By August 1917, the small mining communtiy of Neath had sent 18 soccer players to the Great War. So great was the call of country, they could hardly raise half a dozen players above 18 years old between them. Private William McKersie was one of their enlistees. Between 29 November 1916 and 8 May 1918 he was wounded in action no fewer than four times on the Western Front. In 1927, at the young age of 31 he died of illness brought on by his wartime experience. He left a young widow, Phyllis Price, whom he had married in 1925.
Neath
NSW
William McKersie
