Billy Geen

Billy Geen
Birth name	William Purdon Geen
Date of birth	14 March 1891
Place of birth	Newport, Wales
Date of death	31 July 1915 (aged 24)
Place of death	Hooge, Flanders, Belgium
School	Haileybury College
University	Oxford University
Notable relative(s)	Frank Purdon (uncle)
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Wing, Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years	Team
1910–1913	Oxford University RFC
1911–1915	Barbarian F.C.
–	Blackheath F.C.
–	Monmouthshire
Senior career
Years	Team
1910–1914	Newport RFC
International career
Years	Team
1912–1913	Wales
	----
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Years of service	1914–1915
Rank	Second lieutenant
Unit	9th King's Royal Rifle Corps
Battles / wars	First World War Western Front Ypres Salient actions Battle of Hooge (1915) †; ; ;
Memorials	Menin Gate

William Purdon Geen (14 March 1891 – 31 July 1915) was a rugby union wing and centre, who represented Wales, and played club rugby for Oxford University and Newport and county rugby for Monmouthshire. He was also invited to play for the Barbarians on several occasions. Geen unsuccessfully trialled for England in 1910, but was selected and played for Wales on three occasions in the 1912–1913 season. Injury prevented him from playing more internationals, and his service in the First World War put an end to his career.

Geen excelled athletically at Oxford, earning four Blues between 1910 and 1913. However, in three successive Varsity Matches, he failed to score after dropping the ball over the tryline. In the holidays, he played club rugby for Newport, and he was part of the team that defeated the touring South African side of 1912–1913. He was also a decent cricketer keeping wicket for Oxford University Authentics and Monmouthshire.

Geen was commissioned second lieutenant into the 9th King's Royal Rifle Corps in August 1914, and sent to the Western Front in May 1915. He was killed in action in Hooge, Belgium. He is remembered on the Menin Gate memorial.