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Harry Smith was born in Dewsbury on 6th April, 1906. An interest in many sports from childhood he played football, rugby and was a good swimmer. He was also a keen weightlifter and was involved in the start-up of a professional weight-lifters association in London.
Harry’s interest in wrestling developed when he joined Chickenley Weight Lifting Club. One of the early exponents of All-In, turning professional in 1931. Opponents included Jack Dale, Mario Magisti, Dick Wills and Carl Romsky, but most frequent opponent of all seems to have been Masutaro Otani , the Japanese wrestler.
In 1939 we find him living in Hartley Street, Dewsbury, with his wife Ethel and their two sons, David and Trevor. At the time he was working as a sewer maintenance worker.
During the Second World War Harry taught unarmed combat to military and Home Guard personnel, was a physical training instructor for the Royal Navy and organised and wrestled in charity wrestling events. He disappeared from our wrestling rings in 1946.
It was, however, in rugby league that Harry gained most of his fame, a lifelong obsession with Rugby League that began when he joined Westborough Boys Club in 1920.
A long serving player, Captain and later coach, for Dewsbury Rugby League Footbal Club and in 1966 a plaque in his honour was placed above the entrance to main stand. Harry was honoured with life membership of the Dewsbury Rugby League and the Referees’ Society.
Harry Smith died in 1966.
Page added 12/03/2025
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