Bryn Thomas (field hockey)

Bryn Thomas
Personal information
Born 29 April 1912
Neath, Wales
Died 19 July 2005 (aged 93)
Neath, Wales
Playing position centre-half
Senior career
Years Team
Neath
1945–1946 RAF St Athan
1946–1947 GKB Port Talbot
1947–1951 Cardiff
National team
Years Team Caps Goals
Great Britain
Wales 14
Medal record
Men's field hockey
Representing  Great Britain
Silver medal – second place 1948 London Team competition

David Brynmor Thomas BEM (29 April 1912 – 19 July 2005) was a British and Welsh field hockey player who won a silver medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics.[1]

Biography

Thomas initially played his club hockey for Neath Hockey Club before moving on to Cardiff Hockey Club, and played for Glamorgan at county level over 100 times.[2]

During World War II he was stationed at RAF St. Athan in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and he played for South Wales at representative level[3] and played at international level for Wales.[1] He was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1946, as a sergeant and physical training instructor.[1]

Thomas was selected for the Olympic Trial[4] and subsequently represented Great Britain in the field hockey tournament at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, winning a silver medal. He was one of four Welshmen in the team with William Griffiths, Edgar Hitchman and Ronald Davis, although he had to settle for being an unused substitute.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Biographical Information". Olympedia. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Swansea players in County Trial". South Wales Daily Post. 26 October 1946. Retrieved 20 July 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "Sports Briefs". Western Mail. 12 February 1949. Retrieved 20 July 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Olympic Hockey Trial". Evening News (London). 19 June 1948. Retrieved 20 July 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Beyond VE Day: what next for hockey and the 'Austerity Games' of 1948". The Hockey Museum. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.