Gordon Hart

Gordon Hart
Personal information
Full name Gordon Charles Hart
Born 17 May 1919 [1]
St Peters, New South Wales
Died 16 April, 2009
Playing information
Position Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1938–41 St George Dragons 43 16 0 0 48
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1940 New South Wales 1 0 0 0 0

Gordon Charles Hart (1919 - 2009) was an Australian World War II veteran and rugby league player of the 1930s and 40s. He was a state representative centre three-quarter who won the 1941 premiership with the St George Dragons.

Military career

Born at St Peters, New South Wales in 1919, Hart enlisted in the Australian Army Australian Army in August 1941. He attained the rank of Captain of the 2/4th Commando Squadron and was mentioned in dispatches for 'conspicuous bravery' during fighting on the island of Timor. He survived the war and was discharged in November 1945.[1]

Rugby League career

Gordon Hart played for the St George Dragons for four seasons between 1938-1941 as a centre-three quarter. Hart represented for New South Wales for one match in 1940.[2]

After enlistment and before being posted for active service, he was given permission to leave camp to play in the 1941 Grand Final for St George. He travelled 28 hours from his Army Camp in Victoria to arrive in Sydney at 10am on the morning of the match. He scored a try and Haddan writes that Hart was "the Dragons' best back". He returned to base on the 8pm train that night.

Gordon Hart died on 16 April 2009, aged 90.[3]


Published sources

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 WWII roll
  2. ↑ Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson : Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. 1995 edition. (ISBN 9780732908164)
  3. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald, Death notice: 10/04/2009