John Selwyn Moll

John Selwyn Moll (1913 – 24 July 1942) was an English banker, British Army officer, and rugby union player born in Greenwich, London. He worked as a banker for Lloyds Bank and, played club rugby for Lloyds Bank RFC and Blackheath, and played for the British Lions on their 1936 tour to Argentina as a centre.^[1] He was killed during the Second World War whilst at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.^[1]

John Selwyn Moll

Moll playing for Blackheath in 1939
Full name	John Selwyn Moll
Date of birth	1913
Place of birth	Greenwich, London, England
Date of death	24 July 1942(1942-07-24) (aged 28–29)
Place of death	Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England
School	Bedford School
Occupation(s)	Banker
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1932–1938 Lloyds Bank () 1938–1940 Blackheath () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1938 Kent () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1936 British Lions 2 1939 Barbarians 1 National sevens team Years Team Comps 1939–1942 Rosslyn Park

Rugby career

Moll was born in Greenwich and was educated at Bedford School. After playing rugby for the school, he worked for Lloyds Bank and played for the bank's rugby club. In 1936, despite never being called up for the England national rugby union team,^[2] he was called up to play for the British Lions on their tour of Argentina.^[1] Upon returning, in 1938, he played rugby for Blackheath in Kent and played County Championship rugby representing Kent.^[3] He also played for the Barbarians in 1939.^[4] During the Second World War, he played rugby sevens for Rossyln Park.^[5]

Military career

Moll was a member of the Army Cadet Force whilst at Bedford School, and upon leaving, he joined the Northumberland Hussars regiment of the Territorial Army. When the Second World War started in 1939, Moll signed up for the Royal Engineers.^[1] In 1940, he was commissioned as an officer in the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).^[6] Later, he was commissioned as a captain in the Regiment.^[1] In 1942, he died as a result of an accident in Bury St Edmunds whilst his Regiment was training for deployment to Iraq.^[7] Details of his death were not released; however, he was declared as having "died of wounds received on active service" by Lieutenant T. E. Redfern, a fellow rugby player from Rosslyn Park.^[8] He was listed on the regiment's Roll of Honour.^[7] He was buried at Christ Church, Shamley Green, in Surrey.^[9] A memorial plaque dedicated to Moll was also installed inside the church.^[10]

References

1. "Ask John: Wolfhounds and Handel". ESPN. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
2. Jones, Stephen (2021). Behind the Lions: Playing rugby for the British and Irish Lions. Birlinn. ISBN 9780857905291.
3. "Southern Counties". The Guardian. 20 October 1938. Retrieved 12 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "J. S. Moll in form for Barbarians". Evening Standard. 2 March 1939. Retrieved 12 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "London District fix seven rugby games next season". Evening Standard. 20 April 1942. Retrieved 12 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Supplement, page 3262" (PDF). The London Gazette. 31 May 1940. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
7. "Shamley Green". They Gave Their Today. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
8. "Kent rugby player killed". Evening Standard. 28 July 1942. Retrieved 12 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "John Selwyn Moll". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 24 July 1942. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
10. "Capt J S Moll". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 12 July 2021.

External links

• British and Irish Lions profile