Francis James Le Breton (15 August 1924

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

– 6 January 1951) was an Australian

Motorcycle speedway Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to simply as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. The motorcycles are specialist machines that use only ...

rider who was nicknamed "The White Ghost" due to his wearing white leathers.

Early career

Le Breton served in the

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...

as a gunner in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

.Davies, Trevor (2008) ''Warzone Speedway'', Trevor Davies Publishing, , p. 128 His service in

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

ended when he was hospitalized with swamp fever (

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

) and battle fatigue. He was discharged in 1945 and took up speedway the following year. He took part in novice trials at the

Sydney Sports Ground The Sydney Sports Ground No. 1 was a Stadium and Dirt track racing venue in Sydney, New South Wales. The ground was located where the car park of the Sydney Football Stadium (SFS) currently sits. The ground had two main grandstands and was surro ...

but failed to impress and was turned away. He then took part in trials at the West Maitland Showground in

and was immediately noticed by everybody as he appeared with all white leathers and bike. Ray Duggan was at the meeting took an interest in Le Breton and helped him get established back at the Sydney Sports Ground where he rode in all white as "The White Ghost."

UK career

He sailed to the United Kingdom in 1947 to try to get a team place and signed for the

New Cross Rangers The New Cross Rangers were a Speedway team which operated from 1934 until their closure in 1953. They also rode as the New Cross Lambs from 1934 to 1935 and then the New Cross Tamers in 1936. The team were League Champions in 1938 and 1948. His ...

, but things did not go so well so the second division

Newcastle Diamonds Newcastle Diamonds were a motorcycle speedway team that raced in the SGB Championship, every Sunday night during the season (March–October) from their home at the Newcastle Stadium on the Fossway, Byker. The Stadium, previously known as Broug ...

signed him in exchange for Jeff Lloyd and £1000. He moved with the Newcastle promotion to

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

with the

Ashfield Giants Ashfield Giants were a motorcycle speedway team based at Saracen Park, Glasgow, Scotland between 1949 and 1953. The track operated on an open licence in 1953 and were reformed for a one of season during the 2000 Speedway Conference League. Hist ...

in 1949 and completed two seasons there until 1950.

World Final Appearance

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

- London,

Wembley Stadium Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 200 ...

- 13th - 4ptsBamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing.

Death

Ken was involved in a crash on 5 January 1951 at the Sydney Sports Ground where he first rode a speedway bike. He was representing Australia in the 2nd Test match of the 1950–51 season against England. In heat eighteen, he was attempting to pass England's

Eddie Rigg Edward Rigg (5 December 1919, Burnley, England — February 1991, Perth, Australia) was an international speedway racer who finished twice finished seventh in the Speedway World Championship final.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of ...

on the last bend, looking to gain third place when he cut into Rigg's rear wheel. Ken's bike locked and he hit the safety fence hard and straight on. He died the next day in St Vincent's Hospital in

due to severe head injuries including a fractured skull. He had also punctured his lung.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Le Breton, Francis James Le 1924 births 1951 deaths Australian speedway riders Motorcycle racers who died while racing Newcastle Diamonds riders New Cross Rangers riders Sport deaths in Australia Accidental deaths in New South Wales Motorcycle racers from Sydney Australian Army personnel of World War II Australian Army soldiers