Alexander Wilkinson
Alexander Wilkinson | |
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Second World War
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Awards | cricketer |
He also had a first-class cricket career lasting 27 years. He was regarded as one of the most consistent batsmen of his day, despite playing much of his career with a damaged right hand. The injury occurred when he was shot during the First World War, and he narrowly avoided having the hand amputated.[1]
Personal life
Born in
Army career
First World War and after
Wilkinson first joined the British Army as a second lieutenant on the unattached list of the Territorial Force, being commissioned on 18 August 1913.[4] Following the outbreak of the First World War, he was appointed a temporary second lieutenant in the Army Service Corps on 3 November 1914.[5]
On 6 January 1916 he was appointed a probationary
Lt. William Alexander Camac Wilkinson C. Gds., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in commanding his company with the utmost fearlessness and ability after his company commander had become a casualty. Having led them in the attack, he walked up and down during consolidation, regardless of the fact that enemy snipers were firing at very close range, urging his men to greater efforts so that they should get quickly under
cover. Later in the evening, he made a personal reconnaissance of a strong point, made his dispositions before dark, and subsequently led his company forward and captured it with the greatest dash and gallantry.
Wilkinson was also awarded a
Second World War
Recalled to the army with the start of the Second World War, Wilkinson was a temporary
14th Queen's was converted into
Wilkinson was still commanding 99th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment when on 13 May 1944, during the final stages of the
With the end of hostilities, Wilkinson was appointed to the military government in the British Zone in Austria, based in Graz, from July 1945. He was noted for his broadcasts, in German, on the local radio service, covering the province of Styria, of which Graz is the capital.[2] He continued in this role until his second retirement, on 5 July 1947, when he was granted the honorary rank of colonel.[26] The retirement was ostensibly because he had exceeded the age limit for service, but his obituary in The Times stated that it was due to his disagreement with the official policy of forcible repatriation to Russia.[2][26]
He made many subsequent visits to the region, and in 1977 was awarded the Grand Gold Medal of Honour by the Styrian provincial government. Shortly before his death, he attended a dinner given in his honour at Goodwood House by the then Landeshauptmann (provincial governor), Dr Joseph Krainer.[2]
Cricket career
Early career
Cricket information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowling | Right-arm Batsman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1914–1939 | Harlequins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1923 | Gentlemen of England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1913–1914 | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1912 | HK Foster's XI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First-class debut | 30 May 1912 HK Foster's XI v Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last First-class | 28 June 1939 MCC v Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 18 May 2008 |
A right-handed
He did, however, have a substantial first-class career, spanning more than a quarter of a century, making his debut for HK Foster's XI against Oxford University during the 1912 English cricket season. He played for the university against Foster's team the following year and played eight first-class matches for the university that year, gaining his blue when he played against Cambridge University at Lord's in July.[29]
Wilkinson played six more first-class matches for the university team in the 1914 season, including a match against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Lord's,[29] though he was eventually dropped from the team after having a poor season.[1]
Post-war
Wilkinson was shot in the right hand during the First World War, and almost had to have it amputated. That left him with little strength in the hand, though he could hold a bat with it. He was also unable to do much fielding on his right side. Despite these handicaps, he continued to play cricket,[1] playing 74 more first-class matches,[29] and he was never considered a liability in the field.[1]
His return to first-class cricket came in June 1919, when he played for the Free Foresters against both university teams. He also played for the MCC against Oxford University, and in July played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team for the first time, playing against the Royal Navy at Lord's.[29] He followed that with non-first-class matches for the Army against the RAF and for the MCC against Buckinghamshire.[28]
In the
The
That winter he went on an
Back in England, Wilkinson again played for the Army in first-class matches against both universities and the Royal Navy before playing in that year's Gentlemen v Players match at the Oval. The same matches for the Army were repeated in the season and he also played first-class cricket for the Combined Services against South Africa.[29]
The rest of the 1920s was filled with many matches for the Army against the same familiar opponents, though there were exceptions. Wilkinson played for the
In 1930, after playing for the Army against the RAF and the MCC, he played for the MCC against Wales. The following year, he played for the Free Foresters against Oxford University, for the Army against Oxford University and the RAF, and for the Combined Services against New Zealand, before playing his final first-class match for the Army against the MCC in August.[29] He captained the Army team for that match,[33] which was his last first-class game for almost three years.[29]
Later career
In April 1933, Wilkinson played twice for Egypt against HM Martineau's XI.[28] He captained the team in both matches[34] and scored a century in the second.[35] He resumed his first-class career in May 1934 with a match for the Free Foresters against Oxford University, and over the following five years was a regular for the Free Foresters and the MCC, usually playing first-class matches against the two university teams, though he also played for the MCC against Kent in the 1935 season. His last first-class match was for the MCC against Oxford University in June 1939.[29]
As well as his first-class matches, he also played for the MCC in minor matches. He played twice against Ireland in 1935 and 1937, against a Canadian XI in 1936, and against Scotland in 1939.[28] He continued playing club cricket after World War II and scored a century in his final game, which he reckoned to be his hundredth in all cricket.[1]
Statistics
In his 89 first-class matches, Wilkinson scored 4785
Golf
Wilkinson also represented the Household Brigade at golf,[39] and played for the Harlequins golf club.[40]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Alexander Wilkinson". Cricinfo. ESPN Sports Media Ltd. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Arthur Farrand Radley (26 September 1983). "Colonel A. C. Wilkinson". Obituaries. The Times. No. 61647. London. col G, p. 12.
- ^ "Marriages—Forthcoming Marriages". Marriages. The Times. No. 61647. London. 15 November 1919. col G, p. 12.
- ^ "No. 28747". The London Gazette. 19 August 1913. p. 5939.
- ^ "No. 28969". The London Gazette. 10 November 1914. pp. 9133–9134.
- ^ "No. 29428". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 January 1916. pp. 278–279.
- ^ "No. 30878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 August 1918. p. 10245.
- ^ "No. 30333". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 October 1917. p. 10551.
- ^ "No. 30308". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 September 1917. pp. 9972–9980.
- ^ "No. 30466". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1918. pp. 581–652.
- ^ "No. 32296". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 April 1921. p. 3168.
- ^ "No. 32238". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 February 1921. p. 1543.
- ^ "No. 32867". The London Gazette. 2 October 1923. p. 6582.
- ^ "No. 32985". The London Gazette. 24 October 1924. p. 7668.
- ^ "No. 33355". The London Gazette. 10 February 1928. p. 954.
- ^ "No. 33695". The London Gazette. 3 March 1931. p. 1451.
- ^ "No. 33702". The London Gazette. 27 March 1931. p. 2063.
- ^ "No. 33974". The London Gazette. 1 September 1933. p. 5731.
- ^ "No. 35213". The London Gazette. 8 July 1941. p. 3920.
- The National Archives(fee required to view full original recommendation). Accessed 2008-05-21.
- ^ "No. 35674". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 August 1942. p. 3647.
- ISBN 1-85753-099-3, p. 261.
- ^ 100th HAA Rgt War Diary 1943, The National Archives file WO 169/9853.
- ^ "No. 36710". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 September 1944. p. 4369.
- The National Archives(fee required to view full original recommendation). Accessed 2008-05-21.
- ^ a b "No. 38006". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1947. p. 3062.
- ^ a b c CricketArchive profile
- ^ a b c d e f g Other matches played by Alexander Wilkinson at CricketArchive
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n First-class matches played by Alexander Wilkinson at CricketArchive
- ^ MCC in Australia 1922/23 at CricketArchive
- ^ MCC in New Zealand 1922/23 at CricketArchive
- ^ New Zealand at CricketArchive
- ^ Scorecard of MCC v Army, 15 August 1931 at CricketArchive
- ^ Scorecard of Egypt v HM Martineau's XI, 20 April 1933 at CricketArchive
- ^ Scorecard of Egypt v HM Martineau's XI, 24 April 1933 at CricketArchive
- ^ First-class bowling for each team by Alexander Wilkinson at CricketArchive
- ^ First-class bowling against each opponent by Alexander Wilkinson at CricketArchive
- ^ First-class bowling in each season by Alexander Wilkinson at CricketArchive
- ^ "Golf—Household Brigade Tour". Sport. The Times. No. 45945. London. 5 October 1931. col A, p. 7.
- ^ "Golf—The Lord Warden Cup". Sport. The Times. No. 47455. London. 17 August 1936. col C, p. 6.