This October we are celebrating the history of Durham School Rugby, culminating in the 175th anniversary of the DSFC on the 18th October. Amongst the many rugby alumni who played for England internationally, the name of Charles Young Adamson will be familiar to many alumni, if only due to his son Charles Lodge Adamson's position as Headmaster of Bow School. Born in 1875, he was a Day Boy at the school from 1887 and 1893, acting as school Monitor and playing on the 1st XV (1890-2) and 1st XI (1890-93) alike. He played for the Durham City and County rugby teams 1894-1909, but a prominent sporting career was ended by the war. He was killed in action in Salonica in September 1918. His international rugby career culminated when he played for the English XV in their tour of Australia in 1899. 

Insight into C.Y. Adamson's personality comes from a scrapbook compiled by C.L. Adamson of the newspaper clippings and letters reflecting his 1899 efforts in Australia. The following letter, written by Charlie, reflects his buoyancy at the start of the Tour:

"The teams for Australia assembled at Charing Cross at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday the 10th May. After receiving the blessing of the Rugby Union and a parting glass of 'cham', we started amidst the usual bustle & hurry-scurry, and if good wishes could count for anything the tour should be a great success. We ran down to Dover in a special, and many a bold footballer's mind was considerably relieved when we found the channel as calm as a pond. 

"Once on board, there was some chance of forming an impression of the men. Certainly it was a very favourable one, & when the team's time comes they will be a spiffing lot. Twenty one in all, composed of one Welshman, three Irish & three Scotch and fourteen English, ranging from our manager Rev. M. Mullineux, 5 foot 11 inches in his boots, to H. Gray, a brawny Scot of 6 feet 2 ½ inches clad in kilts, of whom more anon. 

"Nothing very entertaining, except a sleepless night in a sleeping car, happened on our journey to Marseilles where we arrived at 11 o'clock on Thursday morning. By noon we had weighed anchor and were away for the First. The weather continued to be beautifully fine and most interesting to all very few of whom had ever been on a long voyage before. We had the good luck both to see Stromboli in action, and the straights of Mesend at its best early on Friday morning. The voyage was uneventful till Saturday night. There are about a dozen Scotchmen on board, and as is the case, very canny. On this day it happened to be the birthday of one of them, so they organised among themselves what they called "A Bairn's Saturday Night Birthday Party'. It began with Haggis and whiskey, and ended— well, nobody's version of the ending is the same!! It is admitted by all on board (often with shudders) that they paraded the Deck in marching orders headed by Gray with the pipes, till well into Sunday, and that they were deeply indignant with the Captain when he hinted that they were perhaps a nuisance to other passengers. Hugh Gray is a universal favourite on board, and is commonly known as 'MacTavish'. 

"I have been able to gather some information as regards Australian football from Mr. Trumper whom I saw at the Crystal Palace before sailing. He says they still play three threequarters, but sometimes bring a man out from the 'scrum' as a 'flying half'. They are very strong, forward and the visit of the English team with their 4 ¾ game is looked forward to out there with great keenness. Our programme has not been finally arranged but we expect full particulars at Colombo. All our men are in the best health & spirits and we intend training hard the last 14 days of the voyage. The great majority of the team are either teetotallers or very abstemious. The teams will be chosen by Mullineux.

The tour consisted of 21 matches, including four Test Matches against the Australian National Team. The first test match was a harsh loss of 3-13, something which convinced the Revend Matthew Mullineux to step down as captain and player. Frank Strout adopted the position of captain, while Charlie Adamson took over his role on the pitch—a move which was later seen in the turning point of the trip. Of the 21 matches played by England, they won 18 of them. After losing the first test match, they only lost against the Queensland Reds and Metropolitan. Despite the excellent showing, Adamson, ever the perfectionist, took losing hard. A letter from Charlie Young Adamson dated August 7th 1899, and written on paper with a Park Hotel letterhead, reveals his feelings on the match against the Metropolitan Union: 

"On Bank holiday we played the union match against the Metropolitan Union and were beaten. I enclose an account from the Telegraph whose report is the only one that gives a description in any way accurate. It was a disgraceful exhibition, and the selection of the Australian team showed their disapproval of such play by leaving out Carson Kelly and Hardcastle.

The remainder of the week was supposed to be spent preparing for the Test match. However the social pleasures of Sydney were too great for nearly half the side, so little if any training was done; in a few instances it was totally disregarded. This to say the least about it is very selfish and unfair to those on the side who have done a great amount of hard graft on the Tour. Another unpleasant feature is the amount of writing in the papers. There has been a regular storm in a tea-cup over Mullinaux' speech in which the accused the Australians of "pointing". Of course this speech might as well never have been made, but after last Tuesday's game it unfortunately cannot be denied. I enclose an account of the 3rd Test Match." 

The letters of C.Y. Adamson shine a light at one of Durham School's greatest rugby heroes, and demonstrates conclusively the effort, team spirit, and sporting enthusiasm that are the hallmarks of the DSFC. We will be celebrating Adamson, and the many figures like him, at the 175th anniversary dinner on the 18th October; I hope you will be able to attend.