John H. Douglas

Boxing referee and official John H. Douglas was the father of the boxer and well-known England cricketer John Douglas who, like his father, was also a boxing referee, as was his younger brother “Pickles” (Cecil Henry Douglas). John senior was a member of the National Sporting Club (NSC) for over 30 years. He was also one of the founding members of the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) and was their president for 18 years from 1906-24.

Douglas owned the firm of City timber merchants, John H. Douglas & Co., and often went to Scandinavia on buying missions. In December 1930, with business completed, both John and his son boarded the SS Oberon in Finland with the intention of being home for Christmas. Tragically, their boat was involved in a collision in the Kattegat, and they were among the 22 passengers who drowned.

Douglas’s refereeing career lasted from 1890-1927, when he officiated at many title fights. One of his most memorable was Jimmy Wilde’s 15 round points win over the American Joe Lynch at the NSC in 1919, in the presence of His Highness the Prince of Wales. Douglas’s last bout was the Emile Pladner and Johnny Hill flyweight contest at the NSC on 19 December 1927, three years to the date before Douglas lost his life.