To commemorate the centenary of Armistice Day this Sunday 11 November, ECB has launched Cricket Remembers, a campaign to remember the cricketers who fought in the First World War.
Hampshire’s list of those who lost their lives in the war (24 names) is lengthy for the simple reason that many of their cricketers were servicemen who had been based in the area and played for the county.
The most notable had been Brigadier-General R.M.Poore, who played for the county between 1898 and 1906, enjoying a glorious summer in 1899 when he stroked 1551 runs for Hampshire at 91.23, including an innings of 304 against Somerset at Taunton.
Another military figure who stood out was Brigadier-General A.C. Johnston DSO, MC (1884-1952), who resumed cricket in peacetime although left with wounds which hampered his running. To their shame, the authorities decided that this career soldier should not be allowed a runner. He had hit 10 first-class hundreds and had been chosen for Gentlemen v Players.
Another with a distinguished war record was Major A.J.(John/Jack) Evans, who played seven times as an irregular for Hampshire between 1908 and 1920 (and in 36 matches for Kent from 1921 to 1928).
Although his average in his 90 first-class matches was no more than 24.64, this Winchester-educated amateur was chosen by England for the Lord’s Test match of 1921 against the rampaging Australians.
While he sat on the balcony awaiting his turn to bat against the fearsome Gregory and McDonald it was observed that his knees were knocking, something of a surprise for one whose war record of escaping several times from German prisoner-of-war camps was renowned. Evans managed only 18 runs in his two Test innings.
Hampshire had their best ever season in 1914, winning 13 and drawing 11 of their 28 Championship matches. But venues were disrupted as war loomed, Portsmouth no longer available, Bournemouth and Southampton being used instead.
First-Class Hampshire cricketers who lost their lives in the First World War
Sir Evelyn Ridley Bradford born Goonah, India, April 16, 1869; died Bucy-le-Long, Soissons, France, September 14, 1914. Colonel Seaforth Highlanders. Educated Eton. Hampshire 8 matches 1895-1905: 311 runs at 25.91, HS 102; 20 wickets at 16.40: best 6 for 28 (fast bowler).
Arthur Maitland Byng born Southsea, October 26, 1872; died Vailly, France, September 14, 1914. Captain Royal Engineers. Hampshire 3 matches 1905; 5 matches for Jamaica 1896-97: 252 runs at 16.80; 7 wickets at 24.00. Came from a cricket family.
John Thomas Gregory born Eckington, Chesterfield, April 22, 1887; died Zonnebeke, Belgium, November 27, 1914. RFMN King’s Royal Rifles. Slow left-armer who took all 10 wickets in inter-regiment match at Aldershot 1913. Hampshire 1 match 1913: no runs or wickets.
Geoffrey Percy Robert Toynbee born Paddington, May 18, 1885; died Ploegstraete, Armentieres, France, November 15, 1914. Captain Rifle Brigade. Educated Winchester. Hampshire 2 matches, one for MCC 1912: 18 runs at 6.00. High scorer at Sandhurst and for Green Jackets.
George Amelius Crawshay Sandeman born Westminster, April 18, 1883; died Zonnebeke, Belgium, April 26, 1915. Captain 3 Battalion Hampshire Regiment. Educated Eton. Left-hander: half of his 6 matches were for Hampshire in 1913: 18 first-class runs at 4.50; 5 wickets at 48.40.
Bernard Maynard Lucas Brodhurst born Benares, India, August 6, 1873; died St Juliens, Ypres, April 27, 1915. Major 4th Ghurka Rifles. Educated Clifton College. Fast-medium bowler 0 for 23; 9 runs in sole innings.
Kenneth Herbert Clayton Woodroffe born Lewes, December 9, 1892; died Neuve Chapelle, May 13, 1915. 2nd Lieutenant 6 Battalion Rifle Brigade and 2nd Welsh Regiment. Educated Marlborough. Hampshire 2 matches 1912-13; Cambridge University blue 1913-14; Sussex 1914. Fast bowler: 55 wickets at 27.27; best 6 for 43. In 18 first-class matches scored 172 runs at 8.19.
Gordon Belcher born Brighton, September 26, 1885; died Richebourg, L’Avoue, Belgium, May 16, 1915. Captain 3/1 Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment. Educated Brighton College. Military Cross. Hampshire 1 match 1905: no runs or wickets.
James Frederick Sutcliffe born Medway, Kent, December 12, 1876; died Helles, Gallipoli, July 14, 1915. Lieutenant Royal Marine Light Infantry. Hampshire 1 match 1911: 24 runs in 2 innings.
Cecil Howard Palmer born Eastbourne, July 14, 1873; died Gallipoli, July 26, 1915. Educated Radley and Eastbourne. Lieutenant-Colonel 9th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Hampshire 8 matches 1899-1907; one match for Worcestershire 1904: thus played for two counties in one season. Regular soldier.
Maxmillian David Francis Wood born Kamptee, India, February 22, 1873; died Gallipoli, August 22, 1915. Lieutenant-Colonel West Yorkshire Regiment. DSO. Educated Wellington. Played in India for Europeans; one match Hampshire 1907: 10 first-class matches: 196 runs at 10.31; 34 wickets at 14.20; final match for Leveson Gower’s XI 1909.
Arthur Jaques born Shanghai, March 7, 1888; died Loos, France, September 27, 1915. Educated Aldenham. Captain 12th West Yorkshire Regiment. MCC to West Indies 1912-13; 49 matches for Hampshire 1913-14: 60 first-class matches 982 runs at 12.75; 40 catches; 175 wickets at 21.91; best 8 for 21. Took 117 wickets at 18.69 in 1914. Pioneer of leg-theory bowling. Took 112 wickets (18.26) in 1914 season.
Francis Hugh Bacon born Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), June 24, 1869; died off Belgian coast, October 31, 1915 (ship struck mine). Royal Navy Reserve. Educated St Augustine’s, Canterbury. In 75 matches for Hampshire scored 1909 runs at 15.77, with one century, and 6 wickets at 31.67. In a non-first-class match against Worcestershire in 1894 he scored 114 in 130 minutes. Was Hampshire’s secretary from 1903 until his death.
Alexander Gordon Cowie born Lymington, February 27, 1889; died Amara, Mesopotamia, April 7, 1916. Captain Seaforth Highlanders. Educated Charterhouse. Cambridge blue 1910. Hampshire 2 matches 1910. Erratic but unusually fast bowler: 2 wides and 2 wickets in his opening over of the 1910 Varsity match. Final first-class match was for Army 1913. Took 58 wickets at 24.05: best 6 for 87.
Cecil Halliday Abercrombie born Mozufferpore, India, April 12, 1886; died Jutland (HMS Defence), May 31, 1916. Lieutenant Royal Navy. Educated Berkhamsted. Hampshire 13 matches 1913. Century for Navy v Army, Lord’s 1912 and 126 on Hampshire debut against Oxford University in 1913. Scotland rugby international. Killed aboard HMS Defence during the War’s greatest sea battle.
Alban Charles Phidias Arnold born Tattenhall, Cheshire, November 19, 1892; died Ovilliers La Boiselle, France, July 7, 1916. 2nd Lieutenant Royal Fusiliers. Educated Malvern. Hampshire 16 matches 1912-14; Cambridge University blue 1914. Batsman-wicketkeeper. 836 first-class runs in 22 matches at 25.33; 13 catches, 2 stumpings.
Herbert James Rogers born Frimley, Surrey, March 6, 1893; died Somme, October 12, 1916. Lance corporal 7 Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. Hampshire 7 matches 1912-14: left-hand batsman, off-spinner: 69 runs at 5.75; 1 wicket for 62.
Charles Henry Yaldren born Southampton, December 8, 1891; died Thiepval, France, October 23, 1916. Private Hampshire Regiment. Hampshire 1 match 1912: 8 runs and 1 wicket for 60.
Robert William Fairey Jesson born Southampton, June 17, 1886; died Kut, Mesopotamia, February 22, 1917. Major Wiltshire Regiment. Educated Sherborne. Hampshire 14 matches 1907-10; Oxford University 1908. Leg-spinner: 21 wickets at 25.14 in 15 first-class matches; 198 runs at 8.25.
Cecil Herbert Bodington born Suffield, Norfolk, January 20, 1880; died Arras, France, April 11, 1917. Captain Household Battalion. Educated Charterhouse and King’s, Canterbury. Hampshire 10 matches 1901-02: 154 runs at 11.00; 9 wickets at 31.88.
Harold Thomas Forster born Winchester, November 14, 1878; died Bouleuse Ridge, France, May 29, 1918. Major Royal Berkshire Regiment. Left-arm slow-medium bowler: Hampshire 5 matches 1911: 9 for 92 on debut; 10 wickets (21.20) in all. Colour sergeant in Royal Berkshire Regiment. Earned more gallantry awards than any other first-class cricketer: DSO and bar, MC and bar, five times Mentioned in Despatches.
Henry Wilfred Persse born Portswood, Southampton, September 19, 1885; died St Omer, France, June 28, 1918. Major Royal Fusiliers. His brother was killed four months later. Fast bowler: Hampshire 51 matches 1905-09: 127 wickets at 30.02; best 6 for 64; 889 runs at 11.69; 40 catches.
John Hugh Gunner born Bishops Waltham, May 17, 1884; died Kemmel, Belgium, August 9, 1918. Captain Yeomanry attached to Hampshire Regiment. Educated Marlborough. Hampshire 6 matches: 65 runs at 8.12; 4 catches.
Bertram Sutton Evans born Charterhouse, Godalming, December 17, 1872; died Paris, March 2, 1919. Captain HMS Europa. Hampshire 5 matches 1900-1909: 67 runs at 11.16; 2 catches. Cricket limited by naval career.
