first British Empire Games album album is dated 1930 from Hamilton
Toronto. Photo collectors frequently add photo albums to their collection. These are often Victorian in nature filled with CDVs, Cabinet cards and the like. But some albums are special, even post Victorian, and intended to commemorate big events.
Check out the albums in your collection. If you have one titled, “British Empire Games ” from Hamilton, Canada dated 1930, then you have a piece of our history!
In issue 24-3, the late Dr Robert Wilson writes and illustrates an article about the album and notes that the first ever Commonwealth (British Empire) games were held here in nearby Hamilton.
Dr Wilson begins, “During the Olympic Games in Amsterdam in 1928, a Canadian from Hamilton, Ontario, M.M. Robinson, first began to lobby for support for a British Empire Games. At the time, Robinson was manager of the track and field section of the Canadian Olympic Team.
“After the Olympics were completed, Robinson travelled to England, where final discussions were held that resulted in the establishment of the first British Empire Games. As the Games organizations were put in place, Robinson continued to be actively involved as the Chairman of the British Empire Games Association of Hamilton and a member of the British Empire Games Committee of The Amateur Athletic Union of Canada.
“Other prominent Canadians were also active in the organization, such as E. W. Beatty, President of the Canadian Pacific Railway, who became the Chairman of the General Committee of the Games.
“The Games were held from 16 to 23 August 1930 and attracted 400 athletes from eleven countries: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Bermuda, British Guiana, Newfoundland and Canada. They competed in sixty events covering Track and Field Athletics, Swimming, Rowing, Lawn Bowling, Wrestling and Boxing. It is interesting that the only events for Women were swimming events.
“In the end, England came out on top winning 61 medals, with Canada second (54 medals). These Games were a great success and set the basis for the ongoing Commonwealth Games which have been held every four years except in 1942 and 1946 when they were interrupted by the Second World War.” …
You can read the rest of Bob’s album story in the issue 24-3 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. See ‘Membership’ above or at right to join! Any questions, just email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
