UPDATES NOVEMBER 2014
Following the presentation of the Quaich to Steve Tew of the NZRFU we got in touch with him when we found out the All Blacks were coming to Scotland on tour. We invited them to come and see the Memorial to Sam at the Remembrance Garden in the village of Slamannan where he was born. Knowing how full the schedules for the touring party would be we did it more in hope than expectation. We were delighted when NZRFU President and All Blacks Legend, Ian MacRae and his wife Marilyn would be honoured to attend. The day before the visit we had another message that NZRFU Chairman Brent Impey had heard of the visit and would like to attend as well. On a windy Thursday in November this istinguished delegation from Sams adopted country came to the village of his birth to pay tribute to a true Commonwealth hero. Robert Jack, Sam’s great nephew, told stories of the Frickleton family and its long record of service and duty dating back to Waterloo. A minutes silence was held, a bible reading, and a reading of a poem before wreaths were laid on behalf of the people of New Zealand and the Rangers Supporters Erskine Appeal. We would like to thank our friends from New Zealand and the locals who came out to make this a fitting tribute that Sams family were proud of.
The Soldier pictured above is Sam Frickleton VC,
Sam was Born in Slamannanan, Scotland on the 1st April 1891
He emigrated with his family to New Zealand in 1913
In 1915 he enlisted as rifleman in the 3rd Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade,
Samuel Frickleton won his Victoria Cross during the attack at Messines on 7 June 1917.
Later that same year he was presented with his VC on Ibrox Park by King George V.
The RSEA
The Rangers Supporters Erskine Appeal was formed in 2007 by Rangers Fans in an effort to raise £1000 for the Erskine Home for Ex Service personnel
Such was the enthusiasm for the venture that it is still going strong 7 years later, with Rangers Fans working hard on a completely voluntary basis to raise over £560,000 for the Erskine Home
One of the Fundraising ventures is an Annual Golf Day, named in memory of of the Scots Kiwi war hero
Golfer play in teams of 4 to compete for the Sam Frickleton VC Golf Trophy
Commonweath Games
One Hundred years after the start of the Great War sees the NZ All Blacks Rugby Team take to the same field that Sam Frickleton Received his VC, 97 years ago.
To mark the occasion the RSEA has commissioned a Quaich in Sam’s honour to present to the Kiwi’s
The inside base is inscribed “IN MEMORY OF SAM FRICKLETON VC”
on the outside it reads
“PRESENTED BY THE RANGERS SUPPORTERS ERSKINE APPEAL TO THE NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS TO MARK THE OCCASION OF THEIR APPEARANCE AT IBROX STADIUM, 2014”
The RSEA presented the Quaich to Mr Steve Tew of CEO of NZ Rugby All Blacks on monday 28th July 2014 to mark the occasion of the Kiwis visit to Ibrox Stadium as a tribute to a war hero who received his Victoria Cross from King George V at the stadium in 1917.
NZ Rugby CEO Mr Steve Tew accepts a gift from the The Rangers Support, in memory of Sam Frickleton VC
Sam’s great grand-nephew Robert Jack who still resides in Slammanan first heard of the Rangers supporters tribute last month said
“Our family were very moved to hear that Sam’s heroic actions on Flanders Fields during the Great War are still being remembered”
The RSEA rep who made the presentation to NZ Rugby, said
“Steve Tew was delighted to accept the Quaich and hear that a Scottish kiwi and true commonwealth hero had his VC presented by the King on the same ground that all these years later New Zealand took on Scotland in the rugby sevens”
On returning to New Zealand, Steve Tew took time to email and thank the Rangers Support for the gesture made to his team and to their War Hero and promised that the Quaich would be displayed in NZ Rugby HQ
He wished the RSEA every success in the future.
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