One-Eyed Richmond Forum

Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: (•))(©™ on January 10, 2014, 04:03:52 PM

Title: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: (•))(©™ on January 10, 2014, 04:03:52 PM
Did the competition take a year off?
What was the deal?
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Gigantor on January 10, 2014, 04:21:30 PM
Cosgrove was one that readily comes to mind but there were others too.
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: WilliamPowell on January 10, 2014, 04:21:48 PM
Yes Ox there were some tiger players who saw action in WW2

Bill Cosgrove played for the Tigers and he was killed in WW2 flying fighter planes in 1943. he was just 25yo (he played 3 games)

History says he had the Tiger logo and sogan "Eat 'em Alive" painted on his plane

He was the Uncle of General Peter Cosgrove who heaed the ADF for a number of years and is tipped to be our nest Governor General

The Cosgrove-Jenkins Medal for our best first year player is named after him
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: (•))(©™ on January 10, 2014, 04:23:45 PM
Yes Ox there were some tiger players who saw action in WW2

Bill Cosgrove palyed for the Tigers and he was killed in WW2 flying fighter planes in 1943. he was just 25yo

History says he had the Tiger logo and sogan "Eat 'em Alive" painted on his plane

He was the Uncle of General Peter Cosgrove who heaed the ADF for a numbe rof years and is tipped to be our Governor General

The Cosgrove-Jenkins Medal for our best first year player is named after him

That's admirable  :thumbsup
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: WilliamPowell on January 10, 2014, 04:24:22 PM
The only other RFC player listed as being killed during WW2 is Bill Garvie who played 9 games
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: (•))(©™ on January 10, 2014, 04:24:55 PM
IMO, that's the real heart of this club.Amen.
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: WilliamPowell on January 10, 2014, 04:29:34 PM
IMO, that's the real heart of this club.Amen.

I know you 're not a Dyer fan Ox but Jack Dyer (who was his coach/captain) actually said Cosgrove would have been a star if he hadn't of gone to war and was a true tiger. Wrote about him (Cosgrove) in his book

Spoke glowingly of the kid and they dedicated the 1943 Premiership to Bill Cosgrove
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Gigantor on January 10, 2014, 04:34:49 PM
In the book jack had a meeting with then Prime minsister Curtin because Jack felt like he wanted to contribute more to the war effort.but the Prime minister mentioned that as a police officer and footballer he was contributing a lot(law and order and to the morale of the populace).
Curtin did ask a favour from jack though ,that he refrain from inflicting any pain on his nephew/cousin who played for Fitzroy.jack said he would do as the prime minister suggested...A few weeks later Richmond played Fitzroy...guess what happened to the PMs relative?.....lol
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: (•))(©™ on January 10, 2014, 04:53:30 PM
Well, I wasn't even thinking about Jack but now that he's been mentioned....

It's not that i'm not a fan.
The guy is a legend, sure but legends live in the past.
It's hard to build futures on ones past.

Having said that, blokes like Mr Cosgrove made it possible for Jack to remain a cop and play football.Quite a charmed existence in a world of then, mayhem.

You know, regardless of a bias opinion, Jack could have enlisted, couldn't he?
Its fine in hindsight that he wanted to contribute more at the time but how can such intentions and efforts be compared to those who sacrificed their lives.

I think that's about the truth.
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Gigantor on January 10, 2014, 05:02:43 PM
I always thought a rich and proud past is always a great basis to construct a bright future.


sorry mods wont continue on this tangent..will stick to the topic
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Smokey on January 10, 2014, 05:41:11 PM
We build a better future by learning from the past, not dwelling on it.  Just my 2 bob's worth.   ;)
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Penelope on January 10, 2014, 06:00:50 PM
so true smokey, unfortunately with war, we, or the decision makers anyway, don't seem to learn from the past.

perhaps that is because they often have something to gain, while others are the ones that lose something?
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: (•))(©™ on January 10, 2014, 11:06:34 PM
so true smokey, unfortunately with war, we, or the decision makers anyway, don't seem to learn from the past.

perhaps that is because they often have something to gain, while others are the ones that lose something?

I'm feeling some Al love
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: one-eyed on January 11, 2014, 03:45:29 AM
List of VFL players who died on active service:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Victorian_Football_League_players_who_died_on_active_service

Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: yellowandback on January 11, 2014, 06:20:22 AM
We build a better future by learning from the past, not dwelling on it.  Just my 2 bob's worth.   ;)

Too true Smokey  :thumbsup

FWIW, my father, uncle and grandfather fought in both World Wars and the Korean War.
My uncle, who is a twin to Dad didn't.
I know his brothers didn't judge him for not going to war.

When you think about it, that is truly admirable.
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: the claw on January 11, 2014, 03:46:52 PM
I always thought a rich and proud past is always a great basis to construct a bright future.


sorry mods wont continue on this tangent..will stick to the topic

We build a better future by learning from the past, not dwelling on it.  Just my 2 bob's worth.   ;)

well said unfortunately the rfc have far too often thru its history failed to heed many lessons at all.

as for war. well the entire history of man tells us there will always be despots, greed ,power hunger, have note who want what you have and just plain old orneriness and we had damn well better be prepared.
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: (•))(©™ on January 13, 2014, 01:39:44 PM
List of VFL players who died on active service:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Victorian_Football_League_players_who_died_on_active_service

Interesting.
For a game with such "feared" and heroic figures, there were next to none willing to die for their country, let alone see action

I knew they were full of poo.

Football celebs, too important to go to war (gutless).
Leave that to the fans
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Judge Roughneck on January 13, 2014, 01:57:22 PM
W0t about the ones that went but failed to die

Cowards/ hero's?

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel bro... the yanks didn't even wanna fight
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: (•))(©™ on January 13, 2014, 02:08:25 PM
That's a stupid question in it's simplest form.

It's one thing not to enlist but another to stick around and pretend you're a big man, let alone say you ARE supporting the war effort.....
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Judge Roughneck on January 13, 2014, 02:12:01 PM
Humans been fighting for tens thousands years and it always seems to be the stupidest poorest bastards on the front line how many sons of us political elite are in middle east now ...
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Coach on January 15, 2014, 10:34:46 AM
That's a stupid question in it's simplest form.

It's one thing not to enlist but another to stick around and pretend you're a big man, let alone say you ARE supporting the war effort.....

Stupid question for a stupid bloke.

I think I saw you in Iraq.
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Owl on January 16, 2014, 08:03:56 AM
Way I see it is, don't judge, you wanna find out, sign up for a stint like some of us have.  If you haven't served, you certainly have no place calling anyone a coward.  In WWII your life expectancy on the front was pretty stuffing short and last time I checked, you only get one go even if you do believe in unicorns.  Facing incoming ordinance and keeping your poo in one sock is a hell of a job description to take on, and the pay wasn't flash even if you lived to spend it.  If you have people who are not gonna perform under the nasty conditions, or panic, they are obviously not suited and would be unreliable.  They might have other skills that are important for our society though.  Horses for courses.
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Smokey on January 16, 2014, 10:46:18 AM
Way I see it is, don't judge, you wanna find out, sign up for a stint like some of us have.  If you haven't served, you certainly have no place calling anyone a coward.  In WWII your life expectancy on the front was pretty stuffing short and last time I checked, you only get one go even if you do believe in unicorns.  Facing incoming ordinance and keeping your poo in one sock is a hell of a job description to take on, and the pay wasn't flash even if you lived to spend it.  If you have people who are not gonna perform under the nasty conditions, or panic, they are obviously not suited and would be unreliable.  They might have other skills that are important for our society though.  Horses for courses.

Well said Owl.   :clapping   :thumbsup
Title: Re: Did any Richmond players see action in WW2 ?
Post by: Coach on January 20, 2014, 10:21:21 AM
Way I see it is, don't judge, you wanna find out, sign up for a stint like some of us have.  If you haven't served, you certainly have no place calling anyone a coward.  In WWII your life expectancy on the front was pretty stuffing short and last time I checked, you only get one go even if you do believe in unicorns.  Facing incoming ordinance and keeping your poo in one sock is a hell of a job description to take on, and the pay wasn't flash even if you lived to spend it.  If you have people who are not gonna perform under the nasty conditions, or panic, they are obviously not suited and would be unreliable.  They might have other skills that are important for our society though.  Horses for courses.

stuffen A bro.