Australian Historical Medals

Lot 461    SESSION 2 (11.30AM TUESDAY 26TH JULY)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $1,200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,300

AUSTRALASIAN AMATEUR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP, 1912, prize medal in gold (15ct; 20.76g; 29.5mm), reverse inscribed, '440 Yards./W.Longworth./1st/7.2.12./Time 5 min.37 sec./Perth. W.A.'. Hairlines, otherwise toned good very fine.

William 'Bill' Longworth was an Australian freestyle swimmer who represented Australasia in the 1912 Summer Olympics. He went to Sydney Grammar School where he was outstanding in swimming, athletics and rugby union. In January 1911, representing the Eastern Suburbs Swimming Club, he won the 1,320 yard freestyle event by 30 yards at the Australian Championships in world record time and in doing so beat Cecil Healy and Frank Beaurepaire. In 1912 he won all New South Wales and Australian freestyle championship events from 100 yards to one mile. In the same year he also qualified for the final of the 100 metres freestyle as well as for the semi-finals of the 1500 metres freestyle at the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, but because of illness was forced to withdraw. Then in 1913 and 1914 he won every New South Wales and Australian freestyle swimming title except for the 100 yards.

Born at Singleton, New South Wales on 26 September 1892 'Bill' Longworth enlisted in the AIF on 13 September 1915. He embarked in May 1916 and served in France as a sergeant with the Anzac Entrenchment Battalion as well as in supply and motor transport columns. He was commissioned in June 1917 and while overseas represented the AIF in swimming competitions. He married an English woman, Ellen Humphrey on 16 July 1919, returning to Australia in November.

After the war he entered the lucrative family business and over the years held directorships with various companies. He was also prominent in the sport of billiards and snooker being the New South Wales amateur snooker champion in 1920 and 1921, and Sydney Metropolitan billiards champion in 1937. He was vice-president of the British Billiards Control Council, a member of the Australian Jockey Club as well as a racehorse owner and was chairman of the Owners and Trainers' Association and the Sydney Turf Club. In 1946 he was divorced and remarried on 5 February 1947 to Irene Ley. William Longworth died at his home in Wahroonga, Sydney, New South Wales on 19 October 1969.

See Noble Numismatics Sale 127 (lots 968, 969 and 974) for similar medals to same recipient.