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The Wrestling Bombshell
Max Martin Schultz has the misfortune of holding a tragic niche in the history of British wrestling. Although billed on 1930s wrestling posters as French or German he was born Roy Martin Schutz (note there was no “l” in the name) in London on 1st September, 1913. He was of German heritage, the youngest of four children of Martin and Charlotte Schutz, both born in Germany and married in London in 1903.
Roy Schutz was Christened at St Mark’s Church in Regents Park, at which time the family gave their address as 14 Chalcot Crescent, St Pancras. He was interested in health and nutrition from an early age. He was an athletic type and part of an acrobatic trio called The Three Martins.
Roy began professional wrestling at some time in the 1930s, though precisely when is unclear. Maxie Schultz (presumably that’s our boy) we found working for promoter John Mortimer in February, 1933, at Portsmouth, opponent Andre DuBarry. Other opponents of that time included Tony Baer and Philo Vance. A Fritz Schultz, Carl Schultz and Dutch Schultz just add to the confusion.
Our earliest documented sighting of Roy wrestling with the full name of Max Martin Schultz is in 1938, tackling the likes of Jack Pye, Ben Sherman and Tony Mancelli, and nicknamed The Wrestling Bombshell. He travelled extensively throughout the country.
Following the outbreak of war Max Martin Schultz continued to wrestle in Britain until the autumn of 1940, though not surprisingly we now find him billed as English or Continental.
Living in London before the war he worked as a furrier cutter, a specialised trade in the fur industry. In the 1939 Register he was single and living at home with his parents at 14 Crescent, Primrose Hill in Camden.
Following the outbreak of war in 1939 his parents were interned by the British Government on the Isle of Man. Thousands of foreign nationals were held in Manx internment camps during the war. Whilst some were political detainees or suspected spies many, as we believe was the case with the Schutz family, were innocent people caught up in the crossfire of war.
As he was of English birth Roy Schutz did not suffer the fate of his parents. He registered as a conscientious objector and early in 1940 was sent to Jersey where he worked in agriculture and as a waiter.
He had known twenty year old Margaret (Margie) Anne Whalebone, a Chelsea born girl, for many years, and she also moved to Jersey. Precisely whether they married shortly before leaving London or in Jersey we have been unable to ascertain as wartime records for Jersey are unavailable. We have found the married couple living at two addresses in Jersey, both homes of multiple occupancy. The couple shared one of these homes with another British wrestler, Eric Pleasants, who eventually joined the Nazi S.S. In Jersey Roy and Margie became parents to their first child, Max Martin.
In November 1942, along with approximately 2000 other English born residents of the Channel Islands, Roy and Margie Schutz and their son were deported to Germany, where they were interned in ILAG VB in Biberach an der Riss in Southern Germany. Whilst in the camp Roy and Margie parented two more boys, all three children having the middle name of Martin. The family returned to England following liberation in 1945, setting up home in High Road, Finchley.
Max Martin Schultz returned to the wrestling rings.
April 20th 1946 started out as just another day at the office. He was wrestling Leo Lightbody at Belle Vue, Manchester. He knew Lightbody well and it was his third Belle Vue appearance that month. Schultz would perform his signature move. Lightbody knew just what was expected of him. It was a well rehearsed routine. Schultz would rebound off the ropes into Lightbody. Lightbody would side step, Schultz would crash to the mat and Lightbody would fall onto him to take the winning fall.
Things didn’t turn out as planned. At the end of the match Schultz was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary and two days later was declared dead.
The coroner, Jessel Rycroft, recorded a verdict of “Death from misadventure” and cleared Lightbody of any responsibility. We have found conflicting accounts of events leading to the accident. Newspaper reports stated that Schultz climbed the ropes and rebounded backwards into Leo Lightbody. Lightbody ducked, Schultz hit his head on the floor, and broke his neck. Suspecting something was wrong Lightbody did not fall on to Schultz.This is the account was confirmed by his son and family members. The referee, Dick Rogers, told the coroner Schultz escaped from a hammerlock, fell on his back and hit his head.
Whichever way the events unfolded the consequences were the tragic death of Max Martin Schultz on 20th April, 1946. A wrestling programme in aid of his family was held at Belle Vue in Manchester on 15th May, with Bert Assirati and Charlie Green headlining the event.
His death obviously hit the family hard, leaving his grieving widow with three young children to rear. Margie and the children emigrated to Australia, departing Southampton on SS Esperance Bay on 13th May 1949, arriving in Brisbane 4th July 1949, where most of Roy’s descendants now reside.
With thanks to the Schutz family and reader Tim Lester for additional information.
Page added 21/04/2024
Page revised 11/05/2024
Page revised 04/02/2026
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