Anthony Wilding
A dashing tennis champion from New Zealand who dominated the sport's early days before dying on the Western Front in World War I.
1883–1915 (age 32)·New Zealand tennis player·Birthday: October 31·The Lost Generation
Biography
Anthony Wilding emerged from the manicured private courts of his family's Christchurch estate to become a global sporting sensation. Tall, handsome, and possessing a powerful serve-and-volley game, he captured the imagination of the pre-war public, winning Wimbledon four consecutive times from 1910 to 1913. His life was one of athleticism and adventure, splitting his time between grand slam tournaments, first-class cricket matches, and racing motorcycles across Europe. When war broke out, the world number one traded his tennis whites for the uniform of the British Army. In 1915, at the height of his fame, Captain Wilding was killed by a shell blast at the Battle of Aubers Ridge in France, his potential and charm extinguished, cementing his status as a tragic hero of the Edwardian era.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Anthony was born in 1883, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anthony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1883
Anthony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1883Born
President: Chester A. Arthur
1888Started school
President: Grover Cleveland
1896Became a teenager
First modern Olympic Games held in Athens
President: Grover Cleveland
1899Could drive
President: William McKinley
1901Could vote
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1904Turned 21
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Turned 30
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1915Died at 32
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
Key Achievements
- Won the Wimbledon gentlemen's singles title four years in a row from 1910 to 1913.
- Achieved a world No. 1 ranking in tennis during the pre-open era.
- Won eleven Grand Slam tournament titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
- Led the Australasia team to victory in the Davis Cup in 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1914.
Did You Know?
He was a skilled motorcycle racer and often traveled between European tournaments on his bike.
Wilding studied law at Trinity College, Cambridge, and briefly practiced as a barrister.
He was also a first-class cricketer, playing two matches for Canterbury in New Zealand.
A memorial to him stands at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon.
“A good volley and a steady nerve will see you through.”
