Bill Cosgrove

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Bill Cosgrove

| image =

| fullname = William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove

| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|11|11|df=y}}

| birth_place = Randwick, New South Wales

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1943|8|11|1918|11|11|df=y}}

| death_place = Solomon Sea, off Goodenough Island, Milne Bay, Territory of New Guinea

| originalteam = Xavier College

| height = 188 cm

| weight = 82 kg

| position =

| guernsey = 21

| statsend = 1940

| years1 = 1940

| club1 = {{AFL Ric}}

| games_goals1 = 3 (0)

| careerhighlights =

}}

William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (11 November 1918 – 11 August 1943) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He served in the RAAF during World War II, and was killed in action in 1943 when his plane crashed.

Family

The son of John Nereus Cosgrove (1867–1925), and Madelaine Mary Stephanie Cosgrove (1884–1933), née Tracey, William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove was born on 11 November 1918, Armistice Day—he was named "Pax" (Latin for peace) in recognition of that fact.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11784065 Service Casualties, The Argus, (Wednesday, 18 August 1943), p.7.] He married Dorothy May McLean (1920-) in 1940.New Tiger Married, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 26 April 1940), p.15.

Cosgrove's nephew, Peter Cosgrove, became Chief of the Defence Force and Governor-General of Australia.[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/governorgeneral-sir-peter-cosgroves-mischievous-uncle-bill-a-beloved-world-war-ii-hero/news-story/2e0bbaca22dc387309181e183123e64f Governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove’s mischievous ‘uncle Bill’ a beloved World War II hero].

Football

He was a "talented and courageous" centre half-back, recruited by Richmond in 1939,Hogan (1996), p.47. who played in three senior games for Richmond in 1940,[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244130646 Early cut in League pay forecast, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Wednesday, 29 May 1940), p.22.] and played in 34 games for Richmond's Second XVIII over the period 1939–1942.

Showing his loyalty to his VFL team, he decorated his RAAF planes with the Richmond logo and the slogan "Eat 'em alive".[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/181661342 Jones, A., "'It seems so silly when they brawl'", The Sporting Globe, Saturday, 15 May 1943), p3.]

Richmond's award for its best first year player is now known as the Bill Cosgrove/Harry Jenkins Trophy, in honour of both Cosgrove and the Tasmanian-based Richmond talent scout Harry Jenkins.

Military service

He was killed in action on 11 August 1943. While flying between Vivigani and Bola in the Territory of New Guinea, Flight Sergeant Cosgrove's plane crashed into the Solomon Sea off Goodenough Island, killing him and Flight Sergeant Bernard Le Griffon.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206355197 Deaths: On Active Service: Cosgrove, The Age, (Saturday, 21 August 1943), p.8.]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11798527 Deaths: On Active Service: Cosgrove, The Argus, (Saturday, 21 August 1943), p.2.]{{cite web |title=A19-74 |url=http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=A19-74 |website=rafcommands.com |accessdate=14 February 2020}}

Footnotes

References

Hogan P: The Tigers of Old, Richmond FC, (Melbourne), 1996. {{ISBN|0-646-18748-1}}
Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/20682050 Cosgrove's Cobbers, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 23 October 1943), p.5.]
[http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=R&veteranId=1073193 World War Two Nominal Roll: Flight Sergeant William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (400140).]
[https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ViewPDF.aspx?B=5379233&D=D World War Two Service Record: Flight Sergeant William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (400140), National Archives of Australia.]
[https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ViewPDF.aspx?B=1056262&D=D World War Two Service (Repatriation) Record: Flight Sergeant William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (400140), National Archives of Australia.]
[https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1703153 Roll of Honour: Flight Sergeant William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (400140), Australian War Memorial.]