the most fiery of games (du plus beau, du plus complet, et du plus passionnant des sports; is ‘fiery’ right for 'passionnant’?) — it has realised that there is in this contest the profound symbol of the mighty and sublime alliance of the peoples of the whole world, leagued for the defence of humanity. See how Fate works. New Zealand is the exact Antipodes of France, and its people are the most remote from us, but they are one of those peoples whose hearts beat with ours, whose blood has mingled with the blood of France’s sons to free our sacred land.
“Our team of Poilus arrived in Paris yesterday. The first man we met wore the Croix de Guerre with three bars (citations; translated “bars,” from the English practice). Since our army is widely distributed and has been getting hard knocks for so long, it has not been able to form a team of players who have lived together, like the Anzacs. Our men come from trenches all along the front, and have had in common only danger and glory. They are exceptionally fine players, but they will be a team for the first time on the ground itself. This will tell against them a little (handicapera un peu) in meeting their opponents, but they are less concerned with setting their hearts on winning than in being comrades in effort, thought and will. People of Paris, you will crowd to applaud these athletes who are also heroes.” The New Zealanders, said the Journal, would salute the French people by dancing a Maori dance and by uttering the old Maori war cry, which had become the cry of sport, and afterwards the new war cry of the Anzacs — “le terrible Komati—Komati—Ka-ou-rah!”
“LE MATCH.” But let us get to the match. M. Georges Prade describes it in the Journal with a noble enthusiasm. This opening has the trumpet note. “Paris gave yesterday to those splendid soldiers, those wonderful athletes representing the two great Allied armies that are reconquering side by side the soil of France, the triumphal welcome which it reserves for the champions of noble causes and fine thoughts.” And the afternoon exquisitely mild, this deep feeling of fellowship inspired the great crowd of 60,000 spectators that filled to overflowing the great stands at Vincennes, and applauded wildly in a dull roaring like the noise of the sea, this superb orgy of will and effort. One felt besides that something graver and loftier mingled itself yet again with this supreme emotion. We know that those who played there before us had come from over there, from the struggle with death, and that they would return there. And when on two occasions, on the arrival of French Ministers and generals, and then our team, the clear and wild notes of the Marseillaise took wing; and when twice also, on the arrival of the British Ambassador, and afterwards of the New Zealand team, the grave notes of ‘God Save the King’ made the resounding arches of the stands ring, at the same time as the national flags were hoisted; when, on the arrival of Mr. Muhr, the American referee, the star-spangled banner of our latest ally rose the length of the halliards, in the midst of a hurricane of cheers — when all this happened, and the spectators looked on those men who had crossed the world to come and fight by the side of ours, on seeing our fine sturdy lads of France by their side, a tremour passed through the crowd ...”
The New Zealanders lined up before the stand of honour, and their captain (le Capitaine Dancey) “a very gentle giant” (colosse tres doux; Dansey’s family ought to treasure that description), stood in front of them. “It is the time for giving the famous war cry. With a strange rhythm, which he punctuates with an expressive mimicry, beating with his hands and feet, Dancey utters quickly a series of sharp and eager cries, which his men repeat in chorus. The crowd applaud our guests, who, without losing time, gave their terrible ‘Komati—Komati—Ka-ou-rah,’ before the popular stands, where numerous cheers greeted them.”
40 POINTS A 0. The Journal says it is difficult to summarise in a few lines this strenuous and quick game. “Slow to get going (lents a se mettre en action) the New Zealanders secured only a slight advantage in the first half — two tries, one goal, and one goal from a free kick to 0 (3 essais, 1 but, 1 but sur coup franc a 0). But in the second half their clearly superior form, helped by the want of training of our men, told, and seven new tries, of which four were converted, all admirably executed, were scored by them. In the end the victory is to the New Zealanders by 40 points a 0, when the referee signals the end of this historic match, amid applause which goes as much to the glorious conquered as to the victors."
The match, says the Journal in another place, was “an authoritative lesson in athletics,” or to put it colloquially, a “regular demonstration" (une magistrale lecon). “Our men, disunited by three years of war, had to bow before the champions of the world, who have beaten the Irish Army by 49 to 3, the Welsh team by 22 to 0; the British Aviation Corps by 12 to 0. Yesterday's result, 40 to 0, is quite honourable. Besides, before all, sport as a school of sincerity and loyalty.”
Many Aucklanders will appreciate this touch, “And as we congratulated Colonel Plugge, the New Zealander, on having revealed to Paris and France his illustrious team of athletes, he made a sweeping gesture (il eut un geste large), taking in the crowd, and replied: ‘You have done more still; you have enabled us, who have come from a distant country, to hear beating the noble heart of Paris and France.’” Clearly Colonel Plugge is a diplomat as well as a soldier. -Taranaki Herald, 30/7/1917.
LATE TELEGRAMS
Monday ifiih There have been three deaths of Returned Soldiers in Dunedin within 38 hours from Heart Disease accelerated by gassing. One of the victims was Lieutenant Dancey, a traveller tor Butterworth Brothers. -Dunstan Times, 16/6/1919.
The military funeral of the late Lieutenant Dancey took place yesterday afternoon from St. Matthew's Church. A large growd was present at the funeral service in the church, which was most impressive, and which was conducted by Canon Curzon-Siggers, who also took the service at the graveside at the Southern Cemetery. The Rev. C. J. Bush-King read the lessons at the church service. Lieutenant McCarthy represented the local Defence Department, and the firing party was composed of returned soldiers who are employed by Messrs Butterworth Bros, and Sargood, Son, and Ewen. The Last Post was sounded at the conclusion of the church service and also at the grave. Before the Dunedin Choral Society commenced practice last night, the Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C. (president), referred to the sudden death of Lieutenant Dancey, a member of the society. The deceased was the first hon. secretary when the society was re-formed, early in 1914. He showed initiative, with painstaking zeal, in the reconstruction. Shortly after the regular weekly practices were commenced war with Germany was declared, and Lieutenant Dancey was one of the first to volunteer, going into Tahuna Park camp, and later leaving with the Artillery. While on active service he retained his interest in the society. Returning in October last he at once visited the society, and on obtaining his discharge resumed his place in the chorus, and later on the committee. Men who served with him in the artillery speak of him as being "white all through." and one of the finest officers on the western front. He maintained discipline, got unpleasant work done without trouble, and was never known to swear at the men. Indeed, he was nicknamed "Cheerful." Those associated with him in his work at St. Matthew's Churoh speak of him in the highest terms as to his character. The members, standing in silence, expressed their sympathy with the young widow. Some of the society showed their respect to the memory of their late fellow-member by being present at the service yesterday afternoon. -Otago Daily Times, 18/6/1919.
SUDDEN DEATH OF SOLDIER
ALONE IN HIS HOUSE.
The coroner (Mr Widdowson, S.M.) held held an inquest the other day on the body of Reginald Wm. Dancey, who was found dead by his wife on Saturday evening, reclining on the pillows with the book he had been reading still in his hands. Deceased was a returned soldier, 31 years of age, and employed as a department manager by Butterworth Bros., Ltd. He was married on March 4th last, and he and his wife had only taken up residence in Coney Hill road, St. Clair, a few weeks ago.
Sergeant Hodgson appeared for the police. Frances Josephine Dancey, the widow, said they were married on March 4, 1919. Deceased was invalided home from the front on six months’ furlough. He had taken a heart turn in her company in the street, falling down flat. He told her it was heart trouble, originating in his having been gassed. She understood that he had had turns before marriage. On Monday morning last he went away for what was to be a ten-days’ trip for the firm, and it was decided, that she should go down to her sister’s, near Clinton. On Tuesday evening she received a wire, despatched from Oamaru, stating that his trip was cancelled, and he was returning home, but she was not to hurry home. On Wednesday she rang him up, and he told her to return when she felt fit (she was suffering from influenza). It was arranged that she should return on Saturday night. On Friday night she received letters from him stating that he did not feel too well. On Saturday evening she returned by the south express, got off at Caversham, and reached home about 7 p.m. The house was in darkness, and when she entered their bedroom she found deceased in bed, reclining against his pillows, with a book open in his hands. She ran out and down the steps, and must have screamed, for a lady came in from the street. She sent a little girl for Dr Carswell, who pronounced him dead. The latest of the letters she received from him was dated about 1 p.m., Thursday. Thursday and Friday issues of the Evening Star were lying outside the front door, and two letters were lying under the back door.
Henry Garland Ford, reader of gas, and electric light, meters lor the corporation, stated that he called at deceased’s house just, after noon on Thursday and read the meters. He saw deceased and spoke with him, noticing nothing amiss with him.
Alfred Hugh Crawley, director of the firm of Butterworth Bros., Ltd., stated that deceased was manager of the company’s fancy department. He had complained of heart trouble. For some weeks he had been travelling for his own department. On Tuesday night last, he returned from the country, and reported for business on Wednesday morning. He was also at work on Thursday morning. About 11.30 that morning witness received a telephone call from deceased that he had had a heart turn, and an answer to witness 's query what he could do, deceased said he had kind neighbours and would need no assistance. Deceased’s voice, however, was agitated, and witness got his car and went out in the afternoon. He failed to get any response to summons, and went all round the house. Looking in the window of what appeared to be the best bedroom, be saw that the bed was undisturbed; and as he also saw in the kitchen indication that a meal had been taken, he thought deceased was probably resting at a neighbour’s.
Dr Drennan, pathologist at Dunedin Hospital, stated that his post mortem examination disclosed that the heart was enlarged; there were fibrous thickenings along its vessels and over the apex; the walls were thin . . . there was well-marked patchy thickening, with degeneration, in the arteries of the heart, and similar but less marked change in the great arteries of the neck and in the aorta. He was of opinion that deceased died from heart failure, the result of deceased's heart vessels and muscle. The condition of some of the vessels might in some casees have developed in a matter of monthe, but in others the period would be measurable in years. It was quite possible that the heart trouble might have occurred since he went away with the Main Body. It would certainly be difficult to diagnose the trouble.
Dr Fitzgerald said the deceased reported first as an out-patient on return by the Remuera. He was discharged on December 11. He was invalided out for disordered action of the heart, and the origin of the trouble was supposed to have been July, 1917. Copies of the English medical files showed that he had been doing instructional duty in an artillery depot since 1917. The feature of the case was that he had been examined by five different boards in England, on ship, and here, and no valvular disease was found. His chief complaint was breathlessness after exertion and rapid heart action. These conditions varied, and when he was discharged he had improved very much. The symptoms spoken of not being in evidence. There was nothing in the files to show that the deceased had been gassed; but there was evidently a hiatus in these files the French reports not being available. The condition of the blood vessels as described by Dr Drennan was a condition of old age: it would be produced in cases by disordered action.
The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence of Dr Drennan. “Heart-failure, the result of diseased heart vessels and muscle.” -Nelson Evening Mail, 24/6/1919.
No comments:
Post a Comment