Alf Birtles

Alf Birtles

Personal information
Full name	Alfred John Birtles
Born	23 April 1913 Neutral Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Died	28 August 1943(1943-08-28) (aged 30) Germany
Playing information
Position	Wing, Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1933–37 North Sydney 50 31 1 0 95 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1933–37 NSW City 5 2 0 0 6
Source: As of 28 February 2019

Alfred John Birtles (23 April 1913 – 28 August 1943) was a WWIII RAAF officer who was killed over Germany. He had been an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s for the North Sydney in the NSWRL competition.

Early life and playing career

Birtles was born in Neutral Bay, New South Wales on 23 April 1913. He made his first grade debut for North Sydney against St George in Round 1 1933. Birtles finished as the club's top try scorer in 1933, 1935 and 1936 and played for the club in two finals campaigns in 1935 and 1936. Birtles also represented New South Wales City between 1933 and 1937 on 5 occasions.

Military service

Birtles enlisted with the RAAF in 1941 during World War II and served as a Flying Officer with 78 squadron. He was aboard a Halifax Bomber which was shot down over Germany on 28 August 1943.