1993

55 Gordon Dailley

Born July 24th, 1911 in Calgary, Gordon Dailley graduated from the University of Manitoba, and was destined to become a star of pre-war hockey in Britain as well as a member of the 1936 Olympic gold medal winning team. Dailley came to Britain, in 1933, by working his passage across the Atlantic on a cattle boat and donned ice skates to play for the Grosvenor House Canadians. The following year, he moved across London to play out of the newly opened Wembley Arena, firstly for the Canadians, then with the Lions from 1935-37 and finally with the Monarchs, as captain until the outbreak of war.

After the ’36 Olympics Dailley, solid defenceman captained Great Britain to a third European gold medal in the 1938 championships staged in Prague, and followed that up by leading the side that competed in the World Championships in Berlin a year later. In all, he represented his adopted country, having qualified by residence, in five World Championship tournaments and recorded 16 goals and 5 assists.

Joining the Canadian army, Dailley excelled in the military, rising to then rank of Major. He went on to serve with the United Nations peace-keeping force in Korea and was promoted to Colonel in 1955 and was subsequently posted to Yugoslavia as Canada’s military attaché. Prior to his retirement, he commanded the military base at Gagetown in New Brunswick.

Gordon Dailley died on May 3rd, 1989 in Cambridge Ontario, in his native Canada aged 77.

Compiled with research, provided by Martin C.Harris - March 1990