The Rise and Fall of Les Darcy - The Tragic Tale
October 14th 2007 06:13
The rise and fall of Les Darcy is worthy of a Shakespearian tragedy - a young adolescent who broke free of the hardships of his life to become champion of Australia, the pride of a nation. The fame and fortune that his undeniable skill afforded him eventually led to his downfall – branded a coward for not going to war, Darcy fled to America where he died shortly after.
The much loved Australian sporting icon was vilified more than any other person in the fiercely controversial and passionate years of the war. Whilst conscription was never applied, the Maitland boy felt the full brunt of ill-feeling as the war debate raged. Darcy 20 and obviously at his physical peak was seen as the perfect candidate to join the army. He was an unstoppable force in the ring and was seen as a potential catalyst for enlisting thousands upon thousands of Australia’s finest young men into service. When the boxer would not enlist, he became a scapegoat, viciously taunted and deprived of worthy opposition. "Owing to Les Darcy's unpatriotic action and clearing out from his country at a time when he should be doing his bit with his comrades, it's been decided to strip him of his middleweight and heavyweight titles" promoter Snowy Baker declared.
History it seems is not without a sense of irony, a similar fate awaited ‘the greatest athlete of all time’ sixty years later when Mohammed Ali faced the Vietnam War and sporting obscurity for standing up for his Muslim beliefs.
Both athletes were victims of their fame, public faces to the insecurities of their respective societies. The two superstar’s inactivity reflected badly on the government and thus they were dogged constantly and endlessly by political agendas. They became mere puppets, public enemy number one, unwittingly caught up in war politics. Both had their titles stripped away from them.
"The War cannot be won on points; it must be a Knock-out" – Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes could not have been more transparent in his views. His phrasing of words was poignant, and they were obviously directed at the middleweight champion.
Les Darcy made his boxing debut at the age of 15 against a fighter six years his senior. It was a fight he was not meant to win, but legend has it that not only was Darcy not afraid, he won the bout wearing a smile throughout the entire contest. He didn’t care how big they were, or what their reputation was, he took all comers and was never knocked out in 50 professional fights. He was happiest when he was in the ring, applying his trade. There was an all-encompassing aura surround Darcy wherever he went and his trademark smile was worn proudly. The kid from Maitland was going to be big, the next champion of the world, everybody was entranced by his freakish pedigree and they turned up in droves. The hard-working, devout catholic pulled large crowds each and every fight. If it had not been for the bitter social uncertainty of the Great War, Darcy might have been amongst Mohammed Ali and Ray Robinson as the best boxers of all time.
“He was a man caught between his love of his country, his devotion to his mother and his desire for fame and fortune” ABC Rewind exclaimed in 2004. The precocious kid was just that, a kid. Embroiled in a bitter tug-o-war all Darcy wanted to do was box, and prove that he could be the best in the world. He had beaten some of the best boxers America had to offer and was etching out a career that would in time, immortalize him. The war however, changed everything. His legions of fans started to turn on him. Why would he not fight for his country? His countrymen were dying and all he seemed interested in was making money through boxing. To a war-fearing country it wasn’t right and they branded Darcy a coward and a shirker accordingly. It didn’t matter that he was legally underage and that his mother would never sign the enlistment papers. He was a physically supreme specimen, a superhuman wrecking ball that could presumably win the war off his own back. Darcy should go to war!
On the eve of the conscription referendum Darcy stowed away on a boat en route to America. Inexplicably unable to attain a passport, the besieged Darcy decided to leave his home country illegally. It was a decision that he copped much flack over, and the controversy followed him all the way to the big Apple.
Deprived of strong opponents in his heartland, Darcy hoped to meet the best boxers America had to offer. The money on offer was huge and Darcy was determined to assure his families financial security. He had not escaped the controversy, not by a long shot as journalists continued to throw barbs about his allegiance and his apparent draft dodging. He argued throughout that he would enlist, but his first priority was to take care of his family before taking up a rifle for his country. “Les is but one man and he can only carry one rifle” his friend Mick Hawkins reasoned bluntly.
It mattered not, after traveling to the States; Darcy was banned from fighting in New York. The massive fights that he had lined up in Madison Square Garden fell through and again, Darcy was forced to go elsewhere. It was apparent that this issue was not going to fade away. But why was Darcy feeling the brunt of the anger? Why was he singled out – in the land of the free of all places! After-all there were English actors and sportsmen applying their trade and surely they had more of a responsibility to be at the front than Darcy did. So here was a young 20-year old boy in a foreign country, away from his family and loved ones unable to do what he loved to do. Darcy was not himself; the ever energetic fearless boxer was run-down, lethargic and had a cough he couldn’t shake. It was a far-stretch from his home in Maitland.
The fall of Darcy was tragic, he died of pneumonia far away from home at the tender age of 21. In such a short lifespan Darcy had touched thousands of people and was arguably the greatest boxer Australia has ever produced. The boy from Maitland shook up the boxing world and if he had been born in another era, possibly would have been the best the world had ever seen
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Comment by Anonymous
Interestingly, we also have photos of them together in the classic fighter and manager pose, the fighter wearing a belt with my grandfather's hand on Darcy's shoulder.
My grandfather was a boxing promoter, who had his own battles with the establishment, mainly his very wealthy cousins, whom, so the story goes, had ripped him off somehow.
Anyway, years ago I worked for a short period, standing in for someone, on the Darcy TV film, and no mention of my grandfather there either.
It seems the powers of prejudice and judgement extend far.
thanks for stirring my memory...
Comment by Anonymous
It sounds like Les was run-out of the country and then died alone. A sad end, your article paints Les as a likeable bloke.
Are there any books written on Darcy that I might be able to grasp his tale more?
Comment by sportsbar
Sports Bar
Fret X
I hope I didn't offend you, I was just trying to portray the uncertain state of society around the War, and how it effected Darcy.
I would love to hear the stories you have heard, I'm sure some have filtered down through your family through the years? That would be great!
Comment by sportsbar
Sports Bar
Fret X
The Ballard of Les Darcy...
Not a bad read...
Comment by captain_yobbo
Comment by Anonymous