Maurice Fitzgerald (rugby league)

Maurice Michael Fitzgerald (12 March 1917 – 1 June 1942) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the New South Wales Rugby League for Balmain. He died during the Second World War.[1]

Maurice Fitzgerald
Personal information
Full nameMaurice Michael Fitzgerald
Born(1917-03-12)12 March 1917
Forest Lodge, New South Wales, Australia
Died1 June 1942(1942-06-01) (aged 25)
near Binche, German-occupied Belgium
Playing information
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight171 lb (78 kg)
PositionLoose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1936 Balmain 3 1 0 0 3
Source: [1]

Early life and rugby career

Fitzgerald was born on 12 March 1917 in Forest Lodge to Thomas and Dorothy Elizabeth Fitzgerald.[2][3] He attended Holy Cross College in Ryde from 1933–1935, in which time he became the captain of the school's basketball team.[4][5] In 1936, Fitzgerald appeared 3 times as a loose forward for Balmain, scoring 3 points and 1 try in 3 appearances.[1]

Personal life and military career

Fitzgerald worked as a clerk.[4] During the Second World War, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in Sydney on 3 February 1941, applying to become aircrew soon after.[2][4] In May 1941, ranked leading aircraftman, Fitzgerald was transported to Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme, where he practiced as an observer and air gunner at No.2 Air Observer School, Edmonton.[6][7] Ultimately being assigned as an observer, Fitzgerald was attached to the Royal Air Force and embarked by ship to England in October 1941, arriving on 1 November.[6][7]

On 1 June 1942, Sergeant Fitzgerald and the other 5 crew members on board Vickers Wellington Z1311 took off from RAF Breighton to take part in the thousand-bomber raid on Essen.[8] Over Hainaut, German-occupied Belgium, Z1311 was shot down by a German Messerschmit Bf110 night fighter piloted by Oberleutnant Reinhold Eckardt of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3.[8] The aircraft crashed near Binche, killing all aboard.[8] Originally cited as missing in action, Fitzgerald was declared presumed dead on 26 December 1942.[9] The crew's remains were eventually found, and all were buried at Charleroi Communal Cemetery.[3]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League Other Total
Apps Tries Goals Points Apps Tries Goals Points Apps Tries Goals Points
Balmain 1936 New South Wales Rugby League[1] 3 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 3
Career total 3 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 3

References
  1. "Maurice Fitzgerald – Career Stats and Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. "World War Two Service". Australian Government – Department of Veteran's Affairs. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. "Casualty Details: Fitzgerald, Maurice Michael". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. "NAA: A9301, 403576". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. "NAA: A9301, 403576". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. "NAA: A9301, 403576". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  7. "NAA: A9301, 403576". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. Accident description for Vickers Wellington Mk IV Z1311 at the Aviation Safety Network
  9. "NAA: A705, 163/112/125". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
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