"TINY" DEAN - VETERAN OF THREE WARS AND A BOXING LEGEND.

THOMAS "TINY" St JOHN DEAN

1880 - 1957

SOUTH AFRICAN

BOXING PIONEER

&

VETERAN OF THREE WARS

(Boer War, WW1 & WW2)

Dean's original business card.
(Notice how proud he was of his War service)

(A similar card is depicted in

Chris Greyvenstein's book: THE FIGHTERS p.157)

The named six-medal group of

"Tiny" Dean

Anglo Boer war 1899-02

Queen's South Africa Medal

(Relief of Kmberley, Paardeberg,Driefontein &Transvaal)

King's South Africa Medal

(South Africa 1901 & 1902)

WW1

British War Medal

Victory Medal

(2nd Lieutenant)

WW2

1939/45 War Medal

Africa Service Medal

(Captain)

The following is text from Chris Greyvenstein's book:

Pictorial History of S.A. Boxing - THE FIGHTERS.

"Born in Highbury, London in 1880, he got his first job, believe it or not,

carrying in the supper beer for the printers who worked on the "Church Times".

He did't last long and proceeded to immerse himself in the world of commerce

as a junior clerk until 1899, the year he found himself with the British Army

right up to his ears in the Anglo-Boer War.

The little Cockney came to South Africa in 1899 as a stretcher-bearer and he was present at several historic battles. Dean had a delightful sense of humour and all he ever preferred to remember from that bitter war were the lighter moments.

Journalist Paul Irwin who spent time with Tiny dean before his death

wrote the following bit in The South African Sportsman magazine

of September, 1966.

"Whatever fond ideas he harboured of his part as a war hero, a calloused

old Sergeant took one look at him and said: "You're a stretcher bearer, little un."

And a stretcher bearer he was until the day he was told to look sharp and hold

the head of the Adjutant General charger while that splendid fellow reviewed

the British soldiery soon after the Relief of Ladysmith.

Here's what happened. "Tiny" was always ready to try anything once, including

scrambling on the back of the mettlesome charger - I reckon he must have used an

alpenstock to mount the horse - And going for a gentle trot over the veld.

That was the general idea in the DEAN brain, although it seems that "Tiny"

had never before ridden anything more fractious than a donkey on the sands

of Margate, the Mecca of every Cockney boy on an August Bank Holiday.

Result: The charger bolted and "Tiny", dying a million deaths as the nag

headed for a donga, decided there was only one thing for it - And that

was to 'Abandon ship", as it were. He took a header into a patch of thron scrub

- A header that eventually sent him to Kitchener's Fighting Scouts and

then Damant's Horse as, on his own testimony, an accomplished

equestrian performer.

Among other adventures, he was slap in the middle of the Battle of Paardekop and

came out of it with a souvenir that he carried for the rest of his life. It was half

an index finger, the result of a sniper's bullet that arrived as an unpleasant

reminder that life was real and life was earnest."

(by Paul Irwin) 

He always referred to it as “the last war between gentlemen” and the engagement at Tafelkop was the one he most liked to talk about after a few drinks. A Boer commando struck the British camp at dawn a few days before Christmas and, as he put it, won on knockout before noon, capturing 300 plum puddings and a large number of Yeomanry regiment.

Dean was attached to the regiment as a first-aid orderly but he did not have much liking for the “millionaire mob”, as he called them. When the Burghers forced their reluctant prisoners to “exchange” their fine breeches, leggings and boots for their own rough and ready outfits, dean had the time of his life. He was even happier when the Boers took one look at the under-sized orderly and waved him aside. There was not a man in the commando who could have used either his uniform or his size 5 boots.

He was not as fortunate on another occasion when he volunteered to take medical supplies General De La Rey had requested after a skirmish, something which happened often in a war marked by the most amazing chivalry on both sides. A Cape cart was loaded from the surgical store and a Red Cross flag was attached to the harness of one of the mules. Just before he set off on his journey, dean bought himself a new Stetson hat at the Field Forces canteen and, filled with virtue, he galloped off on his errand of mercy.

The first Boer outpost gave him an escort to take him to a farmhouse, which had been converted into a rough hospital. A Scottish nurse and a Swiss doctor were attending the wounded when Dean arrived. The nurse glanced at the little orderly, whipped his new hat from his head, and pressed him into service as an assistant. It was to be several days before she would allow him to return to his own camp and when the escort arrived to take him back, a burly burgher decided to swop his own worn and stained hat for the smart Stetson. Touched by the Cockney’s crest-fallen look he relented enough to return the regimental badge, and to give him a leopard-skin hat-band and a two-shilling piece to make the transaction a little fairer.

Shortly after the war Dean recognised his hat, now no longer an object of beauty, on the head of a burgher and the affair ended with drinks between the two former enemies."

Boer War medal pair named to:

Royal Army Medical Corps.

The WW1 medal index card confirming

his service with the Royal Army Service Corps

and the commissioned rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

Although Dean attested with the South African

Union Defence Force, his WW1 medals 

were issued by the British authorities.

(Salonika/Macedonia Campaign 1918)

The WW2 medal index card confirming his service

as a Sports Officer and the rank of Captain.

Dean's two Union of South Africa issue medals are confirmed.

Interesing to note that he lied about his age upon attestation.

Presumably he wouldn't have been accepted as a 60-year old !

In respect of "Tiny" Dean's contribution to Boxing,

Chris Greyvenstein wrote the following

in his Pictorial History of S.A. Boxing - THE FIGHTERS.

"The debt South African boxing owes Ludwig Japhet and his Transvaal National Sporting Club can, however never be denied. From the moment the body was formed in 1925 unprecedented activity was generated and local talent received opportunities previously denied. The man almost entirely responsible for this was the honorary secretary, Thomas St John Dean."

"As an administrator, promoter, referee and judge he was known throughout the world."

Tiny Dean made sure of his place in history by

refereeing the first ever official world title fight held in South Africa.

September 4, 1937

 Featherweight Petey Sarron vs Freddie Miller.

(Pic from the late Chris Greyvenstein's book:

THE FIGHTERS - A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF S.A. BOXING)

"In 1910 he helped to send the first-ever team of South African amateurs overseas to compete in an international event and had the satisfaction of seeing Fred Storbeck winning the British heavyweight title in London. In 1924 he managed the Springbok boxers at the Olympic Games in Paris and officiated as a judge and referee. He was also chosen to be a referee at the Games in Berlin in 1936 and he was a member of the Jury d’ Appel in London in 1948."

Tiny Dean as referee, gives Tommy Bensch

the count in his fight against Johnny Ralph.c.1947

(Pic from the late Chris Greyvenstein's book:

THE FIGHTERS - A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF S.A. BOXING.)

The late "Tiny" Dean....Reg Hasswell rates him,

on his day, as one of the world's top promoters.

(The Star. Saturday May 13 1978)

Tiny Dean was always to be found among the celebrities and here

he is (extreme right) watching Viccie Toweel in action against

 Frenchman Georges Mousse in the company of the

late Willie Smith (extreme left), Bill McConnell, and

Australia's Jimmy Carruthers, who shortly afterwards

relieved Toweel of his World Bantamweignt title.

(The South Africa Sportsman - September, 1966, p35)

"Fireman" George Anderson (right), famous old champion of

South African boxing, admires a bust of himself while

Tiny Dean looks on.

(The South African Sportsman - September, 1966, p37)

The following is an unnamed bronze tablet in original box.

The pic shows the obverse & reverse - 60mm x 48mm.

The tablet bears a maker's mark "A.M." as well as

the word 'BRONZE" stamped on the edge. 

THOMAS ST. JOHN DEAN

OLYMPIC GAMES BOXING

In 1924 "Tiny" Dean managed the Springbok boxers at the

Olympic Games in Paris and officiated as a judge and referee.

(Seated in the middle)

(Pic from the late Chris Greyvenstein's book:

THE FIGHTERS - A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF S.A. BOXING.)

Button-hole badge from the PARIS 1924 Olympic Games.

(Depicting the Union flag: by FATTORINI & SONS, BRADFORD)

One of the highlights of his career was the instance when as manager

of the 1924 Paris Olympiad Boxing team, he literally talked the

great Willie Smith into a winner's medal.

(Herewith the story by Paul Irwin as in The S.A. Sportsman, Sept 1966)

"Willie was out on his own in the Bantamweight division that Olympic year.

He was odds-on favourite to win the final - If he was on time for the

official weigh-in, which he wasn't.

On the hour Willie was due to climb on the scales, he was away near

the top of the Eiffel Tower on a sightseeing trip.

"Smit! Smit! Africa du Suid!"

shrieked a French official, but in vain. So "Tiny" played for time.

Yes, for 15 agonising minutes, while frantic search parties were

sent out to look for Willie, our Mr Dean talked and Talked to prevent

the fighter's disqualifiction.

Finally, Willie Smith strolled into the hall as "Tiny" appealed for just 30 seconds

more grace. Next thing the wonderful Willie stripped down, made the 118 lb limit,

and went into the ring to win an Olympic medal in a canter."

A silk handkerchief from Amsterdam 1928.

(Depicting a javelin thrower - No Olympic rings but

certainly coinciding with the IXth  Olympiad.)

"Tiny" Dean's original referee badge from the

1936 Olympics in Berlin.

(Maker: L.CHR.LAUER NÜRNBERG - BERLIN)

(Total length with ribbon = 114mm)

BOXEN RICHTER

XI OLYMPIADE

BERLIN 1936

(Numbered "436")

A numbered participant's badge from Berlin 1936.

(Numbered "1271")

A high quality enamelled "Springbok" badge as

worn by the South African Olympic team - BERLIN 1936.

(48mm x 36mm)

Herewith the reverses of two versions of the enamelled

Springbok team badges for the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

The example on the left for wear via ribbon and

the other example in the brooch-style for wear on the chest.

Male & female variations.

(Maker: E.GUTENKUNST BERLIN,SW68)

Participant badge of the XIV OLYMPIAD LONDON 1948

(It appears unnumbered & unmarked)

(32mm wide x 84mm long incl. ribbon)

Dean was a member of the Jury d’ Appel at

the XIVth Olympiad in London in 1948.

This is his original arm band as worn at the Games.

(Thick starched cloth, strapped to the upper arm of the official)

The following medal and what appears to be a neck 

scarf fastener of some sort, both bear the emblem of

the Italian Boxing federation - Federazione Pugilistica Italiana (FPI)

Decorated with enamel and including the Olympic rings emblem.

These Italian items might bear a relation to the following incident

from the 1924 Paris Games, as relayed to Chris Greyvenstein.

"Attending a meeting in connection with the Olympic Games

in Paris in 1924 for instance, Dean objected to the fact that France,

England and Italy had entered two boxers each in a certain weight division.

"It's not sporting, " Dean declared.

Count Volpi, the Italian delegate, immediately jumped up

and took the strongest exception to the remark.

"Monsieur le president, " he shouted.

"This man, he say I'm not sportsman !

No one, he can say that. He must fight me the duel !"

Dean rose to the occasion with superb aplomb.

"Mr President, " he replied. "I believe the challenged party has the

right of choosing the weapons to be used in a duel. I accept Count Volpi's

challenge, the weapons to be glasses in the bar after the meeting !"

The Italian burst out laughing and accepted the challenge. To the

South African delegate's dismay the Count proved the better drinker

and the drinks cost him four pounds sixteen shillings, a big sum for those days."

Interesting "Tiny" Dean facts:

He was a stretcher bearer at the Battle of Paardeberg when 

Boer General Piet Cronje was captured by Lord Roberts. 

He wrote Boxing news under pseudonyms for various newspapers.

“Long Melford” for the Rand Daily mail, “Lavengro” for the Sunday Times

and “straight left” for the Star.

The infamous Robey Leibrandt was a member of the

1936 South African Olympic boxing team.

Leibrandt was sentenced to death for high treason - Later commuted to life.

One of the biggest controversies in Olympic Boxing

history befell another South African boxer at the 1936 Games.

Lightweight Thomas Hamilton-Brown of South Africa, after losing a first-round split decision, went on an eating binge. No big deal, right? Wrong! It was discovered that one of the judges had reversed his scores and Brown was actually the winner ... but he was unable to make weight for his next bout and was disqualified!

The 1936 Olympics was the 1st time the new amateur referee rule was applied.

Allowing the referee to officiate within the ropes - Previously he directed

the contest from an elevated seat at the ring-side.

Dean was a judge in the final of the Welter-weight contest.

He also refereed and judged numerous bouts in Berlin 1936.

On September 4, 1937 Dean made history by refereeing the

first ever official World title fight in South Africa.

featherweight: Petey Sarron vs Freddie Miller.

"Tiny" was 77 when he died in a Johannesburg nursing home on 24 April, 1957.

Further entries for "Tiny" Dean appear on the SUPERSPORT

site, mostly by famed boxing journalist, Ron Jackson.

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