A RUGBY club is appealing for information on a former player from Keighley who died in one of the worst defeats suffered by the Allies during the First World War.

Bradford Bulls want to contact descendants of John Wilkinson, who was declared missing presumed dead in 1915 during the disastrous Dardanelles Campaign against the Turks.

Mr Wilkinson's name will be added to those of five other Bradford Northern players who are remembered on the Bradford Bulls Foundation First World War plaque.

The appeal to make contact with members of his family is part of a Heritage Lottery-funded project called Birch Lane Heroes.

Led by the Bulls Foundation and involving volunteers from the local community, the scheme focuses on the contribution to the First World War made by players and others connected with Bradford Northern Rugby League Football Club.

Bradford Northern Rugby League FC were the predecessors of today's Bradford Bulls, and the project’s name originates from Northern’s home ground during this period, which was in Birch Lane, West Bowling.

Bradford Bulls Foundation heritage officer, Dr Kathryn Hughes, said John Wilkinson had played rugby for Keighley, Keighley Zingari and Keighley Olicana before transferring to Bradford Northern.

On the outbreak of war, he enlisted in Kitchener’s New Army with the West Riding Regiment. He was sent to the Dardanelles and was only there a month before being he went missing. He left a wife and seven children and is commemorated on the Hellas Memorial at Gallipoli.

Mr Wilkinson was born in Keighley in 1882, the son of a worsted machine fitter.

He married when he was 19 years old to Harriet Dresser and joined Bradford Northern for its 1907/08 season. He played eight games for Bradford Northern’s first team prior to the outbreak of war in 1914.

Dr Hughes said he and his unit were put on a boat at Liverpool, bound for the Dardanelles in 1915.

"The day after they set sail, the boat was attacked by a hostile submarine, whose torpedo missed by about eight feet," she said.

"On midnight of August 6, they landed at Suvla Bay, to the west of the Yorkshire Regiment and dug in.

"At 4am on August 9 they were ordered to advance and attack."

The battalion was involved in fierce fighting with the Turks, during which time Mr Wilkinson was reported missing presumed killed. He was 33 years old.

Dr Hughes added: "His wife did not receive much of a widow’s pension and, needing to support their seven children, remarried in 1920 to John McNiff or McKniff.

"John's name will be added to those of the five other Bradford Northern players who are remembered on the Bradford Bulls Foundation First World War Plaque.

"If anyone has a connection to this family, we would love to get in touch with these descendants."

People can call 01274 729728 or send a message via Twitter to @BullsFoundation to get in touch.