As the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War approaches, trying to find out how many Yorkshire cricketers made the ultimate sacrifice.
Certainly, cricket suffered a disproportionate number of deaths (one study noted that almost one in six of the 210 county players who served were killed)
Which notable YORKSHIRE cricketers were killed during the "Great" War? Can anyone help in finding this information?
There is a memorial near the gates/turnstiles at the Kirkstall Lane End but I cannot recall the details. Suspect HV was the only 2nd world war causualty from the YCCC playing staff.
Last year I visited the grave of Lt (Major)William Booth, killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme fighting with the the Leeds Pals. He is buried at Serre Road No 1. I'm sure there must be other YCCC players.
There seems to be some confusion here. The player in question was always known as Major Booth, not William. His full name was Major William Booth. The 'Major' is not a military rank but a Christian name, deriving I think from his mother's family. I think I'm right in saying there's a joint biography of Major Booth and Alonzo Drake by Stephen Pope.
...in that when I was at Cahterbury for our game in July I was looking at the memorial to Colin Blythe just as you enter the ground.However in the pavillion there was a small exhibition relating to the War Graves Commision and its work.There was a feature comparing Colin Blythe and Hedley Verity and it made mention of Hedley's final Championship game,when he took 7 for 9 at Hove.There were various pamphlets etc relating to the WGC which included a photograph of Hedley's grave.I found it very humbling just looking at this little exhibition.