Norman Grace

Norman Vere Grace DL (31 July 1894 – 20 February 1975) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Navy officer.

Norman Grace
Personal information
Full nameNorman Vere Grace
Born31 July 1894
Thornbury, Gloucestershire,
England
Died20 February 1975(1975-02-20) (aged 80)
Amberley, Gloucestershire,
England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm slow
RelationsSee: Grace family
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 3
Runs scored 25
Batting average 5.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 14
Balls bowled 157
Wickets 7
Bowling average 16.28
5 wickets in innings 1
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 5/69
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 25 September 2019

A member of the famous cricketing Grace family, he was born to the Test cricketer E. M. Grace in July 1894 at Thornbury, Gloucestershire.[1] He was educated at Wellington College,[2] before joining the Royal Navy. He graduated from Britannia Royal Naval College in 1912, entering into service as a midshipman.[3] Grace served in the navy during the First World War, during the latter stages of which he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.[4] Following the war he played first-class cricket for the Royal Navy against the British Army cricket team at Lord's in 1920, claiming five wickets on debut.[5][6] Three years later in December 1923, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander.[7] He made two further first-class appearances for the Royal Navy against the Army in 1923 and 1927,[5] though he took only a further two wickets in these matches.[8] In July 1929, he was promoted to the rank of commander,[9] before being promoted to the rank of captain in June 1937.[10]

Grace served during the Second World War, captaining firstly the minelayer HMS Adventure from 1940–42, for which he was mentioned in dispatches,[11] and later the heavy cruiser HMS Berwick between January–August 1944.[3] From September 1944 to January 1946, he commanded HMS Vernon when it was based at Roedean School and oversaw its return to Portsmouth after the war.[12] After relinquishing his command of Vernon, Grace was appointed as a naval aide-de-camp to George VI in February 1946.[13] Four months later he retired from active service.[14] He later served as a deputy lieutenant for Gloucestershire in 1960.[15] Grace died in February 1975 at Amberley, Gloucestershire. He had married Lilla Marguerite Spiller in County Cork in 1932, with the couple having two sons.[2]

References
  1. "Wisden - Obituaries in 1975". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  2. "Dr Edward Mills Grace of Thornbury". www.thornburyroots.co.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  3. "Norman Vere Grace, RN". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  4. "No. 30551". The London Gazette. 1 March 1918. p. 2636.
  5. "First-Class Matches played by Norman Grace". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  6. "Army v Royal Navy, 1920". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  7. "No. 32889". The London Gazette. 18 December 1923. p. 8820.
  8. "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Norman Grace". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  9. "No. 33513". The London Gazette. 2 July 1929. p. 4361.
  10. "No. 34414". The London Gazette. 2 July 1937. p. 4247.
  11. "No. 35841". The London Gazette. 29 December 1942. p. 26.
  12. "An account of HMS VERNON (R)". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  13. "No. 37487". The London Gazette. 1 March 1946. p. 1187.
  14. "No. 37674". The London Gazette. 2 August 1946. p. 3938.
  15. "No. 41960". The London Gazette. 19 February 1960. p. 1294.
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