John Birkett

Early life John Guy Giberne Birkett was born in Richmond, Surrey on 27 December 1884. He was the son of Lizette Crunden and Reg Birkett. His father had played for England as an association footballer as well as playing in England's first international rugby match in 1871. He had an older brother, Gerald (born 1883), and his uncle was another rugby international, Louis Birkett.

Rugby career Birkett initially regarded himself as a half-back. After attending the trials for Harlequins in 1905 on Wandsworth Common he was selected for the team. During his international career he played 21 times for England, and at the time of his final match in Paris this was England's record cap holder. He was also the record try scorer with ten. Ironically, he never captained his club-side. However, he never lost his place in the Harlequins side and was part of the generation that witnessed the move to the new Twickenham Stadium. He played in the inaugural match on 2 October 1909, at what is now the home of English rugby. In 1915 he married Elsie Allen in Chertsey. They had a son, John Brian who was born on 2 October 1916 and who would later become a brigadier and serve in the Second World War. John Birkett died on 16 October 1967, which was registered in Cuckfield.