J.W.H.T Douglas
John William Henry Tyler Douglas was born in Clapton on 3rd September 1882. An all round Sportsman, he was to become Captain of Essex cricket club and play for England as well as represent his country in boxing at the 1908 Olympics.
Johnny Douglas moved to Wanstead with his parents where he lived in Grove (now Grovesnor) Road. He would play for the local Eleven when he had the time and would promote sport along with his father in Wanstead.
He seems to have been a rather controversial figure in his day. He was captain of Essex cricket club between 1911 and 1928 during which time his leadership was said to be dictatorial. His leaving was said to be acrimonious. Having played for England on several occasions, his style of play was said to have earned him the nickname of Johnny Won't Hit Today by the Australian public.
More controversial seems to have been his gold medal for
boxing at the 1908 London Olympics. 
Winifred Eastment in
Wanstead through the
ages states that more than one authority described him as the finest amateur
middle weight boxer in living memory. His 1908 Gold medal however is looked at in
a different light. Douglas found himself in the final against Reginald
"Snowy" Baker, a sportsman from Australia who excelled at many sports.
Snowy was said to have fought well but could not win the match. In the end the
decision was given on points. This was finally made by the referee who just so
happened to be Mr. Douglas senior. This giving of the gold by his father
was to further add to the notoriety of the 1908 Olympic Games. It has to be said
that Snowy Baker made no protest and accepted his Silver medal as a true
sportsman. Douglas for his part agreed to a rematch a few days later where he
was knocked out in the first round.
His story ends tragically on 19th Dec.1930. Having been on business in Scandinavia, Douglas along with his father drowned when the steamships the Oberon and Arcturus collided in the Kattegat. The ships were commanded by brothers collided in dense fog, the sinking almost immediately with the loss of 40 lives.
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