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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Mountainman on Wednesday 24 May 06 13:54 BST (UK)
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Does anybody know if there were ever British Army Olympic Teams for any events?
Family history tells that my grandfather, who was a Lt. Col in the Royal Fusiliers, ran in an Olymic Games ( probably 1948 London) in a relay race and won a bronze medal. However, I have found no trace of this but somone said that perhaps he was in a British Army Team. Sounds a bit confused to me but could there be any truth in this??
Any info would be much welcome!
David
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This should help you out if he won an Olympic medal.
He's not Lt-Col Llewellyn in the team equestrian?
http://www.olympics.org.uk/medalwinners/medalwinners.asp?GameDate=1948
Neil
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Thanks Neil,
No unfortunately not. I can't see his name - Jack Austin Allen - in that list. I would wonder whether this is one of those family stories that often turn out to be just that - a story! But my mother says that she saw the medal in my grandmother's possession many years back ( grandparents divorced in 1950's and lost contact).
Thanks for your help,
David
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Hi David,
It seems from this athlete's bio that the British Army does have internal sports competitions. Perhaps it was this kind of race that he won? I'm not sure how you would go about getting any more info though...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Holmes
Have you considered other major sporting events, like the Commonwealth Games? I have checked this list of medal winners, but didn't see him (although the members of the relay teams aren't named, just the country is given):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Games (At the very bottom of the page there are links to each "edition" of the games, with the medal winners for that year)
The World Athletic Championships weren't created until 1982, so it won't be that, but maybe there are some other major events people can think of?
MJP
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Hi David
Maybe the Physical Training Museum at Aldershot maybe able to help ??? I've found them really helpful in the past
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0hj/
Good Luck
Wendi
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The British Army never entered an Olympic team although many serving soldiers have competed, particularly in Winter Olympics. Inter-service competitions are another matter.
Britain won Olympic relay medal in the 4x100 metres - Bronze in 1924 & 1928 - Silver in 1948 - 4x400mm Silver in 1932 [and in later Games].
The names are not easily available but could be found. As it is unlikely that anyone would have won an Olympic sprint medal after the age of 35 that should focus your mind more closely as you obviously will know when he was born.
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Dear All,
Many thanks for all the replies. Doesn't look to be an easy search.
However, this has had me thinking and I'm getting a bit dubious about everything I've heard from family.
Jack Allen was supposed to be a Lt. Colonel in the Royal Fusiliers and was in the army of occupation in Berlin just after WWII.
However, he was born in 1923 which would make him 16 years old at the begining of the war and and 22 at the end! Seems a bit young, to my way of thinking, to attain the rank of LT. Col in RF!! I know war can be a time of rapid advancement but he must have done something pretty good to get on that quickly!
I checked in the on-line London Gazette thinking this potential hero would probably have some record of is exploits in there. Not a mention of a J. A. Allen.
All which goes to show that this may be a big family story and that's all - including the Olympic Games (again as we have seen no record!).
So, I don't know about you, but I'm beginning to think this is a bit of a wild goose chase - unless someone can prove me wrong................................
Thanks to you all,,
David
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Hello Mountain man,
A team from the Army, or any other force is not likely, but individuals certainly. In the early to middle 1960's I knew a few people who were training for the Olympics, shot put, and basketball . I used to train with the basketball team members, but moved before the event, so I don't know the result. The army, then,were keen for personnel to train and get on the teams, it was called KAPE. KEEP the ARMY in PUBLIC EYE. These days I don't see it any different, good publicity, and free.
Regards
Peter