Ralph Broome was the first of long line of soldiers to represent Great Britain in Winter Olympic bobsleigh competition. Born into a military family in the foothills of the Himalayas he was also the first Asian-born Winter Olympic medallist. He saw service in the Tank Corps of the British Army during World War One and had been elevated to the rank of major by the end of the conflict. Broome’s team were fastest on the final run of the competition but were too far behind the Swiss team to make up the gap created on the first three runs.
Date of birth not 5 August.