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Anthony Wilding in Paris, 1915
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Anthony Wilding in Paris, 1915
Photograph of New Zealand tennis player, Anthony Frederick Wilding, Wimbledon Mens Champion in 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1913. His championship run came to an end in 1914 when he was beaten by Australian, N. E. Brookes in three straight sets. Photographed as a Lieutenant during World War One, taken in the Place Vendome, Paris during a short leave behind the wheel of his car (he was an expert motorist). He was attached to the Royal Naval Air Service. Wilding died near Neuve Chapelle, France on 9 May 1915 while fighting in the Battle of Aubers Ridge. Date: 1915
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Media ID 14141282
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Anthony Champion Driving Frederick Leave Lieutenant Players Sportsman Sportsmen Tennis Vendome Wilding Wimbledon Officers
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Anthony Frederick Wilding: A Champion's Last Moment of Peace in Paris, 1915 In this evocative photograph, New Zealand tennis legend Anthony Frederick Wilding is captured in the Place Vendome, Paris, during a brief leave from his military duties. Wilding, a four-time Wimbledon Men's Champion from 1910 to 1913, had seen his championship run come to an end in 1914 at the hands of Australian Norman Brookes. By 1915, the war had engulfed Europe, and Wilding, an expert motorist, was attached to the Royal Naval Air Service. Dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant, Wilding sits confidently behind the wheel of a car, his gaze fixed on the camera with an air of determination. The photograph, taken during a time of uncertainty and turmoil, serves as a poignant reminder of the lives of athletes and soldiers who were torn from their respective fields of excellence to fight in the Great War. Tragically, this moment of respite would be short-lived. On May 9, 1915, during the Battle of Aubers Ridge, Wilding was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle, France. His death marked the end of an era for tennis and New Zealand sports, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and determination that continues to inspire. This photograph, a testament to the complexities and contradictions of life, captures the essence of a champion's spirit in the face of adversity. Wilding's story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by athletes and soldiers during the First World War and the indelible mark they left on history.
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