The Commanding Officer of The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland last week accepted a special commemorative cap and certificate as Thomas Steele, a Victoria Cross winner who served with the Seaforth Highlanders, was officially inducted into the League 13 ‘Hall of Honour’ at a ceremony held in Catterick Garrison.
League 13, the Super League players’ association, decided that to mark the 100-year anniversary of the start of World War One by recognising the three professional Rugby League players who were awarded the Victoria Cross for their great acts of bravery during the conflict. Thomas Steele (Broughton Rangers) was the third of these inductees following Jack Harrison VC (Hull FC) and Thomas Bryan VC (Castleford).
Thomas Steel was born in Springhead, near Oldham on the February 6, 1891. Following a successful amateur Rugby League career with his local team Healey Street, Steele caught the attention of the professional Broughton Rangers team, for whom he played a small number of games prior to World War I.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross ‘For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty’ during the British advance on Sannai-I-Yat, Mesopotamia (now Iraq) on the 22 February 1917 as a Sergeant in the 1st Seaforth Highlanders. Seeing that soldiers from an Indian unit were falling back he and a private soldier moved forward to set up a machine gun position. The Citation for his Victoria Cross [London Gazette 8 June 1917] reads:
“At a critical moment when a strong enemy counter-attack had temporarily regained some of the captured trenches, Sgt. Steele rushed forward and assisted a comrade to carry a machine gun into position. He kept the gun in action until relieved, being mainly instrumental in keeping the remainder of the line intact.
Some hours later another strong attack enabled the enemy to reoccupy a portion of the captured trenches. Again Sgt. Steele showed the greatest bravery, and by personal valour and example was able to rally troops who were wavering.
He encouraged them to remain in their trenches and led a number of them forward, thus greatly helping to re-establish our line. On this occasion he was severely wounded. These acts of valour were performed under heavy artillery and rifle fire.”
His Victoria Cross was presented to him by King George on the 10 Apr 1919 atBuckinghamPalace. Sgt Steele demobilised from the Seaforth Highlanders at the end of the war and returned to Springhead, where he continued to play Rugby League for Healey Street, despite having been wounded a further eleven times during the war. He died in 1978 and today his collection of medals is held by the Michael Ashcroft Trust.
The presentation of a commemorative cap made to Lt Col Drummond MBE, Commanding Officer of The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland celebrated the bravery of Sgt Thomas Steele VC.
Lt Col Drummond said: “We in The Highlanders are incredibly proud of our heritage and the common bond we share with those the Scottish infantry soldiers who served in our antecedent Regiments, including the Seaforth Highlanders. It is a privilege to receive this award from League 13 on behalf of Thomas Steele VC and we will ensure it is placed where the story of his bravery and sporting feats can inspire current, and future, generations of Highlanders.”
Ernie Benbow, Chief Executive of League 13 said: “League 13 resolved to improve the working conditions for today’s generation of Super League players and for future generations. However, it is just as important to preserve the legacies of those players who have come before, especially those who have shown courage and bravery above and beyond the call of duty.
“The four players who are the inaugural inductees of the League 13 Hall of Honour exemplify those characteristics and their memories should serve as examples to all current and future rugby players of what it means to be a Rugby League player.”