Harold Masters

Frederick Harold Masters MM (20 December 1895 – 27 May 1980) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A lock, Masters represented Taranaki at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1922. He played four matches for the All Blacks, but did not make any Test appearances. He went on to serve as a Taranaki selector during the 1930s, and was a national selector from 1936 to 1937. Masters moved to Australia in 1938 and was a New South Wales and Australian national selector in 1946 and 1947.[2]

Harold Masters
Birth nameFrederick Harold Masters
Date of birth(1895-12-20)20 December 1895
Place of birthBrunnerton, New Zealand
Date of death27 May 1980(1980-05-27) (aged 84)
Place of deathSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11 3⁄4 in)[1]
Weight97 kg (214 lb)
SchoolStratford High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
All Black No. 254
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1919–22 Taranaki 27 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1922 New Zealand 0 (0)

Masters enlisted in August 1914, shortly after the outbreak of World War I, and served in the Divisional Signal Company, New Zealand Engineers, for most of the war, rising to the rank of sergeant. He saw action at Gallipoli, where he was twice wounded.[1] In 1916 he was mentioned in dispatches for distinguished and gallant services during the period of General Sir Charles Monro's command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.[3] In June 1917 Masters was severely wounded at Messines, and was awarded the Military Medal for acts of gallantry in the field.[1][4] He returned to New Zealand in early 1918 and was discharged from the army as he was no longer fit for active service because of wounds received in action.[1]

References
  1. "Masters, Frederick Harold - WW1 4/469 - Army". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  2. Knight, Lindsay. "Harold Masters". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  3. "No. 29664". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 July 1916. p. 6956.
  4. "Honours for soldiers". Evening Post. 8 January 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 20 December 2015.


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