Edward James Griffiths (born 1891 in Piermont, New South Wales, died 1980) was an Australian fire fighter, veteran of the Gallipoli campaign and a three-time premiership-winning rugby league player with the Eastern Suburbs club.
Griffiths joined the fire service as a Brigades Cadet Corp at just sixteen years of age and his exploits since that time are legendary. Current station commander of the ‘D’ Platoon in the NSW Fire Brigade recalls Griffiths as a tough fearless man who always led by example, describing him as “Our greatest fire fighter”......”A legend in the true sense of the word”. In 1948 Griffiths was given the highest honour of any fire fighter when he was promoted to Chief Officer of the NSW Fire Brigades.
A veteran of the First World War, Griffiths, a member of an Australian artillery unit, served in Egypt and Gallipoli.
Before enlisting, Griffiths was a member of the Eastern Suburbs rugby league sides that won premierships in 1911,1912 & 1913, retaining permanent ownership of the New South Wales Rugby League‘s first trophy, the Royal Agricultural Society Shield.
| “ | FIRE BRIGADE
CHIEF Mr. E. Griffiths Mr. E. J. Griffiths yesterday became Chief Officer of the New South Wales Fire Brigades. He succeeded Mr. W. H. Beare, who has retired after 40 years' service. Mr. Griffiths, who was born at Pyrmont 56 years ago, has also been a fireman for 40 years. MR. E. J. GRIFFITHS He was an original Anzac, taking part in the landing at Gallipoli. For many years he played Rugby League football for Eastern Suburbs, when Dally Messenger was captain of the club...... |
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