Alfred Edward Flaxman (October 1, 1879 – July 1, 1916) was a British track and field athlete who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was born in Darfield, South Yorkshire and in 1908, he participated in the discus throw competition, in the Greek discus throw event, in the freestyle javelin throw competition, and in the standing high jump event but in all these competitions his final ranking is unknown. Flaxman was killed in action during the First World War, serving as a second lieutenant with the South Staffordshire Regiment on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. His remains were not recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Alfred Flaxman was an all-round athlete who, although of modest stature, developed a fine physique through bodybuilding under the guidance of the great Eugen Sandow. He featured in the AAA hammer throw for 10 years (1905-14) and was the winner in 1910. He won the AAA pole vault in 1909, when he was the only competitor, and he placed in the first six in both the shot and discus at the Championships. He was also an above-average boxer and gymnast and, unusually for a specialist in the weight events, he was a talented violinist and artist. His career is particularly well-documented in the writings of F. A. M. Webster who credits Flaxman with a Bohemian hammer record in excess of 150-0 (45.72) shortly before World War I, but no confirmation of this record can be traced. Webster, who served in the South Staffordshire Regiment with Flaxman, wrote that when they were stationed together at Etaples, “the men simply adored Flaxman.” Clearly, not all the officers were held in such high regard as it was in the Bull Ring at Etaples that the “Monocoled Mutineer,” Percy Toplis, began his notorious revolt. Captain Flaxman was killed in action in an attack on enemy positions at Gommercourt, France. http://books.google.com/books?id=Em...z4TSAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 In Memory of Second Lieutenant ALFRED EDWARD FLAXMAN 1st/6th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment who died age 36 on 01 July 1916 Son of Alfred Edward Flaxman, of 34, Grand Avenue, Southbourne, Bournemouth, and the late Harriet Jecks Flaxman. Remembered with honour THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
