Bernard Hugh Dalton (1891 – 9 November 1929) was an Australian pioneer rugby league player In the Australian competition – the New South Wales Rugby League. He was born in 1891 in Sydney.

Barney Dalton
Personal information
Full nameBernard Hugh Dalton
Born1891
Sydney, New South Wales
Died9 November 1929
East Sydney, New South Wales
Playing information
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1910–15 Eastern Suburbs 61 16 0 0 48
Source: Whiticker/Hudson

Rugby league career edit

A winger, Barney Dalton played for the Eastern Suburbs club side in the years (1910–12) and (1914–15) as a Winger. He was a member of Eastern Suburbs first premiership winning side that defeated Glebe in the final of the competition in 1911, and backed up the following season in 1912 as Easts took their second title.

The winger was also a member of the Easts' sides that won City Cups in 1914 and 1915. Dalton is recognised as the 43rd player to join the Eastern Suburbs club, playing 61 first grade games and scoring 16 tries.

His brother William Dalton also played with him at Eastern Suburbs.[1]

Criminal career edit

Barney Dalton became a gangland figure, and was reportedly mixed up with some of Sydney's most dangerous criminals in the 1920s. He was a member of Kate Leigh's razor gang during the Sydney gang wars that also involved Tilly Devine and Phil Jeffs.[2]

Death edit

Dalton was shot dead outside the Strand Hotel, on the corner of Crown Street and William Street, East Sydney on 9 November 1929 by notorious criminal Frank Green.[3][4] He was 38 years of age.

His funeral was held at St Mary's Cathedral on 12 November 1929, and attended by 200 mourners.[5] He was buried at Botany Catholic Cemetery, now known as Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park.[6][7]

In popular culture edit

Rick Donald played Barney Dalton in the 2011 Channel 9 television series Underbelly: Razor, based on the 1920-30s razor gang wars in Sydney.[citation needed]

References edit

  • Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen, The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gary Allen Pty Ltd, Wetherill Park, New South Wales (ISBN 978-1-877082-93-1)
  • Writer, Larry, Razor, Pan Macmillan Publishers, Australia. 2001. (ISBN 0 7329 1074 9)
  • Massoud, Josh, Daily Telegraph 14 August 2011, 'FOUND: Barney Dalton, the baddest man ever to play rugby league'https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/found-barney-dalton-the-baddest-man-ever-to-play-rugby-league/news-story/f32215d2abd08eec907a5fade84cfffc?sv=f80962169bb2f081a3bc062995d601b0

References edit

  1. ^ Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson. The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players Gary Allen Publishers, Australia, 1995 (ISBN 1 875 16957 1)
  2. ^ Larry Writer. Underbelly (2001)
  3. ^ Sydney Morning Herald (article) 'Dramatic Scenes. Arrest of F.D. GREEN. Wounded Man's Remarkable Story'. 4 December 1929, page 15
  4. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 12 November 1929 death notice for Bernard Hugh Dalton (pg. 10).
  5. ^ Sydney Morning Herald (article) 'Gang War Victim. Scenes at Mass. 13 November 1929', page 19.
  6. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 12 November 1929, Funeral Notices: Bernard Hugh Dalton, p9.
  7. ^ Botany Catholic Cemetery grave location: Section BD, Grave 116.

References edit