Harry Ross-Soden (17 May 1886 – 29 June 1944) was an Australian rower who competed at the

1912 Summer Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, be ...

University rowing

Born in St Kilda, Melbourne Ross-Soden attended

Melbourne Grammar School (Pray and Work) , established = 1849 (on present site since 1858 - the celebrated date of foundation) , type = Independent, co-educational primary, single-sex boys secondary, day and boarding , denominatio ...

where he took up rowing. He rowed in the Melbourne Grammar first VIII in his three senior years at school. He studied law at

Melbourne University The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

and rowed for

Trinity College (University of Melbourne) Trinity College is the oldest residential college of the University of Melbourne, the first university in the colony of Victoria, Australia. The college was opened in 1872 on a site granted to the Church of England by the government of Victori ...

. He rowed in the Melbourne University eight at the Australian Intervarsity Championships of 1908, 1909, 1910 and 1911.Ross-Soden profile at Australian Rowing History
/ref> In 1913, by now rowing with the Banks Rowing Club, he was selected in the Victorian eight to contest the men's eight event at the Interstate Regatta.

International representative rowing

An Australian eight was selected in 1912 to compete at the

Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It differs from the thre ...

and the

Stockholm Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, bet ...

. It was a co-operative venture between the NSW and the Victorian Rowing Associations, there being no Australian governing body at the time. Much of the funding for the trip came from the Victorian Rowing Association and the families of the two Victorian crew members Ross-Soden and Simon Fraser. The Australian eight needed to nominate at Henley as a club entrant and raced as the

Sydney Rowing Club Sydney Rowing Club is the oldest rowing club in New South Wales, Australia formed in 1870. It has occupied its current site on Port Jackson's Parramatta River at Abbotsford Point since 1874. The club has a focus on its high performance and elite ...

from which five of the crew and coxswain were drawn. Ross-Soden, Fraser and the

Leichhardt Leichhardt may refer to: * Division of Leichhardt, electoral District for the Australian House of Representatives * Leichhardt Highway, a highway of Queensland, Australia * Leichhardt Way, an Australian road route * Leichhardt, New South Wales, inn ...

man Henry Hauenstein joined the Sydney club to legitimise their entry. Ross-Soden rowed in the seven seat at Henley when the eight progressed through their match races and beat the

Leander Club Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world, and the oldest non-academic club. It is based in Remenham in Berkshire, England and adjoins Henley-on-Thames. Only three other surviving clubs were founded prior to ...

in the final to take the 1912

Grand Challenge Cup The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and best-known event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing cl ...

. Onto Sweden for the

and with Keith Heritage changed out for the UK resident Australian Hugh Ward, Ross-Soden again rowed at seven. They beat a Swedish crew in the first round then in the quarter-final they were knocked-out by same

Leander Leander is one of the protagonists in the story of Hero and Leander in Greek mythology. Leander may also refer to: People * Leander (given name) * Leander (surname) Places * Leander, Kentucky, United States, an unincorporated community * Le ...

eight they'd triumphed over at Henley.

War service

Ross-Soden was involved in a traffic accident in Toorak Rd, South Yarra in 1913. It resulted in long legal proceeding where he was the defendant which went to the High Court of Australia and did not finalise until 1916. He then enlisted in the AIF and joined the 39th Battalion. He left Australia for England arriving in April 1917 where he received officer training with a machine gun company, he was posted to France in 1918, but was put on sick leave due to having a stone in his bladder, he returned to England and stayed there until 1919 when he moved back to Australia. In the preparation for the 1919 Peace Regatta Ross-Soden trialled in the various AIF eights. He was a member of the sub-committee charged with the coaching and selection of the 1919 AIF crews and in the final week before the event he co-coached AIF #1 eight which won the event and brought the

King's Cup __NOTOC__ King's Cup (incl. translations), may refer to: Sports Football * Copa del Rey, Spanish for "King's Cup," the main national knockout tournament in men's football * King Cup (sometimes named King's Cup), Saudi Arabian men's football nati ...

to Australia.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross-Soden, Harry 1886 births People educated at Trinity College (University of Melbourne) Australian male rowers Olympic rowers for Australasia Rowers at the 1912 Summer Olympics 1944 deaths Australian military personnel of World War I People from St Kilda, Victoria Military personnel from Melbourne Rowers from Melbourne Sportsmen from Victoria (state)