Brian Damage
Grappling with Tragedy is a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred throughout the history of professional wrestling. It is unlike the Wrestling with Sin series, which deals more with the seedier side of wrestling, like arrests, murders, and suicides. The Grappling with Tragedy series looks more at particular tragic incidents that have, in some instances, altered pro wrestling in a way.
Jack Beaumont
Jack Belshaw was born on September 5th, 1917 in Manchester, England. He was one of three brothers…the other two being Arthur and Cliff and together worked as acrobats for a circus. It was that skill who helped transition the three brothers into becoming professional wrestlers. Jack would change his ring name to ‘Jack Beaumont.’ His career would be stalled with the outbreak of World War II where Jack served in the Royal Air Force.
Whenever Jack was on leave from serving in the military, he would wrestle in various places in Europe. After the war ended, Jack Beaumont resumed a full time career as a wrestler. He would win the British Light Heavyweight title in 1945 and held the title until 1949. Jack and his brothers received praise from their wrestling peers as wrestlers called the brothers “perhaps the most talented family group in wrestling ever.” Beaumont especially was praised as being very skillful inside the ring and the creme-de-la-creme of British pro wrestlers.
On October 2nd, 1963…Jack wrestled Spike Robson in his hometown of Manchester. Jack defeated Robson and after the match collapsed at ringside. Jack was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The coroner determined that Jack Beaumont died of heart failure unrelated to the match he had that evening. The promoter for that event stated, “Jack died the way he would have wanted to…with his boots on.” Jack ‘Beaumont’ Belshaw was just 45 years old at the time of his death.
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david fullam
May he rest in peace.