Walter BattyDCM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Batty during World War II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1905-01-01)1 January 1905 Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 10 May 1979(1979-05-10) (aged 74) Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | Auckland Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation | Insurance agent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby player | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 84 kg (185 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Walter Batty DCM (1 January 1905 – 10 May 1979) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A loose forward, Batty represented Auckland at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1928 to 1931. He played six matches for the All Blacks including four internationals.
Batty was born in Tonga in 1905, to an English father and a Tongan mother. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School, and was an insurance agent when he enlisted for service during World War II. He saw active service in North Africa and Italy with the 6th New Zealand Field Regiment, and won the Distinguished Conduct Medal during Operation Crusader for actions on 1 December 1941 at Belhamed in Libya.
References
- ^ Knight, Lindsay. "Walter Batty". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- Latu, Kalino (6 April 2015). "Did you know? Tonga's first All Black". Kaniva Tonga. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Walter Batty". Online Cenotaph. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
This biographical article relating to New Zealand rugby union is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- 1905 births
- 1979 deaths
- Tongan emigrants to New Zealand
- New Zealand people of English descent
- People educated at Auckland Grammar School
- New Zealand rugby union players
- New Zealand international rugby union players
- Auckland rugby union players
- New Zealand military personnel of World War II
- New Zealand recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal
- Rugby union number eights
- New Zealand rugby union biography stubs