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'''John Robert Somers-Smith''' (15 December 1887 &ndash; 1 July 1916) was an [[English people|English]] [[rower]] who competed in the [[1908 Summer Olympics]]. He was killed in action during the [[First World War]].<ref name="WWI">{{cite web |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/friv/lists.cgi?id=65 |title=Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War |accessdate=3 August 2015 |work=Sports Reference}}</ref>
'''John Robert Somers-Smith''' (15 December 1887 &ndash; 1 July 1916) was an [[English people|English]] [[rower]] who competed in the [[1908 Summer Olympics]]. He was killed in action during the [[First World War]].<ref name="WWI">{{cite web|url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/friv/lists.cgi?id=65 |title=Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War |accessdate=3 August 2015 |work=Sports Reference |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107022804/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/friv/lists.cgi?id=65 |archivedate= 7 November 2014 |df= }}</ref>


Somers-Smith was born at [[Walton-on-Thames]], [[Surrey]], the son of Robert Vernon Somers-Smith and his wife Gertrude. His father ran for Oxford against Cambridge in 1868 and 1869 and was twice the AAA half-mile champion.<ref>[http://chestofbooks.com/sports/athletics/Football/Running-And-Runners-Part-10.html Montague Sherman ''Athletics and Football'']</ref><ref>Robert Vernon Somers Smith, G. P. Beckley, and Alfred William Pollard ''Athletic Training. Prize essays'' 1882</ref> Somers-Smith was educated at [[Eton College]], where he was 'Captain of the Boats', and [[Magdalen College]], [[Oxford University]], where he rowed for his College. Although he did not row for [[Oxford University Boat Club|Oxford]], his brother, Richard Somers-Smith took part in the [[Boat Race]] in 1904 and 1905. The Magdalen College [[Coxless four]] that John rowed with won the [[Wyfold Challenge Cup]] and the [[Visitors' Challenge Cup]] in 1907, with another double win in the [[Stewards' Challenge Cup|Stewards']] and the [[Visitors' Challenge Cup|Visitors']] at the [[Henley Royal Regatta]] in 1908.<ref>[http://www.rowinghistory.net/HRR%20US/hrr_1839-1939.htm Henley Royal Regatta Results of Final Races 1839-1939]</ref>
Somers-Smith was born at [[Walton-on-Thames]], [[Surrey]], the son of Robert Vernon Somers-Smith and his wife Gertrude. His father ran for Oxford against Cambridge in 1868 and 1869 and was twice the AAA half-mile champion.<ref>[http://chestofbooks.com/sports/athletics/Football/Running-And-Runners-Part-10.html Montague Sherman ''Athletics and Football'']</ref><ref>Robert Vernon Somers Smith, G. P. Beckley, and Alfred William Pollard ''Athletic Training. Prize essays'' 1882</ref> Somers-Smith was educated at [[Eton College]], where he was 'Captain of the Boats', and [[Magdalen College]], [[Oxford University]], where he rowed for his College. Although he did not row for [[Oxford University Boat Club|Oxford]], his brother, Richard Somers-Smith took part in the [[Boat Race]] in 1904 and 1905. The Magdalen College [[Coxless four]] that John rowed with won the [[Wyfold Challenge Cup]] and the [[Visitors' Challenge Cup]] in 1907, with another double win in the [[Stewards' Challenge Cup|Stewards']] and the [[Visitors' Challenge Cup|Visitors']] at the [[Henley Royal Regatta]] in 1908.<ref>[http://www.rowinghistory.net/HRR%20US/hrr_1839-1939.htm Henley Royal Regatta Results of Final Races 1839-1939] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309113109/http://www.rowinghistory.net/HRR%20US/hrr_1839-1939.htm |date= 9 March 2012 }}</ref>
, and was selected to represent Great Britain in [[rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics]], Somers-Smith was [[stroke (rowing)|stroke]] of the four along with [[Collier Cudmore]], [[Angus Gillan]] and [[Duncan Mackinnon]]. This crew won the gold medal for Great Britain, defeating another GB [[Leander Club|Leander]] crew, and crews from [[Canada]] and the [[Netherlands]].<ref>[http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/so/robert-somers-smith-1.html Sports Reference Olympic Sports - John Somers-Smith]</ref>
, and was selected to represent Great Britain in [[rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics]], Somers-Smith was [[stroke (rowing)|stroke]] of the four along with [[Collier Cudmore]], [[Angus Gillan]] and [[Duncan Mackinnon]]. This crew won the gold medal for Great Britain, defeating another GB [[Leander Club|Leander]] crew, and crews from [[Canada]] and the [[Netherlands]].<ref>[http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/so/robert-somers-smith-1.html Sports Reference Olympic Sports - John Somers-Smith] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801215137/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/so/robert-somers-smith-1.html |date= 1 August 2015 }}</ref>


Somers-Smith had been elected a member of [[Leander Club]] in 1906, after winning the [[Ladies' Challenge Plate]] with [[Eton College]] but at no time did he ever represent Leander on the water. He subsequently became a lawyer by profession.
Somers-Smith had been elected a member of [[Leander Club]] in 1906, after winning the [[Ladies' Challenge Plate]] with [[Eton College]] but at no time did he ever represent Leander on the water. He subsequently became a lawyer by profession.

Revision as of 23:45, 25 April 2017

Olympic medal record
Men's Rowing
Gold medal – first place 1908 London Men's coxless fours

John Robert Somers-Smith (15 December 1887 – 1 July 1916) was an English rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was killed in action during the First World War.[1]

Somers-Smith was born at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, the son of Robert Vernon Somers-Smith and his wife Gertrude. His father ran for Oxford against Cambridge in 1868 and 1869 and was twice the AAA half-mile champion.[2][3] Somers-Smith was educated at Eton College, where he was 'Captain of the Boats', and Magdalen College, Oxford University, where he rowed for his College. Although he did not row for Oxford, his brother, Richard Somers-Smith took part in the Boat Race in 1904 and 1905. The Magdalen College Coxless four that John rowed with won the Wyfold Challenge Cup and the Visitors' Challenge Cup in 1907, with another double win in the Stewards' and the Visitors' at the Henley Royal Regatta in 1908.[4] , and was selected to represent Great Britain in rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics, Somers-Smith was stroke of the four along with Collier Cudmore, Angus Gillan and Duncan Mackinnon. This crew won the gold medal for Great Britain, defeating another GB Leander crew, and crews from Canada and the Netherlands.[5]

Somers-Smith had been elected a member of Leander Club in 1906, after winning the Ladies' Challenge Plate with Eton College but at no time did he ever represent Leander on the water. He subsequently became a lawyer by profession.

Somers-Smith served with the 5th London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade), T.F., of the British Army during the First World War, and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in action as a captain in 1915 at the 2nd Battle of Ypres. He fell in action at the opening of the Battle of the Somme offensive on 1 July 1916 during the assault by the 56th (London) Division at Gommecourt. His body was not recovered from the field and his name is engraved on the gateway for the missing of the Somme at Thiepval.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Montague Sherman Athletics and Football
  3. ^ Robert Vernon Somers Smith, G. P. Beckley, and Alfred William Pollard Athletic Training. Prize essays 1882
  4. ^ Henley Royal Regatta Results of Final Races 1839-1939 Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Sports Reference Olympic Sports - John Somers-Smith Archived 1 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Somers-Smith, John Robert, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Retrieved 19 August 2008
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