The Final Wicket: Fallen Cricketers of the World Wars

Did you know hundreds of international cricketers from across the Commonwealth lost their lives in the World Wars? Here we recount the stories of those who ran the crease and tread the battlefield but sadly lost their lives.

Cricketers at War

Cricket and the World Wars

Image: Australian soldiers play an improvised game of cricket at Shell Green, Gallipoli (© IWM HU 53370)

Much like professional rugby and professional football, really all professional sport, cricket was halted by the World Wars.

The game was and still is one of the most popular sports played by the Commonwealth nations. South Africa, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, and England in particular are huge exponents of cricket.

But with the onset of the World Wars, first-class cricket was called off in the major playing nations. Even far afield New Zealand, essentially untouched by the physical aspects of war, called off its cricket season in the First and Second World Wars. 

Allegedly, English cricket Legend W.G. Grace, who had called for the early cancellation of cricket matches during the First World War, used to shake his fist at passing zeppelins when they floated over his South London home.

While professional cricket was halted, the sport was still played globally during wartime. Exhibition matches were commonplace as a way to raise war funds and boost morale, for instance.

Soldiers are the front often used cricket to relax and unwind, or, in some cases, to unnerve the enemy.

There are reports of ANZAC soldiers playing an improvised game of cricket while under heavy shellfire at Shell Green, Gallipoli. The Australians were said to have oozed confidence and normality in the face of Ottoman opposition.

How many cricketers died in the World Wars?

Image: Men of the Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry pose with their cricket gear on the Salonika Front during the First World War (© IWM HU 89727)

With the popularity of the sport around the Commonwealth, it’s difficult to get a proper, accurate estimate.

Remember, the wars took in soldiers and servicemen from all walks of life and society. Many were likely keen amateur cricketers, playing at school, university, or local level.

However, if we look at First-Class and Test cricketers we can narrow it down.

According to historian Nigel McCrery, 275 professional cricketers lost their lives during the First World War, a mixture of First-Class and Test players.

Similar numbers were shown across the Commonwealth nations during the Second World War too.

Sportsmen often exhibit qualities that make them ideal soldiers: bravery; athleticism; teamwork. Unfortunately, that courage and competitiveness can put them further in the field of fire, as was the case with the heavy price paid by professional cricket players during these two global conflicts.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorates these fallen stars of crease, wicket and oval. They today rest either in a Commission war cemetery or commemorated on the name panels of a war memorial should they have no known grave.

Cricketers commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Hedley Verity

Image: A cigarette card portrait of Hedley Verity (Wikimedia Commons)

Born in Leeds, England, on 18 May 1905, Hedley Verity was a gentle, softly-spoken man. He was also one of the greatest cricketers of his generation.

Hedley’s statistics speak for themselves. He is widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest-ever slow-left-arm bowlers. 

In 40 test matches, Hedley took 144 wickets at 24.37. In all First-Class cricket, Hedley took 1,956 at an incredible rate of 14.9.

Some of Hedley’s greatest achievements for his club side, Yorkshire, include world-record innings analyses of 10 for 10, 10 for 36 and 9 for 12, and 7 for 9. The latter came during a test match against Sussex, two days after the outbreak of the Second World War.

For England, perhaps Hedley’s greatest moment came across Australia at Lord’s in 1934. Hedley gave the performance of a lifetime, taking 14 wickets in a single day, breaking yet another global record.

Come the Second World War, Hedley was serving with B Company, 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards). 

Unfortunately, one of England’s greatest-ever cricketers lost his life in combat.

Leading B Company forward across a Sicilian cornfield as Eighth Army pushed on during Operation Husky, Hedley was struck in the chest by a German bullet.

Eye-witness accounts say Hedley continued to urge his men onward but was captured as he lay wounded amidst the corn. Hedley was taken as a POW to mainland Italy where he succumbed to his wounds, aged 38.

Hedley Verity, one of England’s greatest bowlers, is buried at Caserta War Cemetery, Italy.

Reginald Oscar Schwarz

Image: Reggie Schwarz bowling circa 1905 (Wikimedia Commons)

Reginald Oscar Schwarz is one of a quarter of googly bowlers who helped pioneer the status of South African cricket during the Edwardian Era.

Reggie, as he was known, was born in England, and actually played as a rugby union player, earning three English caps, before emigrating to South Africa, concentrating on cricket.

Previously, Reggie had played a few games for Middlesex between 1901 and 1902.

In South Africa, Reggie played for Transvaal although it was not until he returned to England with the South African team in 1904 that he truly made his mark.

Reggie bowled googly as his stock ball delivery, winning considerable success. Between 1904 and 1907, Reggie topped the bowling averages. In 1907, for instance, he took 137 wickets at just 11.70.

Reggie’s playing career came to an end in 1912. Across his time as a First-Class cricketer, Reggie Schwarz took 398 wickets at a bowling average of 17.58. In tests, he took 55 wickets at 22.60.

At a non-test match against England at Lord’s in 1904, Schwarz scored his only First-Class century, scoring 102 runs.

On the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Reggie first served in the German South-West African campaign, earning the Military Cross for his battlefield conduct.

Later, Reggie was appointed as a Major in the 6th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps and transferred to France. He was twice wounded on the Western Front and was also Mentioned in Despatches for his exploits.

Reggie survived the hostilities but would never bowl a cricket ball ever again.

In a cruel twist of fate, Reggie contracted broncho-pneumonia and died on 18 November 1918, just seven days after the Armistice was signed. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.

Albert Cotter

Image: Tibby Cotter, circa 1905 (Wikimedia Commons)

Albert “Tibby” Cotter was an Australian fast bowler known for the blazing speed of his deliveries.

Despite a diminutive 5’8” frame, Albert’s slinging action made his bowling as deadly as it was rapid. Albert was a known breaker of stumps and was arguably the finest fast bowler of the early 20th century.

His speed was sensational although critics of Albert noted his control was sometimes lacking. In one test against England, Albert struck W.G. Grace on the body with a speedy delivery, much to the English legend’s consternation.

As a Test cricketer, Albert took 89 wickets across 21 Tests with a bowling average of 28.64. Albert’s total First Class tally came to 442 wickets at 24.27.
An incident in 1912 curtailed Albert’s international Test career.

Cotter was a member of the “Rebellious Six” – six Australian players who declared themselves unavailable for selection in the May 1912 Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament in England.

Following this rebellion, Albert never represented Australia in Test Matches ever again.

Albert joined the Australian Imperial Force in April 1915. The recruitment of a popular sportsman was a powerful propaganda coup for Australian recruiters. 
He was no great horseman, but Albert joined the 1st Australian Light Horse regiment. During his time in service, Albert took part in the Gallipoli Campaign before transferring to the 12th Light Horse and served in Palestine.

On 31 December 1917, the 12th Light Horse joined the 4th Light Horse Brigade at the Battle of Beersheba: a brilliantly daring cavalry charge that captured the town from Ottoman defenders, sweeping them aside in a storm of hoof and bullets.

Albert was actually serving as a stretcher bearer but participated in the cavalry charge. He was “shot from the saddle” and died shortly after. Today, Albert is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery. 

Colin (Charlie) Blythe

Image: Charlie Blythe circa 1905 (Wikimedia Commons)

For many, the Edwardian period up to the First World War is Cricket’s Golden Age. If you’re an English cricket fan, then you’ll no doubt believe Colin “Charlie” Blythe was one of the finest players in this high watermark for cricket.

Charlie’s stats speak for themselves. For Kent and England, the left-arm spin bowler racked up 2,503 wickets at an average of 16.81.

17 of those wickets came in a single day. Putting in one of his best bowling performances, Charlie took Northamptonshire to pieces with 10 for 30 and 7 for 18.

Across 19 tests, Charlie took an astonishing 100 wickets at 18.63. It’s believed Charlie’s nervous disposition and vulnerability to epileptic fits held back his England career.

You’d think epilepsy would have kept Charlie out of the war but, on the outbreak of the First World War, Charlie enlisted in 1914.

By 1917, Charlie had reached the rank of Sergeant, serving with the 12th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Charlie was present at the terrible Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele, working as a Royal Engineer building a military railway line.

Less than eight weeks later, Charlie was dead. On 8 November 1917, he was struck and killed by a German artillery shell.

Charlie was buried close to where he fell in Oxford Road Cemetery, Belgium.

His personal headstone inscription, chosen by his widow Gertrude, reads:

“IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR HUSBAND THE KENT & ENGLAND CRICKETER”

Vivian Alexander Chiodetti

Major Vivian Alexander Chiodetti is believed to be the only Indian first-class cricketer killed while serving in the World Wars.

Vivian was born in Rawalpindi on 31 May 1905. He joined the British Army in 1925 and was later commissioned as an officer in the Manchester Regiment in 1928.

A keen sportsman, Vivian made his only First-Class appearance while on leave in December 1931.

Taking up the bat for Hyderabad Cricket Association in the semi-final of the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup Tournament at Secunderabad, Vivian scored 15 and 73. 
By 1938, Vivian was attached to the Burma Defence Force and promoted to the acting rank of Major.

War arrived in Burma, present-day Myanmar, in early 1942. Vivian was leading C Company of the 3rd Battalion, Burma Rifles when he was killed in action at Tavoy on 17 January 1942.

Vivian has no known grave and so is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial to the Missing in Myanmar.

Discover more stories of the fallen with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

With our search tools, you can discover more stories of the Commonwealth’s war dead, who they are, and where they are commemorated.

Find War Dead is your solution for discovering casualties from around the world. Search by name, regiment, location, and many more fields, to discover these men and women.

Want to visit one of our sites or want to learn more about their historical context? Use our Find Cemeteries and Memorials tool to learn more about CWGC locations across the globe.