Boyau, the wing ace who ruled the skies

THE 100th anniversaries are coming quick and fast as we head towards November 11 and exactly 100 years since the end of World War 1, but few will be as poignant as the death of French rugby star Maurice Boyau on this day – September 16 – in 1918.

Boyau – born in Algeria and a player with Dax, Bordeaux and Racing – captained France twice before the War in which he emerged as one of France’s greatest fighter aces with 35 ‘victories’.

Originally a career Army man, Boyau, below, switched to the emerging French airforce and flew with the famed Edcadrille 77 which was composed mainly of sportsmen. Originally the authorities tried to keep him behind the lines as an instructor but he kicked up merry hell and was soon on the front.

Of his 35 victories, 14 were German planes and 21 were observation balloons. The latter might sound simple enough but was in fact a deadly job as they were always heavily defended by German gunners while German planes patrolled regularly knowing that allied pilots would eventually be lured into their lair.

Boyau developed the reputation of being the expert balloon man and had just destroyed four in six days and was heading for a fifth when he was shot down by German ace Georg von Hantelmann.

A dashing wing, Boyau was the last French rugby international to die in action in World War 1 although the death of Albert Chateau six years later is always attributed to wounds received during hostilities. He was awarded the Medaille Militaire in 1917 and earlier in 1918 had been made an officer de la Legion d’Honneur. The Dax Rugby ground is also named in his honour.