John Selwyn Moll Explained

John Selwyn Moll
Full Name:John Selwyn Moll
Birth Date:1913
Birth Place:Greenwich, London, England
Death Place:Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England
School:Bedford School
Occupation:Banker
Position:Centre
Years1:1932–1938
Clubs1:Lloyds Bank
Years2:1938–1940
Clubs2:Blackheath
Provinceyears1:1938
Province1:Kent
Repyears1:1936
Repteam1:British Lions
Repcaps1:2
Repyears2:1939
Repteam2:Barbarians
Repcaps2:1
Repsevensyears1:1939–1942
Repsevensteam1: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. He was killed during the Second World War whilst at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

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,[1] he was called up to play for the British Lions on their tour of Argentina.[2] 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. In 1940, he was commissioned as an officer in the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).[6] Later, he was commissioned as a captain in the Regiment. In 1942, he died as a result of an accident in Bury St Edmunds whilst his Regiment was training for deployment to Iraq. 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 Rosslyn Park.[7] He was listed on the regiment's Roll of Honour.[8] He was buried at Christ Church, Shamley Green, in Surrey.[9] A memorial plaque dedicated to Moll was also installed inside the church.[10]

External links

Notes and References

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