Almanac Footy History: Alf Hedge – The Bloods’ Braveheart (Part 2)

 

 

This is Part 2 of Roger Spaull’s three-part series on Alf Hedge. Part 3 will follow tomorrow (Thursday, April 24).

 

Read Part 1 HERE

 

1939 – ALF HEDGE LEAVES SOUTH MELBOURNE  

Herb Matthews took over at coach of South Melbourne but Alf Hedge’s time  at the Lake Oval had come to an abrupt halt. It is difficult to say precisely why  Alf left South Melbourne in 1939 because he had trained at Lake Oval during  the pre-season sessions; ( and was actually listed with club as shown below).  

 

Source: ‘Sun News Pictorial’ April 3rd 1939. Page: 36. 

 

The two extracts below, from April 1939, reveal a curious question regarding  Alf’s football career with the Southerners. 

 

Sources: ‘The Age’ and ‘The Emerald Hill Recorder’ April 15th 1939 Page: 4  

 

For some reason, Alf had applied for a clearance to Sandringham (VFA) and,  as can be seen, the SMFC Committee deferred the decision. In football, such  deferrals often meant that discussions and negotiations were required in the hope  that the two parties in dispute have an the opportunity to resolve any  issues.  

Another reason to defer a player’s clearance is to delay the process and allow  time for the player ( in this case Alf Hedge) to change his mind and stay on at  the club (in this case South Melbourne). In Alf’s situation the club’s tactic/ploy  failed.

 

THE MYSTERY OF 1939  

Jim Main wrote that because of Alf’s employment obligations, Alf signed with  Brighton in 1939… 

“However, work commitments outside the South Melbourne area made it  difficult for Hedge to attend training so he joined VFA club Brighton in 1939…”  Source: ‘Fallen’ by Main and Allen. Page: 161. 

It was difficult to unearth any evidence that Alf actually took the field with the  Brighton Senior XVIII in that season. The Brighton list in 1939 included: Alan Hender, Bruce Hone, Les Harvey, Cyril Hindson, Tom Hallahan and Ron Hall but  the name ‘Hedge’ proved most elusive. 

However, that is not to say that Alf did not play and/or train with Brighton. In fact, it is plausible as Alf had been played cricket with Brighton in 1934 (25 wickets @ 17.4 runs apiece). Perhaps Alf was persuaded, by his friends at Brighton to train with the Penguins (as Brighton was then called…see the  badge below). 

 

Source: The Australian Sports Museum

 

Another explanation may be that Alf Hedge actually played with St Andrews Brighton or Brighton Tech Old Boys (both clubs were affiliated with the VAFA).  In researching football history, it seems best to keep an open mind regarding  players’ transfers/clearances to other clubs. Many a ‘secretarial slip’,  transcription error and administrative blunder occurred in those days of ‘pencil  and carbon copy’ paperwork.  

 

ALF IS CLEARED TO SANDRINGHAM IN 1940.  

Whatever occurred in 1939 is unclear but Alf Hedge was cleared from South  Melbourne to Sandringham in April 1940. The fact that his ‘home club’ was  listed as South Melbourne ( see below) adds some weight to the suggestion  that Alf may not have played for Brighton (VFA) in 1939.  

 

Source: ‘The Argus’ April 20th 1940. Page: 14. 

 

In 1940, former Collingwood star defender Henry David (aka Leo) Westcott  coached the Zebras. Leo had played in two Collingwood premiership teams (1927 and 1929) and had won the Most Consistent Player award in 1922. Leo  was a traveller in Australian Rules football and had coaching stints at Longford  (Tasmania), Kyneton (Bendigo FL) and Prahran (VFA) before being appointed to  Sandringham FC in 1940.  

Note: Leo Westcott was presented with Collingwood Life Membership in 2003.  

Some of Alf’s teammates at Sandringham FC included: Ernie McIntyre (ex-St  Kilda and Collingwood), Rex Saunders, Stan Tormey (later St Kilda), Jack Allister  (ex-Essendon and North Melbourne), Mick Stapleton, Jack ‘Bluey Miller and  Charlie Pettionia who had played with Alf at South Melbourne in 1937. 

 

Two of the well-known personalities who Alf Hedge met at Sandringham FC in 1940. On  the left Ernie McIntyre (Source: Kornies Swap card series 1948); and on the right is Leo  Westcott

( Source: ‘Weekly Times’ May 29th 1932. Page: 64. 

 

Alf Hedge was still a ‘comparative youngster’ (22 years of age) when he played  his first game for Sandringham against Brighton at Elsternwick on 20th April. A  crowd of 10,000 watched a powerful Brighton outfit demolish Sandringham by 47 points 

Alf played 12 games for Sandringham and kicked 5 goals in 1940. One of his  best performances for the Zebra was against Northcote… 

 

Source: ‘The Age’ May 13th 1940. Page 6 

 

Alf played mainly on the wing at Sandringham but in Round 10 (against  Brunswick) he started at full forward (see below). In Round 12, Alf was  selected in the back pocket and he gave an outstanding exhibition and was  named as the best player for Sandringham (i.e. ‘The Sporting Globe’s review).  

Alf’s final game in VFA ranks was against Brighton on July 6th 1940 at the  Sandringham Oval. He went out on a bright personal note with high praise for  his marking in defence. 

 

Source: ‘The Sporting Globe’ July 6th 1940. Page: 4. 

 

AS DARK WAR CLOUDS GATHER  

Sandringham finished on the bottom of the VFA Ladder in 1940 with one win and 19 loses. The following article, as discovered in ‘The Sun News Pictorial’ (June 24th 1940. Page 14), provides an edifying insight into the plight of the  club during that season of ‘hard labour and low returns.’ Alf Hedge, Leo Westcott and Charlie Pettiona were cited in the article. 

“The influence of war upon football became apparent for the first time when  Sandringham was hard pressed to field a team against Brunswick…”  

 

 

ALF ENLISTS IN THE RAAF FOR WARTIME SERVICE 

Alf Hedge enlisted for duty in the RAAF on 18th September 1940 and, while most football fans were talking about impending VFL Preliminary Final clash  between Melbourne and Essendon, Alf had other things on his mind such as ‘weighing up’ the pros and cons of becoming a pilot. The motto of Alf’s former school (Hampton HES-see above) seemed to be apt for the next chapter in his life story.  

Alf’s induction and basic training was at Bradfield Park Training Base in NSW.  According to one source, more than 200,000 members of the RAAF and  WAAAF (i.e. Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force) undertook training at Bradfield Park during World War 2. 

 

RAAF training at Bradfield Park during World War: 11. Source: Australian War Memorial  archives (Reference: 008979).  

 

In order to win his ‘wings’ (i.e. become a pilot), Alf was required to complete  the next stage of pilot training at Narromine Elementary Flying School in NSW.  Narromine was an integral part of the Empire Training Scheme; and during those early lessons Alf learnt the art of flying in a Tiger Moth (see below).

“1940 Narrominee Aerodrome is handed over to the RAAF in July 1940 for the  establishment of No.5 Elementary Flying Training School. One of a dozen such  schools around Australia forming part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, the  school graduated 2,850 pilots during its four-year stay. Many would not return  from later overseas service.” Source: Narromine Aviation Museum website.

 

A picture of the Tiger Moth aeroplanes at Narromine Elementary Flying School which Alf  Hedge would have flown during his basic training. Source: Australian War Memorial. (Reference: P00150.008)  

 

JANUARY 1941 – ALF MARRIES GWYNNETH FOSTER  

In June 1940, Alf and Gwynneth Foster, from Ormond, announced their  engagement; and they were married at the Thomson Memorial Church,  Ormond, in January, 1941. Reverend John Chalinor officiated at that service  and one of Alf’s comrades Leading Aircraftman, C. Mc Lennan, was the best  man.  

 

Gwen and Alf spent less than two weeks together, as a married couple, before Alf  ‘sets sail’  for the next stage of his training. Source: ‘For the Duration’ Page 103. 

 

Read Part 1 HERE

 

Part 3 of Roger Spaull’s story of Alf Hedge will be published tomorrow (Thursday).

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au  home page click HERE

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE