Leonard Herbert Smith

GEDCOM Note

Leonard (Lennie) Herbert Smith born 25 Mar 1917 died 26 Apr 2000
Len was baptised Roman Catholic at St Patrick's Church Hill, NSW Australia and his godmother was Eileen McFadyen.
Len was a member of the 1939 Wallaby RU Team that went to England but did not play in a match because of the outbreak of war. Len joined the Army and served as a Captain. His Service Number was
NX27505.
Len's ≤a href="MILLEN01.JPG">Military Record Page 1≤/a>, ≤a href="MILLEN02.JPG">Military Record Page 2≤/a>, ≤a href="MILLEN03.JPG">Military Record Page 3≤/a>, ≤a href="MILLEN04.JPG">Military Record Page 4≤/a>, ≤a href="MILLEN05.JPG">Military Record Page 5≤/a>, ≤a href="MILLEN06.JPG">Military Record Page 6≤/a>, ≤a href="MILLEN07.JPG">Military Record Page 7≤/a>, ≤a href="MILLEN08.JPG">Military Record Page 8≤/a>, ≤a href="MILLEN09.JPG">Military Record Page 9≤/a>, ≤a href="MILLEN10.JPG">Military Record Page 10≤/a> and ≤a href="MILLEN11.JPG">Military Record Page 11≤/a>
He changed codes (to Rugby League) with Newtown (1943-44 & 1946-48) and played as centre in their Grand Final win in 1943. In 1947-48 he represented NSW and in 1948 he was NSW Player of the Year and Capt/Coach of the Kangaroos against NZ. He was inexcusably dropped from the Kangaroo Tour that year and a hidden agenda has been hinted (Len was Catholic & the Selectors were mostly Masons).
(From The Encyclopedia of Rugby League by Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson)
≤a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Smith">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Smith≤/a>, Len Smith from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
≤a href="http://internationalhistoriansassociation.com/~internat/ihawiki/ind...">International History Association≤/a> Len Smith (1918-2000) was an Australian representative rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1930s and 40s. He captained the Kangaroos in two Tests 1948 and was controversially omitted from the 1948-49 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.
≤a href="http://www.rl1908.com/Legends/Smith.htm">http://www.rl1908.com/Legends/Smith.htm≤/a>, Len Smith: They Had No Right by Sean Fagan.
≤a href="http://www.haroldpark.com.au/miraclemile/lensmith/lensmith.html">http://www.haroldpark.com.au/miraclemile/lensmith/lensmith.html≤/a>, Len Smith - The Man Behind The Miracle Mile.
≤a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Park_Paceway#Races">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Park_Paceway#Races≤/a>, The Miracle Mile has become the signature race at the Harold Park Paceway, Glebe circuit since its inception in 1967. It was the brainchild of former NSW Trotting President, Len Smith.
≤a href="http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=82402">http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=82402≤/a>, In league with prejudice - The Len Smith story.
≤a href="http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/aus/ausaward.htm">http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/aus/ausaward.htm≤/a>, NSW Player of the Year. (Ernie Christensen was editor of the official Rugby League Year Book. Each year he chose the player he thought was the best in NSW. It was a much appreciated honour). 1948 Len Smith (Newtown).
Died at 11:00am on 26 April 2000 in Bexley, NSW, Australia from complications following an operation for Bowel Cancer.

Len and Thealie are buried Rookwood Cemetery (RC), NSW, Australia SEC*M2*15**21, next to Thealie's Mum and Dad.