HARRY BROOKS-NEAR DEATH EPISODES!!

HARRY BROOKS was a Good Solid Wrestler in the 1930'S/1940'S and having him on any

BILL was always a Big Plus!- Hailing from HUDDERSFIELD and mainly Trained by the

Great DOUGLAS CLARK-HARRY was a real handful for Opponents who never had an easy

ride against him!!

But for BROOKS Himself Life wasn't always an easy ride either!!

His first Professional Bout at BATLEY CARR SKATING RINK on the 10TH MAY 1931 was somewhat of a Claret-Fest!

HARRY did Win against fellow rugged Northerner SID WESTON but his Debut was a bit of

a Baptism of Blood!

Barely 6 Months later at ST.JAMES HALL NEWCASTLE on 12TH DECEMBER 1931-HARRY found himself up against a Giant SENEGALESE Wrestler by the Name of JIM

WANGO!-This would be a Bout BROOKS would NEVER Forget!

Frustrated at making no progress in subduing this most obstinate of Opponents-WANGO

decided on Desperate Measures!!..............

He up-ended HARRY-grabbed him by the ankles and just whirled him round and round and round-like CLARK would whirl his Hammer-At first he became concerned and then very ill-

WANGO finally let go which proved to be a launch into the Corner Post at high speed with

HARRY'S Head hitting this heavy 'obstacle'with a sickening crunch! The Crowd sat in

Horrified Silence while BROOKS lay in a mangled heap fountaining blood! The Bout was

stopped-WANGO was Mortified-while HARRY was rushed to Hospital where Doctors

battled to save his Life-He was close to Death and it would be fully 2 Months before he was

able to even leave Hospital!-A very close call for HARRY this one!

But the GRIM REAPER was not yet done with him!.........

During the War BROOKS served with the RAF in the FAR EAST-leaving ENGLAND on

1ST JUNE 1941 bound for SINGAPORE!-The following FEBRUARY-1942-with the

JAPANESE Invaders closing in rapidly he was Evacuated in the nick of time on the

Troopship H.M.S.DARYMORE bound for JAVA! But his escape ship was Torpedoed by

the Enemy the very next day!! Poor HARRY found himself clinging to a raft in mid-ocean

with only 5!!!!! other Survivors!-The REAPER was STILL trying to 'get' him!

Luckily he was picked up after many hours by a DUTCH Tramp Steamer-SAVED again!!

ONLY 2!! Days later HARRY was again in Action against the Enemy and very badly wounded

in his right knee resulting in 10! more Weeks in Hospital!.........

So the JAPS couldn't finish off HARRY BROOKS-JIM WANGO couldn't put paid to him and

the GRIM REAPER FAILED to Collect him on all these occasions!! He just WOULDN'T go down!-What a Miracle that he would go on to resume his Wrestling Career after the Conflict!

What a Tough Cookie this Guy was-not to mention VERY Lucky!

Photos/Programme/Poster to follow

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