1930s St George players details

[Max Turner]

- S Bradshaw was Stan Bradshaw. He was born 4 July 1911 in Newtown and died on 23 December 1950. His full name was Stanley Bradshaw.
- Percy Fairall was born in Brisbane.
- Tom Hayward was born in Tweed Heads, NSW.
- Jim Flower was born 16 November 1907 in Kogarah, and died on 16 December 1979. His full name was James Harold Flower.
- Harry Flower was born in Newtown.
- Kangaroo Fred Gardner is the father of the Fred Gardner who played for St George in 1955.
- The 1935 St George appearance attributed to Jack Gray-Spence was actually Jim Gray-Spence. (Jack was a winger, and Jim was a hooker).
- Jack Gray-Spence (Easts, University) was born 9 February 1910 in Sydney, and died 5 May 1992. His full name was John Alfred Gray-Spence. (Jack was also with St George but evidently did not play first grade)
- Jim Gray-Spence (St George) was born 5 April 1912 in Sydney, and died 24 October 1937. His full name was James Fordyce Gray-Spence. Jack and Jim were brothers.
- H Hodgson was Harry Hodgson. His nickname was Snowy.
- Bill McGrath was born 17 May 1913 in Kempsey, and died 3 July 1998. His full name was William Clement McGrath.
- Ken Murray should be Keith. He was born 17 February 1915 in Ashfield, NSW. His full name was Keith Anderson Murray.
- Stan Robinson was born in Brisbane, Qld.
- Minor correction but I think Bill Summerell's nickname should be Monk, not Monka.
- Pat White was known as Pat, or his nickname Sonny, but his real name was Philip White. He was born 26 April 1913 in Tea Gardens, near Newcastle, NSW, and died on 6 June 1986.
- Jack Simpson (St George) was born 21 January 1917. His full name was Byron John Joseph Simpson.
- Mat Ryan (St George, NSW rep teams) was born 21 May 1913 in Albury, and died 29 October 1994. His full name was Matthew Ryan. He was the brother of Bill Ryan (St George, Wests, Ipswich).
- Bill Ryan (St George, Wests, Ipswich) was born 20 July 1911 in Albury, and died 9 July 1994. His full name was William Joseph Ryan. His nickname was Bricky or Hoot. EDIT: Perhaps something to note on Bill Ryan's profile is that the Daily Advertiser newspaper of Wagga Wagga (1) erroneously reported that Bill had died in New Guinea in 1942. It was in fact Newtown centre Bill Ryan who tragically died in those circumstances. They both had the same full name which probably contributed the error.
- Not a St George player, but to distinguish the two men: William Ryan (Newtown 1941) was known as Bill. He was born 24 September 1919 in Petersham, NSW. He was the brother of Bruce Ryan. His full name was William Joseph Ryan Jnr. (No relation to Bill or Mat above)

[Max Turner]

- Eric McCormack was born in 1905 in Kalgoorlie, WA, and died on 3 June 1997. His full name was Eric Roland McCormack.
- Eric was the brother of Jack McCormack, who played as a fullback for St George and several rep teams between 1927 and 1932. Jack's games are currently listed on the profile of Jim McCormack who later played as a forward for Souths and Canterbury.
- Jack McCormack was born in 1903 in Northcote, in Melbourne, Victoria, and died on 16 July 1996. His full name was John Charles McCormack.
- Jim McCormack was born on 8 December 1909 in Barraba, NSW, and died on 13 June 1969. His full name was James Thomas McCormack. He was not related to Eric and Jack.
- NB: The DOB currently listed on Jim's profile, 25 June 1904, is attributed to Jack on Wikipedia. It's definitely not Jim's DOB, but it may or may not be Jack's DOB (I can't check due to how the Victoria Birth Index website functions without buying the birth record). Jack was definitely born in 1903 not 1904 though.

[GregRLP]

I have updated all these and fixed the Spence-Gray brothers & Jack McCormack now has his own profile separate from Jim McCormack.

[Ted Baxter]

I can confirm Harry Hodgson see attached RL News V16 N18 p21

I had Ken Murray see attached RL News V16 N19 p21

[GregRLP]

Thanks Ted so @Max Turner are you able to advise on Mr Murray?

[Max Turner]

Thanks for posting these Ted. I referred to the following articles about K Murray:

• 1936 Mar 27, Labor Daily: Keith Murray applying to be readmitted to RU after playing the latter half of 1935 for St George RL as an amateur
• 1937 Mar 22, Labor Daily: Keith Murray joined St George RL (again) from Randwick RU
• 1937 Apr 7, Maitland Daily Mercury: K. Murray playing for Maitland RL after recently leaving St George RL
• 1938 Mar 30, Labor Daily: Keith Murray applying to be readmitted to RU (again). Article says he played for Randwick RU (1933-34), St George RL (1935), Randwick RU (1936), and then West Maitland RL (1937)
• 1940 Mar 6, Daily News: Keith Murray joined South Sydney RL from RU, mentioned to have previously played RL for St George
• 1941 May 8, The Propeller: South Sydney's Keith Murray mentioned to have previously played for Randwick RU and St George RL. Mentioned as a member of the RAAF (his service file can be found here)

I have found two passing mentions of the name Ken Murray in newspaper articles, both in 1935. One was playing for Randwick RU, and the other later on for St George RL. There's no obvious indication that 'Ken' was a nickname, but because it appears multiples times, it might be fair to conclude it was not an error. What do you think?

I can't find a death date for Keith so hopefully that turns up eventually!

[Ted Baxter]

Good research there. I think it is more than likely Keith & that a reporter got it wrong which was then carried over to Rugby League News.

A list of Randwick RU players you can download from here
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E9mvuM7rUU1izJMjs2rDgDR4s8WqJQiW (Randwick m.pdf)
says the player who played for Randwick was Keith. No Ken Murray

St.George also has it listed as Keith:

https://stgeorgedragons.com.au/player/keith-murray/

South Sydney Almanac has Keith as well

Also this article saying that he was approved in being re-admitted to the rugby union ranks.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237784724?searchTerm=%22keith%20murray%22

https://www.ssralmanac.com/mobile/players_m/player_murray_keith.htm


To me, there seems to be far more evidence that it is Keith rather than Ken.

[GregRLP]

There does not seem to be any other K Murray who played with Randwick over this period there was a J Murray who was a forward who played in 1934, K Murray seemed to have played reserve grade in 1934 then 1st grade in 1935 and that he moved to League in Aug. In 1935 as a Rugby Union player he seems to be referred to as Ken never Keith except this article in the Sporting Globe 1935 Jun 19. It was only the RLN article that refers to him as Ken following his move to League

So I think as a new player he was initially thought to be Ken then when he made the switch to Rugby League it was realised his name was Keith so I agree Ted he is Keith.

[Max Turner]

- Les Abbott, born 12 November 1915 in Newtown NSW, died 12 June 2011. Full name Leslie Frederick William Abbott. Nickname was Bunny.
- Stan Brain's DOB should be 5 November 1903. He died 5 April 1969. Full name Stanley Vincent Brain.
- Len Brenann, born 26 February 1911 in Annandale NSW. Full name Leonard Reginald Brennan.
- Len's brother Joe Brennan's DOB should be 3 February 1908.
- Jack Colquhoun, born 10 April 1913 in Waterloo NSW, died 31 December 1992. Full name John Vincent Colquhoun.
- Mick Crowe, born 11 August 1908 in Nyngan NSW, died 2 November 1989. Full name Michael Joseph Crowe.
- Percy Fairall's nickname was Slitzer.
- Jim Flower's DOB should be 16 November 1907 (instead of 6th) in Kogarah, NSW.
- Walter Greenland's DOB should be 25 September 1906 in St Peters NSW.
- It looks like Neville Hardy is the same person as Nelson Hardy (1, 2, 3). I don't know where the name Neville came from. 
- Clarrie Kemp, born 31 October 1913 in Rockdale NSW, died 8 July 1943. Full name Clarence Charles Kemp. Clarrie died as a result of a workplace accident while working on the Hawkesbury River bridge.
- Bill Killiby, born 16 January 1911 in Balmain, NSW, and died on 9 May 1979. His full name was William John Reginald Killiby. His nickname was Wombo.
- Bill Killiby was the nephew of Edward Goddard and Tom Killiby.
- Tom Killiby's DOB should be 7 October 1897.
- Sid Loudoun's DOB should be 9 July 1912 instead of the 11th. His nickname was Bluey.
- The Cootamundra and Wests player Ern "Snowy" Martin is a different person to Eddie Martin, who played for St George in 1933. Eddie Martin, born 18 January 1912 in Glebe NSW, died 1 April 1937. Full name Edward Thomas Martin, brother of Bernie Martin.
- Bill McGrath was born in Kempsey NSW.
- Dick O'Connor, born 1916 in Kookynie, near Kalgoorlie WA, died 26 February 1958. Full name Richard Gregory O'Connor.
- Alan Sprouster should be Archie Sprouster. Born 28 February 1910 in Chatswood NSW, died 23 January 1968. Full name Archibald Douglas Sprouster.
- Jack Wedgwood, born 28 August 1916 in Barmedman NSW, died 23 December 1992.

[GregRLP]

Thanks again Max I have updated all these.

It seems that Whiticker's Encyclopedia lists a N Hardy for St.George in 1936 as a separate player to Nelson Hardy & Ian Collis' A to Z book lists Neville Hardy for Saints in 1936 but is definitely Nelson Hardy seems he was considering playing with Saints in 1935 but decided to take a captain/coaching position at Kurri Kurri then joined Saints in 1936.

Two tragic accidents to the above players apart from Clarrie Kemp also Eddie Martin was killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of 25.

[Max Turner]

Thanks again Max I have updated all these.

Thanks Greg for doing these so quickly. I'm now focusing on getting details for as many players as possible from the NSWRFL comp between 1933 and 1937 (as a starting point). Balmain is currently at 79% (50/63) and University at 86% (60/69) for players in this period with a DOB.

Also noting that I think Dick O'Connor's details were missed:
- Born 1916 in Kookynie, near Kalgoorlie WA, died 26 February 1958. Full name Richard Gregory O'Connor.

It seems that Whiticker's Encyclopedia lists a N Hardy for St. George in 1936 as a separate player to Nelson Hardy & Ian Collis' A to Z book lists Neville Hardy for Saints in 1936 but is definitely Nelson Hardy seems he was considering playing with Saints in 1935 but decided to take a captain/coaching position at Kurri Kurri then joined Saints in 1936.

I've had a closer look at Nelson Hardy and found him in electoral rolls as follows: Bondi (1930), Clovelly (1935), Rockdale (1937), and Ramsgate (1943). He must've still been at Clovelly on whichever date the 1935 rolls were compiled, rather than Kurri Kurri. But it definitely looks to be him playing for St George.

I've also found that Nelson had another son, Les Hardy. Les was born in Warrington, England, and was the brother of Don and Ken Hardy, and uncle of Steve Hardy.

Two tragic accidents to the above players apart from Clarrie Kemp also Eddie Martin was killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of 25.

It sadly seems to happen all too often as I go through all these players. I'm making a note of it particularly when the person died young during the war years, but wasn't due to military service.

[GregRLP]

Thanks Max I think I forgot to hit the save button on Dick O'Connor as I remember putting him in and I have updated the family links for Nelson Hardy.

[GregRLP]

Also just did a bit more checking on Nelson Hardy in 1936 and came across this article in The Referee (1) seems the N Hardy that played the last 2 games for St.George in 1936 may not Nelson at all an N Hardy continued playing lower grades with St.George in 1937.

[GregRLP]

Nelson Hardy turned to refereeing he was a graded referee in the late 30's however in 1937 there are a number of references in The St.George Call of an N.Hardy refereeing or as a touch judge in St.George junior league games the same time as the other N.Hardy is playing lower grade matches with St.George.

So it appears likely that Nelson Hardy did sign on to play with St.George in 1936 and sustained a reoccurrence of a knee injury in the pre-season game against Canterbury this may have resulted in retirement from playing although I can't find anything to indicate that in June N.Hardy appeared as fullback in 3rd grade in jersey no.53.

[Max Turner]

I think you're right. Nelson Hardy might be a massive red herring. I tried doing searches for Neville Hardy on Trove and electoral rolls, but wasn't finding anything, which made me think his first name must be wrong. Nelson seemed like a perfect fit. The St George website even lists him as Nelson.

I finally found a mention of Neville Hardy playing third grade in May 1937 for St George. The default text scan that Trove shows had a few errors so the searches weren't finding this article.

I think Neville might be Neville Caton Hardy, born 10 October 1918 in Rockdale NSW, died 7 August 2004. The voting age was 21 at the time, so he wouldn't appear on the electoral rolls in around 1936-37. He was married in the Walgett district in 1940, and when he enlisted in WWII in 1942, he was living at Carinda. If this is him, it means he was 17 when he played his two first grade games, and then left the district before he was enrolled to vote.

I'm usually relying on electoral rolls to place the player in the district at the right period, or a detailed newspaper article practically specifying who they were. This is not quite as foolproof (there's also a Neville Lance Hardy, born in Newcastle and living in Paddington around this period), but it does appear that Neville Caton Hardy's parents were living at Rockdale all through the 1930s, so he seems to be the most likely candidate.

There is a photo of Neville Caton Hardy in his service file (page 2) if we can match it to a team photograph to seal the deal.