Charles Pillman
Encyclopedia
Charles Henry "Cherry" Pillman MC
(8 January 1890 – 13 November 1955) was an English rugby union
international who played on 18 occasions for his country and was part of the first official British Isles
team that toured South Africa in 1910
. He played club rugby with Blackheath and county rugby for Kent. Pillman's speed and tactics made him one of the leading exponents of an attacking wing forward, now recognised as the flanker position.
, England in 1890 to Joseph Charles and Mary Anna Pillman. He was educated at Tonbridge School
and was a member of the London Stock Exchange. With the outbreak of the First World War he joined the 4th Dragoon Guards
reaching the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was later Lieutenant in the Cavalry Special Reserve, attached to the Dragoon Guards. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1918. On 1 April 1920 he relinquished his commission and was granted the rank of Captain. During the Second World War he served as Area Flour Officer for South East Division.
, and on leaving joined first class club Blackheath. It was at Blackheath that Pillman developed his style of play that defined him as one of the greatest wing forwards of his generation. Pillman's tactical play which included the introduction of detaching himself from the pack when opponent's heeled the ball, attacking the opposing fly-half before passing movements could be initiated, brought him to the attention of the English selectors.
Pillman made his first appearance for the England national side in the opening match of the 1910 Five Nations Championship
. The match was against Wales
, who England had failed to beat in the last twelve years, and was the first international at the new home of English rugby, Twickenham
. Pillman played an important role in an inexperienced pack, which saw England take an early lead which they defended stoutly in the later stages, winning the game 11-6. Pillman remained in the England side for the rest or the Championship, a draw against Ireland and wins over both France and Scotland, which saw him part of his first Five Nations winning team.
His first game of the tour, played on 11 June, was against the South Western Districts side, which the British won 14-4. Despite not being a recognised kicker, Pillman was given that duty, and he scored his first points of the tour converting one of the team's four tries
. Pillman was then selected for four matches against varying Western Province combination teams over eleven days. Pillman scored a try against Western Provonce County, a conversion and a penalty against Western Province Town and then a try and conversion against the full Western Province
team. Leading up to the first Test against the South Africa national side
, the British Isles played 16 games against regional and invitational teams, Pillman played in twelve of them, picking up 59 points. His twelfth game, played against Griqualand West on 23 July, would be Pillman's last until the 20 August, missing seven games through injury. During that period he missed the first Test match against South Africa, which the tourist lost.
Pillman returned to the British team for the second Test. Played at Port Elizabeth, Pillman dominated the match, brought in at fly half. In an outstanding display he manufactured both the British tries and converted the second, earning his first international points. Such was the impact that Pillman had on the Test, that the South African captain Billy Millar later wrote:
“I assert confidently that if ever a man can have been said to have won an international match through his unorthodox and lone-handed efforts, it can be said of the inspired black-haired Pillman I played against on the Crusaders’ ground on August 27, 1903, when the “Rover” played as fly half, mark you, not as forward.”
While Springbok's rugby legend Danie Craven
stated that Pillman “must be looked upon as one of the originators of what became known as the loose forward.”
Pillman was available for the third and final Test against the South African's but this time he was back in the pack. The tourists struggled losing 21-5, the British points coming from a Jack Spoors
try which Pillman converted. He finished the tour as the tourist's top scorer with 65 points – six tries, three penalties and 19 conversions.
. Played away to Wales at St. Helen's, Pillman found himself on the losing side for the first time in his career, with Wales winning 15-11. Despite the loss, Pillman's place was secure and he held his position to face the first France team to play at Twickenham. The match was a sporting disaster for the French in a game remembered for Douglas Lambert's record 22 points. Pillman was also on the score sheet, scoring two tries from the forward position. England ended the tournament with an away loss to Ireland and a victory over Scotland, Pillman playing in both, to finish mid table in the Championship.
Pillman played only two games of the 1912 Championship
. He was part of the opening game against Wales, which resulted in an 8-0 win, Pillman setting up the first try by Henry Brougham. Although missing the Ireland and Scotland encounters, he was back for the game against France. England won the game comfortably scoring four tries, one of which Pillman converted. England ended the tournament joint top with Ireland, giving Pillman his second Five Nations title.
1913 saw the second touring South African team come to Britain. On 4 January, England played South Africa at Twickenham and Pillman was selected to face the Springbok's for the third time. Although England took an early lead, the South Africa pack slowly gained dominance over their England counterparts, and took the lead in the second half. Pillman had a good game, stopping the South African wing, Jan Stegmann from scoring through a timely intercept. The game ended 9-3 to the tourists.
1913 was Pillman's most successful as an England player. He was a constant presence in the England pack throughout the 1913 Five Nations Championship
, a campaign which saw England list their first Grand Slam
title by beating all four opponents. Pillman was central to the England victory, scoring a try against Wales, two more against France and another in the match away to Ireland. If it had not been for Victor Coates, the Bath
wing, who scored six tries, Pillman would have been his teams top scorer that year, and all from the forward position.
Pillman ended his international career, the next year, playing in three matches of the 1914 Five Nations Championship
. In the opening game of the tournament against Wales, Pillman and Cambridge wing Cyril Lowe
attacked the Welsh backs with sparkling runs, which put the Welsh under constant pressure. Pillman then set up a try for Bruno Brown
, and followed this with his own try when Wales fumbled the ball near their own line. England won the game 10-9. This was followed by victories over Ireland and Scotland giving England their successive Triple Crown titles. Pillman scored his final international points in the win over Ireland, with a try started by a run in their own half from his captain, Ronald Poulton-Palmer
. Pillman may have played in the final game of the Championship, a win over France, but he suffered a broken leg during the Scotland match. His place was taken by his brother, Robert Pillman, who gained his one and only cap in the encounter.
With the outbreak of World War I international rugby was halted, and Pillman never represented his country again.
As well as club rugby, Pillman played for invitational tourists the Barbarians
, joining in the 1909/10 season and scoring a try in the 1911 encounter with Swansea. He also played county rugby for London Counties, playing alongside his brother Robert in a famous victory over the touring South Africans in 1912. As a captain in the British Army, he also represented the 'Mother Country' side that played in the King's Cup tournament in 1919. He was part of the team that lost to New Zealand Army
at Inverleith.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(8 January 1890 – 13 November 1955) was an English rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international who played on 18 occasions for his country and was part of the first official British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team that toured South Africa in 1910
1910 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1910 British Isles tour to South Africa was the eighth tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to South Africa. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950. As well as South Africa, the tour included a game in...
. He played club rugby with Blackheath and county rugby for Kent. Pillman's speed and tactics made him one of the leading exponents of an attacking wing forward, now recognised as the flanker position.
Personal history
Charles Henry Pillman was born in BromleyBromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, England in 1890 to Joseph Charles and Mary Anna Pillman. He was educated at Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
and was a member of the London Stock Exchange. With the outbreak of the First World War he joined the 4th Dragoon Guards
4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards
The 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
reaching the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was later Lieutenant in the Cavalry Special Reserve, attached to the Dragoon Guards. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1918. On 1 April 1920 he relinquished his commission and was granted the rank of Captain. During the Second World War he served as Area Flour Officer for South East Division.
First internationals
Charles "Cherry" Pillman first played rugby as a schoolboy for Tonbridge SchoolTonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
, and on leaving joined first class club Blackheath. It was at Blackheath that Pillman developed his style of play that defined him as one of the greatest wing forwards of his generation. Pillman's tactical play which included the introduction of detaching himself from the pack when opponent's heeled the ball, attacking the opposing fly-half before passing movements could be initiated, brought him to the attention of the English selectors.
Pillman made his first appearance for the England national side in the opening match of the 1910 Five Nations Championship
1910 Five Nations Championship
The 1910 Five Nations Championship was the first series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the twenty-eighth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
. The match was against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
, who England had failed to beat in the last twelve years, and was the first international at the new home of English rugby, Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
. Pillman played an important role in an inexperienced pack, which saw England take an early lead which they defended stoutly in the later stages, winning the game 11-6. Pillman remained in the England side for the rest or the Championship, a draw against Ireland and wins over both France and Scotland, which saw him part of his first Five Nations winning team.
British Isles tour
In the summer of 1910 Pillman was selected to tour South Africa with the British Isles team. Pillman's techniques and style drew much interest in South Africa, and he was carefully studied by the Springbok's team. The hard sunbaked ground suited his fast running play, and he was a first choice player for the touring British team.His first game of the tour, played on 11 June, was against the South Western Districts side, which the British won 14-4. Despite not being a recognised kicker, Pillman was given that duty, and he scored his first points of the tour converting one of the team's four tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
. Pillman was then selected for four matches against varying Western Province combination teams over eleven days. Pillman scored a try against Western Provonce County, a conversion and a penalty against Western Province Town and then a try and conversion against the full Western Province
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
team. Leading up to the first Test against the South Africa national side
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
, the British Isles played 16 games against regional and invitational teams, Pillman played in twelve of them, picking up 59 points. His twelfth game, played against Griqualand West on 23 July, would be Pillman's last until the 20 August, missing seven games through injury. During that period he missed the first Test match against South Africa, which the tourist lost.
Pillman returned to the British team for the second Test. Played at Port Elizabeth, Pillman dominated the match, brought in at fly half. In an outstanding display he manufactured both the British tries and converted the second, earning his first international points. Such was the impact that Pillman had on the Test, that the South African captain Billy Millar later wrote:
“I assert confidently that if ever a man can have been said to have won an international match through his unorthodox and lone-handed efforts, it can be said of the inspired black-haired Pillman I played against on the Crusaders’ ground on August 27, 1903, when the “Rover” played as fly half, mark you, not as forward.”
While Springbok's rugby legend Danie Craven
Danie Craven
Daniël Hartman Craven , more famously known as Danie Craven or simply Doc Craven, is a former Western Province, Eastern Province, Northern Transvaal and Springbok rugby union player as well as arguably South Africa's best and best-known rugby administrator...
stated that Pillman “must be looked upon as one of the originators of what became known as the loose forward.”
Pillman was available for the third and final Test against the South African's but this time he was back in the pack. The tourists struggled losing 21-5, the British points coming from a Jack Spoors
Jack Spoors
John Ainsworth 'Jack' Spoors was an English international, rugby union back who played club rugby for Bristol. Although he was never capped for England he was selected for the British Isles in their 1910 tour of South Africa, playing in all three Test matches and ending the tour as the team's top...
try which Pillman converted. He finished the tour as the tourist's top scorer with 65 points – six tries, three penalties and 19 conversions.
England career 1911 - 1914
On returning to Britain, Pillman found himself back in the England team and he was selected for the opening game of the 1911 Five Nations Championship1911 Five Nations Championship
The 1911 Five Nations Championship was the second series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the twenty-ninth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
. Played away to Wales at St. Helen's, Pillman found himself on the losing side for the first time in his career, with Wales winning 15-11. Despite the loss, Pillman's place was secure and he held his position to face the first France team to play at Twickenham. The match was a sporting disaster for the French in a game remembered for Douglas Lambert's record 22 points. Pillman was also on the score sheet, scoring two tries from the forward position. England ended the tournament with an away loss to Ireland and a victory over Scotland, Pillman playing in both, to finish mid table in the Championship.
Pillman played only two games of the 1912 Championship
1912 Five Nations Championship
The 1912 Five Nations Championship was the third series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the thirtieth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby union...
. He was part of the opening game against Wales, which resulted in an 8-0 win, Pillman setting up the first try by Henry Brougham. Although missing the Ireland and Scotland encounters, he was back for the game against France. England won the game comfortably scoring four tries, one of which Pillman converted. England ended the tournament joint top with Ireland, giving Pillman his second Five Nations title.
1913 saw the second touring South African team come to Britain. On 4 January, England played South Africa at Twickenham and Pillman was selected to face the Springbok's for the third time. Although England took an early lead, the South Africa pack slowly gained dominance over their England counterparts, and took the lead in the second half. Pillman had a good game, stopping the South African wing, Jan Stegmann from scoring through a timely intercept. The game ended 9-3 to the tourists.
1913 was Pillman's most successful as an England player. He was a constant presence in the England pack throughout the 1913 Five Nations Championship
1913 Five Nations Championship
The 1913 Five Nations Championship was the fourth series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the thirty-first series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
, a campaign which saw England list their first Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
title by beating all four opponents. Pillman was central to the England victory, scoring a try against Wales, two more against France and another in the match away to Ireland. If it had not been for Victor Coates, the Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
wing, who scored six tries, Pillman would have been his teams top scorer that year, and all from the forward position.
Pillman ended his international career, the next year, playing in three matches of the 1914 Five Nations Championship
1914 Five Nations Championship
The 1914 Five Nations Championship was the fifth series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the thirty-second series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
. In the opening game of the tournament against Wales, Pillman and Cambridge wing Cyril Lowe
Cyril Lowe
Cyril Nelson "Kit" Lowe MC DFC was an English rugby union footballer who held England's international try scoring record for over sixty years, First World War flying ace credited with nine victories, and supposedly the inspiration for W. E. Johns' character "Biggles".- Early life :Lowe was born in...
attacked the Welsh backs with sparkling runs, which put the Welsh under constant pressure. Pillman then set up a try for Bruno Brown
Bruno Brown
Bruno Brown was a rugby union international who represented England from 1911 to 1922. He also captained his country.-Rugby union career:Brown made his international debut on Jan 21, 1911 at St Helen's, Swansea in the Wales vs England match....
, and followed this with his own try when Wales fumbled the ball near their own line. England won the game 10-9. This was followed by victories over Ireland and Scotland giving England their successive Triple Crown titles. Pillman scored his final international points in the win over Ireland, with a try started by a run in their own half from his captain, Ronald Poulton-Palmer
Ronald Poulton-Palmer
Ronald William Poulton was an English rugby union footballer, who captained and was killed in The First World War....
. Pillman may have played in the final game of the Championship, a win over France, but he suffered a broken leg during the Scotland match. His place was taken by his brother, Robert Pillman, who gained his one and only cap in the encounter.
With the outbreak of World War I international rugby was halted, and Pillman never represented his country again.
International matches played
- With England 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914 1913 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914
- With the British Isles 1910, 1910
Club career
At club level, Pillman would play for just one team, Blackheath, throughout his career. With the end of World War I, Pillman returned to his club and was made captain for the 1919-20 season. With a lack of quality players caused by the events of the war, Pillman was central to rebuilding the Blackheath team, his popularity and patience with the younger members helping the club regain its high standing in club rugby.As well as club rugby, Pillman played for invitational tourists the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
, joining in the 1909/10 season and scoring a try in the 1911 encounter with Swansea. He also played county rugby for London Counties, playing alongside his brother Robert in a famous victory over the touring South Africans in 1912. As a captain in the British Army, he also represented the 'Mother Country' side that played in the King's Cup tournament in 1919. He was part of the team that lost to New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919
The New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919 was a rugby union team which represented New Zealand after the end of the First World War. Although spoken of as a single team, there were several New Zealand Services teams playing in Britain at the conclusion of the War...
at Inverleith.