In the Ost's post re Dave, one of the articles there have him starting on his pro career in 1947. I haven't managed to find such a record. I have him appearing on the :
10/4/48 Ramsgate. V ?
14/5/48 Bognor. V ?
20/7/48 Dundee. V Tony Mancelli
22/7/48 Kent. V Bulldog Clayton
23/7/48 Fleetwood. V ?
14/9/48 Chelmsford. V Tony Mancelli
21/9/48 Chelmsford V ?
1/10/48 Bognor. V ?
6/10/48 Eastbourne. V Black Butcher Johnson
12/10/48 Dundee. V ?
2/11/48 Chelmsford. V ?
19/11/48 Morecombe (?). V The Farmer
22/11/48 Hull V Elmo Foy
26/11/48 Halifax. V. ?
13/12/48 Hamilton. V Bert Assirati
15/12/48 Aberdeen. V Vic Hessell
OR 15/12/48 Perthshire. V Mike Dimitre.
There are also newspaper adverts, for this year, that I have yet to look at.
Ron's bills were the source of most of these findings.
1949 follows...
Thanks for the Sheerness items Ron, I haven't researched that town yet but we are missing a bit from there.
I have these ones too:
Dec 6 1947 Chelmsford: Jons vs Fred Unwin
*Not sure on this as Ray had it listed as 1941. Need to find paper to confirm date.
Feb 19 1948 Beckenham Baths: Jons b Clayton
Apr 20 1948 Aberdeen: Jons L George Gregory
Sep 2 1948 Morecambe: Johns DKO Pat Curry
Sep 3 1948 Fleetwood: Jons vs Foy
Sep 18 1948 Wembley (Barham Park) Jons vs Mancelli
Oct 18 1948 Leeds: Jons L Demitre
Nov 15 1948 Exter: Jons vs Jacques Ducrez
And then 1949 which I can post later.
Hi Ron. I originally started hand writing notes and then as I got deeper into the subject, I continued doing the same. Pages and pages later, I had a holiday looming and as I have so many interests, I thought if I didn't squeeze all the juice out of the subject, I was liable to not get back to it, once I returned. That's exactly what happened, but as you put Dave in the spotlight, I felt I should share my incomplete efforts, so anyone wanting to investigate for themselves, has a bit of a handle of what's out there.
The bodybuilding title sounds genuine, if only because in World terms, it's a small claim and wrestling doesn't do small. However, to find proof would be a great find. I actually have several of the 50s bodybuilding (small) magazines, which I purchased in another lifetime, in the hopes I'd find a wrestler in there. Nope!
That's a long way around to say, as I went through the complete 'Gallery' as well as many, many other sites, I then ((now) have to copy all the dog eared written pages, on to the Heritage site and mistakes and omissions will occur. I should add I'm leaving out quite a few newspaper pieces, as without taking out a subscription, I couldn't always work out a proper date for a particular match. So that's nice.
John , not sure if they were my bills why you have the blanks.
Working down Ramsgate was Charlie Fisher.
Bognor was Tony Van Hall
Fleetwood Jim Anderson
Chelmsford 21stSept was mancelli but don't have wrestling on 14th. (Just my Collection)
Bognor was Maurice Letchford
Dundee Mike DeMitre
Don't have chelmsford for 2/11/48
Halifax was Ken Davies
Also at Cleethorpes Nov10 Ray StBernard
15th Nov at Exeter against Jaques Ducrez.
I find with most wrestlers It's hard to find their first year.
Don't know why , maybe they just do an odd bout , then lots more mentoring (or do they hit the ground running) Don't think I have anything on Adrian Street from 1950's for example and I mean as Kid Tarzan.
Late addition and almost 1947 Found Dave as a substitute in this January 1948 bout at Sheerness.
Also found him there in July.