Ewart Horsfall
Encyclopedia
Ewart Douglas Horsfall DFC, MC (24 May 1892 – 1 February 1974) was a British
rower who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
and in the 1920 Summer Olympics
.
Horsfall was born at Liverpool
, the son of Howard Douglas Horsfall and was educated at Eton College
and Magdalen College, Oxford
. He arrived at Oxford with an outstanding reputation as a rower and in 1912 was in the winning Oxford
boat in the Boat Race. He joined Leander Club
and was a member of the Leander eight
which won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
. At the age of 20, he was the youngest member of the crew.
Horsfall stroked
Oxford in the Boat Race in 1913 and became the first stroke to win the Boat Race after being behind at Barnes Railway Bridge. However Oxford lost in 1914, when Horsfall rowed at number four. He won the Grand Challenge Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
four times – three times as a stroke – and he twice stroked the winning crew in the Stewards' Challenge Cup
at Henley on the two occasions when he competed.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Horsfall joined the Rifle Brigade but later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
; He qualified as a pilot on 31 December 1914, and reached the rank of squadron leader. He achieved a rare double of being awarded the Military Cross
in 1916 and the Distinguished Flying Cross
in 1918.
After the war, he returned to Oxford to help re-establish rowing at the University. He was strokeman of the Leander eight
which won the silver medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics
, coming within half a length of winning. In 1948 Horsfall was manager of the British Olympic Rowing team.
Horsfall married Myra Downing Fullerton, daughter of Frederick Downing Fullerton in 1923.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
rower who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
and in the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
.
Horsfall was born at Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, the son of Howard Douglas Horsfall and was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. He arrived at Oxford with an outstanding reputation as a rower and in 1912 was in the winning Oxford
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
boat in the Boat Race. He joined Leander Club
Leander Club
Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world. It is based in Remenham in the English county of Berkshire, adjoining Henley-on-Thames...
and was a member of the Leander eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
which won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics featured 4 events, for men only. All races were held in Djurgårdsbrunnsviken from Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 19, 1912.-Medal summary:-Bronze medals:...
. At the age of 20, he was the youngest member of the crew.
Horsfall stroked
Stroke (rowing)
Stroke is a term which has multiple meanings within the sport of rowing. It is used to refer to the action of propelling the boat with oars, to a rower seated in a particular position and to one side of the boat.-Stroke action:...
Oxford in the Boat Race in 1913 and became the first stroke to win the Boat Race after being behind at Barnes Railway Bridge. However Oxford lost in 1914, when Horsfall rowed at number four. He won the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
four times – three times as a stroke – and he twice stroked the winning crew in the Stewards' Challenge Cup
Stewards' Challenge Cup
The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry....
at Henley on the two occasions when he competed.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Horsfall joined the Rifle Brigade but later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
; He qualified as a pilot on 31 December 1914, and reached the rank of squadron leader. He achieved a rare double of being awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1916 and the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
in 1918.
After the war, he returned to Oxford to help re-establish rowing at the University. He was strokeman of the Leander eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
which won the silver medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics
The Olympic Rowing Events at the 1920 Summer Olympics, the first Olympics after World War I, saw five events. The competitions were held from August 27, 1920 to August 29, 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
, coming within half a length of winning. In 1948 Horsfall was manager of the British Olympic Rowing team.
Horsfall married Myra Downing Fullerton, daughter of Frederick Downing Fullerton in 1923.
External links
- The Scottish War Memorials Project - Photos of Eton Eight