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Dave Gallaher 1873 - 1917 |
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Untimely Death A tragic and sudden end – New Zealand mourns Gallaher played 33 times for his adopted country and was part of six tests before retiring. He went on to produce a coaching manual with his Originals vice captain, The Complete Rugby Footballer, that is still consulted to the present day. He stayed closely involved with the sport he loved, becoming the sole selector to the Auckland team. He excelled in the role, leading the side to eight successive Ranfurly Shields. He also was appointed to the All Blacks selection committee in 1907, a position he held until 1914. The Irish-born Kiwi’s influence on rugby was tragically cut short when he joined again, this time to fight in the Great War. He was relatively old for a soldier. Gallaher had lost two brothers in the war and it is said he was motivated by a desire to avenge their deaths. His first action was at Ypres, a notorious battlefield where so many perished in atrocious conditions. After being relieved, his men began intensive training for the Passchendale offensive. On October 3rd 1917, they returned to the front, past what what was left of Ypres. The battle station was a series of shell holes. At 0600 hours, Dave Gallaher led his men over the top. Early in the day a piece of shrapnel smashed through his helmet and he was carried, dying, from the battle ground. Even in death, his fame was recalled. A Catholic priest giving the last rites to a soldier who doubtless shared Gallaher’s Irish heritage, one Edward Fitzgerald, drew the fallen man’s attention to the man lying nearby. “Do you know who that is, on the next table,” the padre said. Fitzgerald shook his head. “That is Dave Gallagher, captain of the 1905 All Blacks.” David Gallagher died a short time later, 26 days short of his 44th birthday. |
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