Arthur Cocks (cricketer)

The son of George Arthur Cocks and his wife, Annie Violet Cocks, he was born in British India at Dharamshala.[1] Cocks was educated in England at Bedford School, where he played cricket for the school team.[1] He played minor counties cricket for Bedfordshire in 1924, making a single appearance in the Minor Counties Championship.[2] After leaving Bedford, he decided on a career in the army and attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.[1] He graduated from Woolwich in January 1925, entering into the Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant.[3] He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in January 1927.[4] In May of the same year he made his debut in first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team against Oxford University at Oxford, before making a second appearance in June against Cambridge University at Fenner's.[5] He scored 30 runs in his two first-class appearances,[6] while with the ball he bowled a total of 51 wicketless overs.[7]

He married Majorie Du Caurroy Chads in 1932 and shortly after served in British Burma,[1] where he was stationed at Rangoon. He returned to England in 1936, where he was promoted to the rank of captain in January,[8] before being seconded to the War Office as a staff captain in December 1937.[9] He relinquished his appointment at the war office in January 1939.[10] He served in the Second World War with the Royal Engineers, during which he was promoted to the rank of major in January 1942,[11] with a further promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel.[1] On D-Day he landed at Sword Beach with the 5th Assault Regiment, known as the 'Hobart's Funnies', in the course of which he was killed in action.[1] He was the first British officer to be killed on D-Day.[1] His body was returned to England and buried at St. Peter's Church, Frimley.

• Arthur Cocks at ESPNcricinfo