Looking for information for a research project on Les Darcy. The information I am after is mostly related to Les' early career including some bouts that there were previously unknown. If anyone has info on the following I would love to hear from you. 1. The date of Darcy's fight with well-known boxing booth operator Sam Norman at the West Maitland Show, possibly Sept 1911 or April 1912. 2. Dates of Darcy's fights against Peter Cook and Harry Ford, Newcastle, Australia, possibly Feb 1912. 3. The first name of R.Fairbairn who was reported to have fought Les at Summer Park, Newcastle, 30 March 1912 (this is a long shot as local paper only lists initial R.) 4. Correct spelling of Les Althorne/Althorn or Athorn who Les fought on 12 Sept 1911. Thank you.
Les Althorne (or Athorne, as incorrectly spelt in "Ringside Reviews" by Joe Rivers 1933) and Sam Norman both boxed Darcy on the same day Sep 12th 1911. For the correct spelling of Althorne, please refer to birth cirtificate. I can forward a copy regardless. Roger Fairbairn. A Maitland local (Hedden Greta to be precise). Son of a local cop. Sgt. Ernst Fairbairn. The date's of both Cook and Ford is a tough one. I find it difficult to set an exact for these bouts, yet understand both bouts were with Darcy on the same day, as the newspaper cutting suggest simply "... willing action of last Saturday. Maitland youngster D'arcy taking victories over P. Cook and Harold Ford in torrid encounters". February is definate. A local gentleman, Bob Power, provided this information via correspondance throughout the late 1990's following a tour of Maitland and district with him. I suggest you look him up if you're in earshot of Newcastle. A wonderful man.
Hi Bobby Thank you so much for the information. I have heard of Bob Power. He is quite old now (about 97) but I believe he is alive and living in a Nursing home. The information I have on R.Fairbairn is that he was from Islington so I am intrigued by your information. I am not the actual person doing the research project, I am just helping a gentleman out. I will certainly pass this information on as it basically does answer all his queries. I can' thank you enough. Do you have Les Althorne's birth cert? If so, how could I get a copy. I look forward to hearing from you and once again thank you so much for replying.
I was going to recomend the thread starter contact Bobby Sinn but obviously you're all over it mate :good
Hi Bobby May I ask one more question? I have information that when Les (James Leslie) was born, his birth (and his older brother) were registered under the surname Dorsey. His parents also married (1893) under the surname Dorsey (ref NSW Births Deaths and Marriages). Do you have any information on why the change of name from Dorsey to Darcy. Many thanks.
General attitude towards the Dorsey/Darcy saga suggests an innocent error. Ned (father) was indeed 'Darcy', yet being an illiterate man with a lingering Irish accent (as the major population of Maitland had), it appears the pronunciation had led to the incorrect spelling at the registry. Ned, as Im sure you know, had been married previous to Margaret, and the Darcy name had been taken by the ex-wife and children. There is no exact science to the Darcy tale. Questions remain unanswered. I.E. Les' date of birth. Old Ned was no doubt too drunk to recall the exact date, hence Oct 30 had been recorded on Birth certificate. A sober mid-wife claimed Oct 28, which should be taken seriously.
Cheers for that lot. Les Darcy's story is one of the most fascinating in boxing history in my opinion :good
Definately one of the most interesting short lives in Aust history. I doubt Shakespeare could write such a tale.
Thanks Bobby. I can see where Ned seems to have been married to a Sarah and they had three children (James P/Raymond/John). James (child) died in 1891 and the mother (Sarah) also seemed to have died in 1891. The registration numbers for the deaths are very close. Only 15 registrations separate them so I am now wondering if they injured in an accident and subsequently died from their injuries.
Hi there From a newbie (to this forum at least),.... Mate, one thing is for sure, Darcy was the correct spelling...... because despite the typo on his father's certificate,... Les's paternal Grandfather was certainly named Darcy,......... I think this is enough to convince me,...... and thank god,....... who ever heard of Les Dorsy, Boxer esq.,...... people might confuse him as a Jazz player or Summink. A forgotten Dorsy Brother,....
