Harold Watson (cricketer, born 1893)

Harold Boyes Watson MC (23 October 1893 – 19 March 1972) was an English first-class cricketer and an officer in both the British Army and the British Indian Army.

Harold Watson

Personal information
Full name	Harold Boyes Watson
Born	23 September 1893 St Margarets, Middlesex, England
Died	19 March 1972 (aged 78) Thorpe Bay, Essex, England
Batting	Unknown
Bowling	Unknown
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1919	Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 1 Runs scored 2 Batting average 2.00 100s/50s –/– Top score 2 Balls bowled 48 Wickets 2 Bowling average 17.50 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling 2/35 Catches/stumpings –/–
Source: Cricinfo, 19 April 2020

Watson was born in October 1893 at St Margarets, Middlesex. He served in the First World War, being commissioned into the British Army as a second lieutenant with the West Yorkshire Regiment in August 1914.[1] He was second with the 26th Provisional Battalion in August 1915,[2] and upon its disbandment prior to the Military Service Act 1916, he became liable for overseas service.[3] He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in November 1916, precedence from July 1916.[4] In May 1917, he was seconded for duty with the British Indian Army,[5] where he served with 3rd Skinner's Horse. He saw action in Balochistan against the Marri and Khetran tribes in 1918. During a Marri attack on Gumbaz Fort on 19 December 1918, Watson was one of two officer's charged with the defence of the fort.[6] For his actions in the successful defence, he was awarded the Military Cross.[7] In March 1919, he was made a temporary captain.[8]

He returned to England in 1919 to study at Trinity College, Oxford.[9] While studying at Oxford, he made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Oxford University against Australian Imperial Forces at Oxford in 1919.[10] Batting once in the match, he scored 2 runs in the Oxford first innings before he was dismissed by Charlie Kelleway, while with the ball he took the wickets of Kelleway and Bert Oldfield in the Australian Imperial Forces first innings, conceding 35 runs.[11] He relinquished his commission in the West Yorkshire Regiment in September 1921, retaining the rank of captain.[12] After graduating from Oxford, Watson worked as an assistant education officer in Birmingham, before being appointed director of education for Southend in May 1931.[13] Watson died in March 1972 at Thorpe Bay, Essex.

References

1. "No. 28881". The London Gazette. 28 August 1914. p. 6808.
2. "No. 29263". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 August 1915. p. 8120.
3. Army Council Instructions, January 1916, Appendix 18.
4. "No. 29889". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1917. p. 188.
5. "No. 30090". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1917. p. 5081.
6. "Fighting the Marris and the Khetrans". www.kaiserscross.com. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
7. "No. 31245". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 March 1919. p. 3839.
8. "No. 31251". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 March 1919. p. 3893.
9. Oxford University Calendar. J.H. Parker, and H. Slatter. 1920. p. 303.
10. "First-Class Matches played by Harold Watson". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
11. "Oxford University v Australian Imperial Forces, 1919". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
12. "No. 32545". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 December 1921. p. 10090.
13. Educational Post Coinidence. Birmingham Daily Gazette. 7 May 1931. p. 5

External links

• Harold Watson at ESPNcricinfo