William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (11 November 1918 – 11 August 1943) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He served in the RAAF during World War II, and was killed in action in 1943 when his plane crashed.
| Bill Cosgrove | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove | ||
| Date of birth | 11 November 1918 | ||
| Place of birth | Randwick, New South Wales | ||
| Date of death | 11 August 1943 (aged 24) | ||
| Place of death | Solomon Sea, off Goodenough Island, Milne Bay, Territory of New Guinea | ||
| Original team(s) | Xavier College | ||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 82 kg (181 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1940 | Richmond | 3 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1940. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family
editThe son of John Nereus Cosgrove (1867–1925), and Madelaine Mary Stephanie Cosgrove (1884–1933), née Tracey, William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove was born on 11 November 1918, Armistice Day—he was named "Pax" (Latin for peace) in recognition of that fact.[1] He married Dorothy May McLean (1920-) in 1940.[2]
Cosgrove's nephew, Peter Cosgrove, became Chief of the Defence Force and Governor-General of Australia.[3]
Football
editHe was a "talented and courageous" centre half-back, recruited by Richmond in 1939,[4] who played in three senior games for Richmond in 1940,[5] and played in 34 games for Richmond's Second XVIII over the period 1939–1942.
Showing his loyalty to his VFL team, he decorated his RAAF planes with the Richmond logo and the slogan "Eat 'em alive".[6]
Richmond's award for its best first year player is now known as the Bill Cosgrove/Harry Jenkins Trophy, in honour of both Cosgrove and the Tasmanian-based Richmond talent scout Harry Jenkins.
Military service
editHe was killed in action on 11 August 1943. While flying between Vivigani and Bola in the Territory of New Guinea, Flight Sergeant Cosgrove's plane crashed into the Solomon Sea off Goodenough Island, killing him and Flight Sergeant Bernard Le Griffon.[7][8]
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ Service Casualties, The Argus, (Wednesday, 18 August 1943), p.7.
- ^ New Tiger Married, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 26 April 1940), p.15.
- ^ Governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove’s mischievous ‘uncle Bill’ a beloved World War II hero.
- ^ Hogan (1996), p.47.
- ^ Early cut in League pay forecast, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Wednesday, 29 May 1940), p.22.
- ^ Jones, A., "'It seems so silly when they brawl'", The Sporting Globe, Saturday, 15 May 1943), p3.
- ^ Deaths: On Active Service: Cosgrove, The Age, (Saturday, 21 August 1943), p.8.; Deaths: On Active Service: Cosgrove, The Argus, (Saturday, 21 August 1943), p.2.
- ^ "A19-74". rafcommands.com. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
References
edit- Hogan P: The Tigers of Old, Richmond FC, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-646-18748-1
- Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
- Cosgrove's Cobbers, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 23 October 1943), p.5.
- World War Two Nominal Roll: Flight Sergeant William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (400140).
- World War Two Service Record: Flight Sergeant William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (400140), National Archives of Australia.
- World War Two Service (Repatriation) Record: Flight Sergeant William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (400140), National Archives of Australia.
- Roll of Honour: Flight Sergeant William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove (400140), Australian War Memorial.
External links
edit- Bill Cosgrove's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Bill Cosgrove at AustralianFootball.com