Mac Geddes

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Mac Geddes

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MC|size=100%}}

| image = File:Captain W. McKail Geddes photograph (1920).jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = William McKail Geddes

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1893|04|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| death_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| death_date = {{death date and age|1950|07|01|1893|04|21|df=yes}}

| occupation =

| spouse =

| children =

| relatives =

| school = Auckland Grammar School

| ru_position = First five-eighth

| height = {{convert|5|ft|10+1/2|in|m|disp=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}[http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewDigitalItem.do?code=20547953&pid=FL14626783 Geddes, William McKail - WW1 2/2023 - Military personnel file]. Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 13 July 2013.

| weight = {{convert|178|lb|kg|disp=flip|abbr=on}}

| repteam1 = {{nrut|New Zealand}}

| repcaps1 = 1

| reppoints1 = 0

| repyears1 = 1913

| ru_province1 = Auckland

| ru_provinceyears1 = 1911–14

| ru_provinceapps1 = 13

| ru_provincepoints1 =

}}

William McKail "Mac" Geddes {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MC}} (21 April 1893 – 1 July 1950) was a New Zealand soldier and rugby union player.

Rugby union

Geddes played one test match for the All Blacks in 1913. He played for the Auckland provincial team from 1911 to 1914, and won a total of 13 caps for the side. As well as playing in four Ranfurly Shield matches, he also played in the Auckland side that defeated Australia in 1913. After being selected for the North Island team that same year, he was selected to play for New Zealand – the All Blacks – for their test match against Australia in Dunedin. The match was won by the All Blacks 25–13, but Geddes was subsequently dropped from the team. He continued to play for Auckland in 1914, but did not appear for the All Blacks again.{{cite web| url = http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=306 |title = Mac Geddes | last = Knight | first = Lindsay | publisher = New Zealand Rugby Museum | accessdate = 13 July 2013}}

Military service

Geddes was an artillery officer in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War I. He left New Zealand in 1915 as a second lieutenant, and served in Egypt, France and Belgium. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 for actions at Messines.{{cite news | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19190705.2.95 | title=Officers' War Record | date=5 July 1919 | work= New Zealand Herald | accessdate=13 July 2013 | page=11}} According to his citation, "he displayed the greatest courage in reconnoitring enemy country under heavy shell fire," and that "his daring and resourcefulness contributed in a large degree to the success of [the] artillery."{{London Gazette |issue=30234 |date=14 August 1917 |pages=8395–8396 |supp=y }} By the end of the war he had attained the rank of major.

Later life and death

In 1935, Geddes was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.{{cite news | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19350506.2.12 | title=Official jubilee medals | date=6 May 1935 | work= Evening Post | accessdate=2 July 2013 | page=4 }} He died in Auckland on 1 July 1950.

References

Category:1893 births

Category:1950 deaths

Category:People educated at Auckland Grammar School

Category:New Zealand rugby union players

Category:New Zealand international rugby union players

Category:Auckland rugby union players

Category:Rugby union fly-halves

Category:New Zealand recipients of the Military Cross

Category:New Zealand military personnel of World War I

Category:Rugby union players from Auckland