On Saturday 2 April, over 130 invited guests joined Amersham & Chiltern RFC President Peter Osborne for the 31st President’s Luncheon, an annual celebration which brings together past players from more than five decades.

This year, the club was honoured by the presence of a particularly distinguished guest, World War Two veteran Private Stephen G. Morgan. Private Morgan fought at the Battle of Arnhem alongside Lieutenant Jack Grayburn, who played at Amersham & Chiltern RFC between 1927 and 1939 and who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for valour in that battle. Private Morgan is believed to be the last person to talk to Lt Grayburn before he died of injuries sustained while trying to protect the bridge at Arnhem from German forces.

President Peter Osborne said, “It was a huge privilege to have Steve attend the luncheon and share with us his very moving account of the last moments of the life of one of our most renowned members. Amersham & Chiltern RFC has a proud history, and it is a devastating fact that one third of our playing members died in the Second World War; Jack Grayburn was one of 20 who did not return. We remember all our lost players, and especially Jack, through the Grayburn Room at our clubhouse, and we are extremely grateful to Steve for joining us to make this year’s lunch one of the most memorable yet.”

Mr Morgan was presented with a specially commissioned photograph by Deputy Chairman Martyn Fletcher. He also met members of Amersham & Chiltern’s thriving mini rugby section who were mascots for the First XV game against Old Priorians later that afternoon.

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Extract from: “Steve’s Story, the personal account of Pte Stephen Morgan at Arnhem”

“This left Lt John Grayburn in charge and he could hear the water running from the outlet in a nearby building, the one that I had been in earlier, and he decided to head for that. He was already wounded in several places, I remember seeing a bandage round his head, his right arm was in a sling and he was firing his pistol with his left hand. One of his trouser legs were ripped and his leg was bandaged as well.

As we were surrounded by Germans firing their rifles, we were being picked off one by one until just Lt Grayburn and myself were on our own, all the soldiers around us were either dead or too wounded to take part. He patted me on the back and said something like “It’s time to go”. We ran out from under the bridge in a zig-zag formation firing our weapons and it was at this point that I finally ran out of ammunition, having used all 400 rounds.

I reached cover but before Lt Grayburn could join me the tank in front fired and he fell. I looked out and saw him lying on the road, I realised he was still alive and called to him. I also remember somebody, who sounded like an Officer, shout from a nearby building , something like “Is it very bad?” He replied “Leave me”, he knew he was dying, the Officer replied “Goodbye dear boy”. I also remember somebody who also sounded like an Officer call out “Good Luck”.

I decided to try and pull him under cover and crawled out on my front, it was quite odd because the Germans did not fire at me. Lt Grayburn again said “Leave me” unfortunately he was too heavy for me to move on my own and I had no choice but to get back under cover. He was aged 26 and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He was a very brave man and somebody who I admired very much.”