2 HOOKER Joseph Robert Kayll -THEY KNEW THAT HE PLAYED RUGBY!

Wing Commander Joseph (Joe) Robert Kayll was born in Sunderland in 1914 and died in 2000. He was an active rugby player for the club along the front row throughout the 1930s and came from a well-known local rugby playing  family*. He was educated at Aysgarth School and Stowe before joining the family timber merchants at 16. At one point his family home was in The Elms.  Decorated with  DSO, OBE, DFC and AE  he is now recognised as an air ace and national hero commanding many pages online. He started flying at Usworth in 1934 and was straight into action as soon as war was declared. He was in command of a squadron during the Battle of Britain and credited with over a dozen enemy aircraft shot down. For these actions he was given the DFC and DSO personally by the king. He was promoted to wing commander in 1941. In July of that year, he was shot down and made prisoner in Germany. It was said that the Germans knew all about him – even that he played rugby! He escaped once but was recaptured and soon became the escape officer  involved in the famous ‘Wooden Horse’ venture turned into a feature film in the 1950s. For his efforts as a POW, he was awarded an OBE in 1946.He devoted most of his later life to Sunderland Yacht Club which he founded.

*Joe's father 'Major Kayll' played for the club. Joe's grandfather Harry/Henry was SRFC's first international and also held the world pole vault record at one point.

Battle of Britain London Monument - S/Ldr. J R KAYLL  - is a must and that is just for starters – Google full name for more.