Australians at 1919 Royal Henley Peace Regatta
Please refer to the chapter on the 1919 regatta which can be found under the International tab.
There is a distinction between between those servicemen who fought in the war and those who had staff positions in the UK. Those is staff positions raced as the Wattle Club.
King's Cup
For amateur oarsmen who prior to November 11, 1918, served in the Army, Navy or Air Force of any country which fought for the Allied cause.
AIF No 1 crew - First
AIF No 2 crew - eliminated in round 1
AIF No. 1 crew - Sergt. A. R. Robb, 11st. 10lbs. (bow); Lieut. F. A. I House, 11st. 12lb. (2); Lieut. T. McGill, 12st. 10lbs. (3); Gunner A. V. Scott, 13 st. (4); Lieut. H. Hauenstein, M.M. 13st, 9lbs. (5); Major S. A. Middleton D.S.O., 13st. 6lbs. (6); Gunner G. W. Mettam, 11st. 12lbs. (7); Capt. H. C. Disher, 11st. 1lb. (stroke); Sergt. A. E. Smedley, 8st. 1lb. (cox).
AIF No 2 crew - Lieut. J. Howieson, 10st. 11lbs. (bow); Sergt. G. M. Penny, 11st. 9lbs. (2); Sergt. E. J. Harrison, 12st. 2lbs. (3); Lieut. H. A. White, 12st. 5lbs. (4); Major W. A. Audsley, D.S.O. 13st. 3lb. (5); Corpl. J. K. Cogle, 12t. 3lbs. (6); Gunner J. A. Begg, 13st. 1Ib. (7); Lieut. H. R. Newall, 11st. 6lbs. (stroke); and Lieut. O. J. Wood, 10st. (cox).
Kingswood Sculls
For amateurs of the Allied countries.
Scratched
Alma S Cox, Balmain (NSW)
Leander Cup
For Allied fours with the same qualification as the King's Cup.
Eliminated in Round 1
Australian Army - Bow: George W Mettam (WA), 2: Sidney A Middleton (NSW), 3: Harry Hauenstein (NSW), and Str: Fred A House (TAS).
LT G H Goddard in Soldiers and Sportsmen published by AIF Sports Control Board in 1919 reported: Early in the training it was decided to leave coxwainless rowing alone, and concentrate on the two eights. However, just before entries closed it was decided to enter a coxwainless four in order to have a second string in the event of the eight-oar crews meeting disaster early in the Regatta, and the following members of the first eight made up the boat : G. W. Mettam (bow), S. A. Middleton (2), H. Hauenstein (3), and F. A. House (stroke). The steering was done by No, 2, but he had not had an opportunity of improving on his Marlow form, and made an early start on a tour of investigation of all parts of the river except that allotted to his crew. Before they had rowed twenty strokes in their heat against New Zealand, the A.I.F. boat crashed into their opponents' craft. New Zealand claimed and were given the race. The Australian crew had plenty of pace, but had not had time to master the steering, and had very little practice together. Taken right through, the opinion among Australians is not favourable to coxwainless rowing!
The Hambleden Pairs
For amateurs of the Allied countries.
Finalists
Wattle Club (AIF) - Bow: H H Sharp (WA), Str: George E Rogers (WA)
LT G H Goddard in Soldiers and Sportsmen published by AIF Sports Control Board in 1919 reported: Two members of the A.I.F. Wattle Club entered for the Hambleden Pairs - H. H. Sharp (bow) and G. E. Rogers (stroke). They created a mild sensation by beating the brothers Swann, of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in their heat, rowing very gamely after being led most of the way. In the final they met the brothers Buxton, of Third Trinity, Cambridge, and the A.I.F. men were beaten by three lengths after a race that was not long, in doubt. All entrants in the pairs were handicapped to a large extent, the Wattle Club pair by getting together only at the eleventh hour and by inability to secure a suitable boat, and the others by rowing in other more important races during the Regatta.
Sources
1919 Regatta program
Henley Regatta a History by R D Burnell published by Oxford University Press 1957
Soldiers and Sportsmen by LT G H Goddard published by the AIS Sports Control Board 1919