Born: 1899
Died: ?
Position: Right back
Olympic journey: 1928 Amsterdam
Medals: One gold
Little is known about the defender who featured in every match played by India in their first Olympic triumph. He played right back for Central Provinces in the Inter-Provincial Tournament in Calcutta in 1928 when he was selected for the All-India team and then played mostly in the same position in the Ninth Olympiad in Amsterdam, partnering either Leslie Hammond or the captain, Jaipal Singh. India did not concede a single goal in the tournament.
Rocque studied at Christ Church School in Jubbulpore, an important railway town in central India. A versatile player, he played centre forward for Calcutta Telegraph Recreation Club circa 1922. He later played for the Great Indian Peninsula (GIP) Railway in the Aga Khan Tournament in Bombay (The Statesman, 8 March 1928, page 13). The list of incoming passengers when the Kaisir-i-Hind docked at the Tilbury Docks on 30 March 1928 gave Rocque’s profession as “Telegraphist” (Ancestry.com. UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008).
“Great things are expected of him,” The Statesman had said before the All-India team left for England on its way to the 1928 Olympics. Rocque did not disappoint, but after the 1928 triumph he disappeared from the stage.
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