Obituary of Shamaria Diamond from 1949
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 1:58 am
I thought the forum might enjoy this obituary which I found in the London Chess Bulletin for 22 April 1949 for a player called Shamaria Diamond (1875-1949). It's superbly written by "BH", which, subsequent to my original posting here, Leonard Barden confirms stands for Bruce Hayden (and not Brian Harley or BH Wood). The subject of the obit also sounds a great character and don't miss his great one-liner to BH after filing his naturalisation papers:
I'm wondering if Leonard might remember him from the Gambit.
I’ve done some research and discovered his full name was Shamaria Diamond, born 1875 in Russia, died in the 1st quarter of 1949 in Marylebone. In 1947 he had naturalised and changed his name from Schmerl Hosias, otherwise Shamaria Diamant, subsequently known as Shamaria Diamond. He was a book-keeper and lived at 77 Wellesley Court, London W9. I'd never heard of him before though I've found one game he lost during the war and I know he played Dr Aitken in a game after the war (coming soon to a website near you).Obituary of Shamaria Diamond by BH, 22 April 1949 wrote:[London Chess Bulletin, 22 April 1949, page 2]
MR. S. DIAMOND
An endearing character has passed from the Chess scene in the person of Mr. S. Diamond of the West London Chess Club.
Such was the affectionate esteem in which he was held that when his death was announced at “The Gambit,” a hush fell over the normally busy room. A subtle positional and fine end-game player—shortly before he had won a fine game in the London League—advancing years had not lessened his playing strength. But it was a whimsical charm and inborn kindliness, in a manner peculiar to himself, which won for him so many friends in the country of his adoption.
Anecdotes about Diamond are abundant: the writer first met him some years ago in a pre-war chess haunt when seeking a lunch-hour game. Hardly had it started when he produced a small hamper and from it a gigantic cold duck “from my sister in Estonia.” Then calling a waiter, he leaned forward and in his quaint measured English said: “Come let us share it while we try to murder one another.”
Recently he entered hospital for a minor operation, and it is typical of his old-fashioned gallantry that on leaving he told the sister that she "had mended his body but broken his heart.”
He arrived in this country many years ago and then stayed for some years in South Africa. On returning he again went through the formalities of taking out naturalisation papers until one day he met the writer and said: “Congratulate me my dear friend. At last I am a British blooming foreigner.”
He was a Hebrew scholar of profound knowledge and of latter years had grieved at the cruel death suffered by his family in Estonia at the hands of the conquering Germans, and of the sorrows of his people. Yet never for a moment did this disturb the serene kindliness he felt towards his fellow men.
There is one man in London who tells how at a time of hardship he was repeatedly surprised to find money in his jacket pocket always after he had been playing chess until one day he found Diamond quietly placing it there while watching him play.
He passed into the Greater Consciousness suddenly, without warning, and without pain, and this great mercy was deserved for he was a good man.
[written by] B.H. [probably Brian Harley but just possibly Bruce Hayden – not, I think, BH Wood]
I'm wondering if Leonard might remember him from the Gambit.
