Eddie Webster

Joseph Edward Webster also known by the name Jack Webster (15 June 1902 − 22 August 1945) was a British long-distance runner who competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics.^[1] He was killed in a military vehicle accident during World War II.^[2]

Eddie Webster

Personal information
Full name	Joseph Edward Webster
Nationality	British (English)
Born	(1902-06-15)15 June 1902 Rowley Regis, England
Died	22 August 1945(1945-08-22) (aged 43) Italy
Height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
Sport	Long-distance running
Event	10,000 metres/steeplechase
Club	Birchfield Harriers

Biography

Webster competed in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1924 Olympics Games.^[3]

The following year, Webster became the national 10 miles champion and the national steeplechase champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1925 AAA Championships.^[4][5] He then retained his steeplechase title and also became the national 4 miles champion at the 1926 AAA Championships.^[6][7]

Webster won a third and fourth successive steeplechase title in 1927 and 1928 in addition to regaining the 10 miles title at the 1928 AAA Championships.^[8][9]

Despite being one of the leading British athletes at the time he was surprisingly left out of the British team for the 1928 Summer Olympics due to a technical difficulty.^[10] It transpired that Webster had been paid for the a photograph of him in a publication, which the AAA deemed as affecting his amateur status.^[11]

Webster served as a gunner in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War and was killed in a road accident in Italy on 21 August 1945, a month before he was to be demobilised.^[12][1] He is buried at Salerno War Cemetery.^[12]