David Gwynne-James
Personal information | |||||||||||||||
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Full name | David John Gwynne-James | ||||||||||||||
Born | 12 June 1937 Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales | ||||||||||||||
Died | 11 November 2011 London, England | (aged 74)||||||||||||||
Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||
Bowling | Right-arm medium-fast | ||||||||||||||
Career statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 25 December 2018 |
David John Gwynne-James (12 June 1937 − 11 November 2011) was a
Early life and military career
Gwynne-James was born at Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, to Brigadier J Gwynne-James DSO, and later educated at Cheltenham College.[1] He was regarded as an outstanding cricketer playing in the college's first team for four years and captaining it for two. He also played in the college's rugby team for three years and its hockey team for two.[2]
From Cheltenham Gwynne-James attended the
Gwynne-James was promoted to captain on 2 August 1963.[6] He returned to the 1st battalion of the KSLI in 1965 as adjutant in postings at Portsmouth and Singapore. Gywnne-James was given command of the unit's Training Company and then C Company during deployment to Terendak in Malaysia as part of the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade.[2] He returned to the UK in 1968 and transferred to The Light Infantry when the KSLI was amalgamated that same year.[7] He joined the staff at Sandhurst as an instructor and Light Infantry representative.[2] Gwynne-James was appointed commander of the academy's Dettingen Company before he retired from the army on 1 September 1970.[2][7]
Sporting career
Gwynne-James played a single first-class cricket match for the Free Foresters against Oxford University at Oxford in 1961.[8] Batting twice in the match, he scored 29 runs in the Free Foresters' first-innings, before being dismissed by Colin Drybrough, while in their second-innings he was dismissed by the same bowler for 11 runs.[9] Gwynne-James was a keen sportsman and represented the 1st Battalion KSLI in cricket, rugby, hockey, squash, skiing and athletics.[2] He played for the British Army cricket team for five seasons between 1959 and 1968 and captained them in 1961 and 1962. He also played for the Combined Services cricket team.[2] He played rugby for Harlequin F.C. in 1959 and 1960 as a fly-half and also with their affiliates Kenya Harlequin F.C. whilst on deployment.[2][10] Gywnne-James was also a climber, having climbed the Matterhorn in 1963, and led at least one of the KSLI's mountaineering expeditions.[2]
Later life
When Gwynne-James left the army he worked at Ernst & Young for around twenty years, first as director of estate management then director of administration and finally as director of personnel.[2] From 1991 to 2004 he was managing director of his own management consultancy (Gwynne-James Associates). He also lectured in business management, served as a mentor for the Prince's Trust and as president of the Essex Playing Fields Association. Gwynne-James administered the KSLI plot at the Westminster Abbey field of remembrance and attended numerous KSLI and Light Infantry reunions.[2]
Gwynne-James wrote a number of books documenting his experiences serving in the army and his family's service in the military.
References
- ^ "Player profile: David Gwynne-James". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n The Cheltonian Association (January 2012). "Floreat 12 – Obituary Supplement". No. 3. p. 7. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ "No. 41191". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 1957. p. 5760.
- ^ "No. 41780". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 July 1959. p. 4879.
- S2CID 159687927.
- ^ "No. 43071". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 July 1963. p. 6527.
- ^ a b "No. 45182". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 August 1970. p. 9681.
- ^ "First-Class Matches played by David Gwynne-James". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
- ^ "Oxford University v Free Foresters, 1961". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
- ^ Benson, Mike. "Kenya Harlequin FC: An old member recalls ..." Rugby Network.
- ^ a b c Malone, Sam (26 July 2012). "Welsh Army veteran robbed as he lay dying after a heart attack". Wales Online. Retrieved 25 December 2018.