Frank Smyth

Bernard Francis "Frank" Smyth (11 February 1891 – 15 July 1972) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A hooker, Smyth played a single representative game for Canterbury in 1915, one match for the South Island in 1922 and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, also in 1922. He played three matches for the All Blacks but did not appear in any internationals.[3] His grandson is politician Peter Dunne.

Frank Smyth

Birth name	Bernard Francis Smyth
Date of birth	(1891-02-11)11 February 1891
Place of birth	Boatmans, Buller, New Zealand
Date of death	15 July 1972(1972-07-15) (aged 81)
Place of death	Christchurch, New Zealand
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9 ^1⁄2 in)[1]
Weight	78 kg (172 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Peter Dunne (grandson)[2]
Occupation(s)	Bricklayer,[1] publican
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker All Black No. 257 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1915 Canterbury 1 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1922 New Zealand (0) (0)

Smyth served in the No. 3 Field Company, New Zealand Engineers, during World War I. He enlisted in December 1915 as a sapper, and had risen to the rank of sergeant by the time of his discharge in June 1919.[1] He saw action at Ypres, Passchendaele and the Somme,[3] and was mentioned in dispatches, by Sir Douglas Haig on 7 April 1918.[4]

References

1. "Smyth, Frank – WW1 4/2138 – Army". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
2. Davison, Isaac (21 August 2014). "Mr Boring? What about my bow-ties?". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
3. Knight, Lindsay. "Frank Smyth". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
4. "No. 30706". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 May 1918. p. 6204.