Joseph Edward Webster also known by the name Jack Webster (15 June 1902 − 22 August 1945) was a British long-distance runner who competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[1] He was killed in a military vehicle accident during World War II.[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Edward Webster |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Born | 15 June 1902 Rowley Regis, England |
| Died | 22 August 1945 (aged 43) Italy |
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| Weight | 63 kg (139 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Long-distance running |
| Event | 10,000 metres/steeplechase |
| Club | Birchfield Harriers |
Biography
editWebster competed in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1924 Olympics Games.[3]
The following year, Webster became the national 10 miles champion and the national steeplechase champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1925 AAA Championships.[4][5] He then retained his steeplechase title and also became the national 4 miles champion at the 1926 AAA Championships.[6][7]
Webster won a third and fourth successive steeplechase title in 1927 and 1928 in addition to regaining the 10 miles title at the 1928 AAA Championships.[8][9]
Despite being one of the leading British athletes at the time he was surprisingly left out of the British team for the 1928 Summer Olympics due to a technical difficulty.[10] It transpired that Webster had been paid for the a photograph of him in a publication, which the AAA deemed as affecting his amateur status.[11]
Webster served as a gunner in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War and was killed in a road accident in Italy on 21 August 1945, a month before he was to be demobilised.[12][1] He is buried at Salerno War Cemetery.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "Eddie Webster". Olympedia. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Eddie Webster". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ^ "AAA Championships". Gloucester Citizen. 18 July 1925. Retrieved 13 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "New Holders". Daily News (London). 20 July 1925. Retrieved 13 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "AAA Championships". Gloucester Citizen. 3 July 1926. Retrieved 13 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Champion Athletes". Daily News (London). 5 July 1926. Retrieved 13 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Peltzer fails to come back". London Daily Chronicle. 7 July 1928. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Champions of the AAA". Daily News (London). 9 July 1928. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Britain's Olympic Athletic team". Daily Mirror. 11 July 1928. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Pontificial AAA". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 13 July 1928. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Casualty Details: Joseph Edward Webster". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 5 September 2020.