Delaval Astley Explained

Honorific Prefix:Major
Delaval Astley
Honorific Suffix:CB DL
Birth Name:Delaval Graham L'Estrange Astley
Birth Date:7 December 1868
Nationality:British
Other Names:D. G. Astley
Spouse:Kate Clark (1897-1951)
Children:Joan Doreen Astley
Betty L'Estrange Astley
Parents:Frederic Astley
Emma Screiber

Major Delaval Graham L'Estrange Astley, CB, DL (7 December 1868 – 17 May 1951) was a Major in the British Army. He has been claimed to have won a medals at the 1924 Winter Olympics for both the British and Swedish Curling teams. Despite being on the reserve British team, he made no appearances for either team during the Olympics and therefore was not eligible for a medal.

Early life

Delaval Astley was born in Aylsham, Norfolk,[1] on 7 December 1868 to Frederic Astley and Emma Schreiber.[2]

He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Welch Regiment, and after he retired from the regular army was appointed a captain in the North Somerset Yeomanry on 11 July 1895. He later served as aide-de-camp to Colonel Boyle, Commander of the West Counties Brigade Volunteer Infantry.[3]

Sporting career

Curling

Curling made its first appearance at an Olympic Games at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France.[4] Four teams took part, one from Great Britain, one from France and two teams from Sweden. Astley appeared on the reserve team for the British. It was claimed that Astley had played at some point for the British team thus becoming eligible, and also playing for Sweden in a playoff match with the French team. This would have meant that Astley won both a gold and silver medal for different countries in the same sport - the only time this would have occurred. However, Astley actually made no appearances during the 1924 Winter Olympics for any teams and was not eligible for medals of any type.[5] [6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archived copy . 12 October 2022 . 12 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012191959/https://www.pcboard.com.pk/Archive/Players/249/249894/249894.html . dead .
  2. Web site: Delaval Graham L'Estrange Astley. The Peerage. 22 February 2014.
  3. Hart′s Army list, 1901
  4. Web site: Curling: Equipment and History. Olympic.org. 28 June 2012.
  5. Book: Weeks, Bob. Curling, Etcetera: A Whole Bunch of Stuff About the Roaring Game. 2008. Mississauga, Ont. J. Wiley & Sons Canada. 9780470156131. 108.
  6. News: Gillon. Doug. The Herald sweeps Britain to curling gold medal Doug Gillon explains how a team of Scots have finally been honoured . . . 82 years on. 28 June 2012. The Herald. 23 January 2006.
  7. Web site: Cowan. Bob. Curling at the 1924 Winter Olympics: Part 1 - The GB Curlers. 6 November 2013. 22 February 2014.