3 PROP John Browning Deas – KILLED IN ONE OF THE WAR’S MOST FAMOUS ACTIONS

Captain John Browning Deas was born in Sunderland in 1915 and was killed in action in 1940. He played prop for the club during the mid-1930s and was also to be found on the tennis courts during summer. He came from a well-known Sunderland family. His father was director of museums and libraries and his brother Max later became a film and television personality*. John attended Tonstall School and St Peter’s York and the family lived in Holmlands Park close to the club. While at school he was a member of the OTC and joined the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1937. He was a company commander by May 1940 when he was killed while organising the withdrawal to the beaches of Dunkirk. He is buried in the nearby Marquise Community Cemetery. During his early army career, he also served in the Durham Light Infantry for a short while.

Extra Captain John Browning Deas (1914-1940) - Find a Grave Memorial  -and Google his full name for more

• Max had a small role in the cult Michael Caine version of Get Carter.