War Blacks: The Extraordinary Story Of New Zealand's World War I All Blacks by Matt Elliott

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Rugby and war have played major roles in the forging of a national New Zealand identity. This is the story of where both met, on the hot sands of Egypt and the muddy fields of Brit ain and France during World War I. War Blacks presents for the first time the stories of more than 90 men who had been, were, or would be All Blacks and their 1914-18 wartime service, wearing the double silver fern of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force or the badges of other nations. While first-class and senior rugby in New Zealand came to a halt as the war progressed - "fit to play, fit to fight" - the game played an important role in the recreation and morale of our troops. The mighty rivalry between the All Blacks and the Springboks can be traced to this period. When the "Invincibles" were touring the Northern Hemisphere in 1924-25, the ex-soldiers in the team made a point of visiting the battlefields they had fought on only a few years earlier, as well as the graves of their fallen comrades. Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Year: 2016 Binding: Hardback ISBN: 9781775540366 Condition: Good Description: No DJ. Cover edges rubbed otherwise very good. Shop sticker on front cover. Note: This image is from a stock photo and may differ from the actual cover. Show more