As we look ahead to playing on Anzac Day, the Sydney Swans honour all those brave men and women who have served our country in times of war.

Among them, 19 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.

South Melbourne players to die on active service.

World War I
Alfred Norman BRADFORD
Phillip Hughes CALLAN
Alfred FIELDING
Charles FINCHER (pictured below)
Jack FREEMAN
Edward HARRISON
Harold Holt RIPPON
Bruce Moses Farquhar SLOSS
Claude Edison THOMAS
John Charles McNicol TURNBULL

World War II
Jeffery James GRIEVE
Gordon Ross HAMILTON
Alfred William HEDGE
Norman Stanley LE BRUN
Allan Louden PEARSALL
Gordon Harold SAWLEY
John Thomas SHELTON
Leonard Angus SMITH
Leonard THOMAS
John Samuel WADE

*Information gathered from the book Harder Than Football; League Players at War by Barbara Cullen.