Cecil Banes-Walker

Frederick Cecil Banes-Walker (19 June 1888 – 9 May 1915) was an English first-class cricketer who played five matches for Somerset County Cricket Club. He also played rugby for Clifton Rugby Football Club, and hockey for Gloucestershire. He was killed in action during the First World War.[1]

Cecil Banes-Walker
Personal information
Full nameFrederick Cecil Banes-Walker
Born(1888-06-19)19 June 1888
North Petherton, Somerset, England
Died9 May 1915(1915-05-09) (aged 26)
Aubers Ridge, near Fleurbaix, Pas-de-Calais, France
BattingRight-hand
RoleBatsman
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1914Somerset
First-class debut9 July 1914 Somerset v Kent
Last First-class31 August 1914 Somerset v Essex
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 5
Runs scored 172
Batting average 19.11
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 40
Catches/stumpings 3
Source: CricketArchive, 26 October 2009

Cricket career

Known as Cecil Banes-Walker, he made his name at Long Ashton Cricket Club.[2] He made his first-class debut in July 1914 in Gravesend against Kent. Batting at number nine, he made 5 and 28 in a nine wicket loss.[3] For his next match against Yorkshire, he was promoted to number three as Somerset fell for just 90 runs, chasing Yorkshire's 372. Following on, Banes-Walker remained not out on 15, and Somerset lost by an innings.[4] His home debut brought another loss, Worcestershire the recipients this time, claiming a ten wicket victory, Banes-Walker's 8 and 23 while batting at number eight doing little to affect the match.[5] His highest score came against Hampshire, as he hit 40 in the first innings at the County Ground, Southampton.[6] Somerset lost by an innings again, and Banes-Walker finished his first-class career win-less as Essex eased to a ten-wicket victory in his final match.[7]

Military service

On the outbreak of the First World War, Banes-Walker enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment as a private, but shortly after was gazetted into the 3rd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 7 October 1914.[8][9] He later completed a machine-gun course, and was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment as a machine-gun officer in March 1915.[10] On 9 May 1915 the British launched the Battle of Aubers Ridge. The 2nd Devons were not involved in the assault, but seem to have been ordered into the front British trenches in support. The battalion's war diary records that as they were moving up, they came under heavy German artillery and machine-gun fire, and that between 6:45 and 7:30 Banes-Walker was killed, along with another second lieutenant. Four other second lieutenants were injured at the same time.[11][12] On 19 May, The Bridgwater Mercury reported that his father received intelligence that his son had been killed.[10] Banes-Walker was buried at Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France.[13][14]

References
  1. "Cricketers who died in World War 1 — Part 1 of 5". Cricket Country. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  2. "Wisden — Obituaries in 1915". Wisden. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  3. "Kent v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  4. "Yorkshire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  5. "Somerset v Worcestershire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  6. "Hampshire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  7. "Somerset v Essex". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  8. "OFFICER CASUALTIES OF THE TWO WORLD WARS". Dix Noonan Webb. 27 June 2002. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  9. "No. 28926". The London Gazette. 6 October 1914. p. 7926.
  10. "Somerset officer killed". The Bridgwater Mercury. from online extract on Clifton Rugby Football Club website. 19 May 1915. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  11. "War Diaries—Image details—23 Infantry Brigade: 2 Battalion Devonshire Regiment 1914 Nov. – 1919 Apr" (fee usually required to view pdf of full original war diary). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. p. 36. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  12. Baker, Chris (1996–2009). "The 8th Division in 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  13. "Casualty details—Banes Walker, Frederick Cecil". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  14. "2nd Lt Walker Fredrick Cecil Banes". Find a Grave. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
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