New Way of Swimming

They Gave the World a New Way of Swimming

Harry Wickham, the man who helped change the swim ming styles of the world, died on a small island in the Solomons m October—his achievement long since forgotten bv all but a few close friends.

/\NLY a few miles away his half ” brother Alec Wickham—who shared with him the honour of giving the “Australian crawl” to the world— still lives in seclusion.

The Wickhams have never de manded recognition. But shortly be fore his death, Harry Wickham said almost wistfully: “It’s a pity the true tale has not been told. It would be nice if Alec and I could get a nod or two in our direction for the way the world is swimming now.”

Harry Wickham died on Sunday, October 14, at his copra plantation on the island of Hobopeka, off the coast of New Georgia, near Munda, British Solomon Islands. He had turned 80 in September. He died of a heart attack—the second attack in 12 months.

Alec Wickham, 74 last June, spends most of his time nearby on the main land at Munda, pottering about.

Harry and Alec Wickham were the sons of Frank Wickham, a Somerset man who arrived in the Solomons in 1875 and became a planter and trader. He had as his headquarters

Hobopeka Island, which is close by Roviana Lagoon.

Harry’s mother was a woman from the Bum district of Bougainville and Alec s mother was a woman of Munda. The youngsters did all their swimmmg in the Roviana Lagoon.

While the outside world was still managing with breaststroke and dog paddle, the Wickham youngsters knew nothing else but the unique overarm action swum by the natives.

Some of the Roviana boys they swam with still carried the long handled axes with which to secure “trophies”—for headhunting was common. Not far from the Wick ham’s home was a great canoe house in which war canoes were laid up It was ornamented with many smoke dried human heads—the eyes and ears inlaid with mother of pearl. The Wickhams remembered one raid made to the Manning Straits when the raiders brought back 200 corpses.

When Harry Wickham was six years old his father took him to Sydney in his schooner, the Saucy

Lass. The youngster later attended Newington College. When Harry swam, he swam the Roviana crawl.

It was the first time the crawl had been demonstrated outside it’s home wa ters —but it was Alec who was the means of making the crawl better known.

Alec arrived in Sydney about 1897 or 1898 and attended the old Fort Street School, and the development of the crawl began, Harry went back to the Solomons in 1902—and stayed there until his death. Alec Wickham returned to the Solomons permanently in 1935. Both assisted the Coast watchers during the Pacific War act ing as, or organising scouts. Aus tralian coastwatcher Reg Evans—the man who organised the rescue of President Kennedy—stayed a night with Harry on a small island at one period at the height of the war.

In Sydney, Alec Wickham was given free use of the Domain Baths and Arthur Cavill and his younger brother, Dick, intently studied Wick ham’s actions. Dick later staggered the swimming world when he became the first swimmer to cover 100 yards in under a minute and went on to win so many sprints that swimmers were forced to adopt the style. It was Cecil Healy who successfully com bined the old style with the Wickham method, firmly laying the foundation of the modern Australian crawl.

Incredible Heights

Dick Cavill meanwhile took Alec in hand and saw him win the Aus tralian 100 yards title. Alec became a popular trick diver and swimmer at carnivals throughout Australia. He would jump into the water feet first from incredible heights—a common Roviana feat—and once at Manly Baths ran underwater over 50 yards against a swimmer on the surface, and beat him. At Rose Bay Baths in 1910, Alec set a new world record for 50 yards.

Alec could take a standard ship’s life buoy or a four gallon kerosene tin down 25 feet and sit on it. Harry could dive to 15 fathoms and remain there a couple of minutes.

Perhaps Alec’s greatest feat was in March, 1918, when the Deep Rock Swimming Club in Melbourne, pro moted a swimming carnival and Alec

agreed to do a spectacular dive from the cliffs above the pool into the Yarra. The world record dive at that time was held by G. W. Clarke, 165 feet from a bridge in Chicago.

Alec was billed as “Prince Wicy yama” from the Solomons —which

Alec objected to —but neverthe 70,000 people thronged the Y i Banks to see the dive. Alec’s i was 205 ft. 9 in.—a record wl still stands.

He recalls that part of his costi was ripped from his body and for three weeks afterwards he suffi internal pains.

At the time of his death Harry not swum for years. He kept a clippings about some of the old < —for he said that if he didn’t not else would. Alec today takes 1 interest in his own records.

THE ISLANDS SCENE: These two vistas are well known to travellers betwees and the Solomons aboard the fortnightly Fiji Airways aircraft Top is the veras of the Hotel Rossi, in Vila, New Hebrides. It overlooks the harbour and popular local meeting spot. Below, a focal point just as popular, is the lo of the Hotel Mendana, Honiara, on Guadalcanal. Owner Kenneth DairympM sits in his favourite spot-a reserved table opposite the doorway (left) Photo: Rob W

Harry Wickham's is land of Hobopeka, photographed b y Reg Evans from AAunda.