April 25 is a day we all pause to remember those who have fought and died for our nation in armed conflict.

Across the Boer War, World War 1 and World War II, hundreds of footballers answered the nation's call to fight.

Among them, 20 South Melbourne players who died during active service, including Swans Hall of Fame inductees Bruce Sloss and Len Thomas.

Thomas played 187 matches for Souths and was part of the 1933 Premiership team. A dual best and fairest winner, he captained the club in 1938. After brief stints with Hawthorn and North Melbourne, Thomas retired in 1940 to take up military service where he was reported as being the first VFL captain to enlist. He was stationed in the Middle East before requesting to revert to the rank of Private so he could serve as a commando.  He was killed in action in New Guinea on 17th August 1943.

Sloss was awarded football’s highest individual honour in 1911 when named Champion of the Colony. He was judged the best player on the ground in Souths 1914 Grand Final loss to Carlton, kicking two goals. Tragically, it would be the last game he played before heading to war. He was killed in action at Armentieres, France, in 1916 at the age of 28.

Lest We Forget.

The 20 Swans players killed during war service are remembered especially this week and they will remain in the hearts and thoughts of the club forever. Listed with their unit and their date of death they were:

World War 1

Norm Bradford
Rank: Corporal, 23rd Battalion, First A.I.F
Date of Death: 4 August, 1916
Location: Pozieres, France

Hughie Callan
Private, 14th Battalion, First A.I.F.
5 February, 1917
Bapaume, France           

Fred Fielding
Private, 28th Battalion, First A.I.F.
8 August, 1918
Villers-Bretonneux, France

Charlie Fincher (pictured)
Private, 5th Battalion, First A.I.F.
25 April, 1915
Gallipoli, Turkey

Jack Freeman
Sapper, 2nd Field Company, Australian Engineers, First A.I.F.
15 November, 1916
Flers, France

Ed Harrison
Sergeant, 24th Battalion, First A.I.F.
13 March, 1917
Étaples, France

Harold Rippon
Private, 2nd Pioneer Battalion
16 January, 1917
France

Bruce Sloss
Lieutenant, 10th Machine Gun Company, First A.I.F.
4 January, 1917
Armentières, France

Claude Thomas
Private, 14th Battalion, First A.I.F.
5 July, 1918
Hamel, France

Jack Turnbull
Private, 39th Battalion, First A.I.F.
2 May, 1917
Western Front, France

World War 2

Jeff Grieve
Flight Sergeant, R.A.A.F
8 November, 1944
Glen Shee, Scotland

Gordon Hamilton
Seaman, HMAS Cerberus, R.A.N.
23 February, 1941
Chelsea, Victoria

Alf Hedge
Pilot Officer, 78 Squadron, R.A.A.F.
4 May, 1942/
Hamburg, Germany

Norm Le Brun
Trooper, 2/10th Australian Cavalry
15 November, 1944
Aitapi, New Guinea

Alan Pearsall
Flying Officer, 16 Squadron, R.A.A.F.
8 March, 1944
English Channel

Gordon Sawley
Flying Officer, 19 Operational Training Unit, R.A.A.F.
14 August, 1942
Scotland

Jack Shelton
Lieutenant, 2/21st Battalion, Second A.I.F.
1 May, 1941
Libya

Len A. Smith
N/A
29 July, 1943
OAS Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria

Len Thomas
Private, 2/3rd Independent Company, Second A.I.F.
17 August, 1943
Salamaua, New Guinea

Jack Wade
Private, 2/27th Battalion, Second A.I.F.
11 June, 1941
Syria