Wade, AL

Lieutenant Albert Luvian Wade

Bertie was born on 20^th September 1884, the son of James and Sarah Wade. He was highly involved in College life during his time as a pupil, spending 3 seasons in the 1^st XV between 1902 & 1904, the last of which as Captain, he also spent a year in the 2^nd XI; as well as serving as both President of the Science & Photographic Society and as Editor of ‘The Alleynian’. After leaving the College he continued with his rugby career, playing for both London Scottish & Middlesex, before – on 21^st March 1908 – receiving a first international cap playing at scrum-half for Scotland in their 16-10 victory over England. Despite a performance which saw The Sporting Chronicle describe him as “a plucky little man, whose defence was beyond reproach, and who did some clever things at times”, this was to remain his only international recognition, his subsequent rugby being predominantly played for the O.A.F.C., serving as Captain from 1909-13. When war broke out he was studying art in Paris, but immediately came home and joined the “Kensingtons”, 13^th Battalion London Regiment, before transferring to the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps. In April 1915 he was gazetted to a commission in the 17^th Service Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, proceeding to France that September. He was promoted to Lieutenant in April 1916, and in December was attached to the 6^th Trench Mortar Battery. During his service he saw action in most of the major battles on the Western Front, ultimately falling during the attack on Oppy Wood, near Arras, on April 28^th 1917.