Geoffrey Cooke (cricketer)

Geoffrey Charles Sidney Bancroft Cooke (8 September 1897 – 4 December 1980) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. Initially serving in the First World War with the Royal Garrison Artillery, he later attended the University of Cambridge following the conclusion of the war. After completing his studies, he served in the Royal Artillery from 1922–1948, serving in the Second World War. He also played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team.

Geoffrey Cooke
Personal information
Full nameGeoffrey Charles Sidney Bancroft Cooke
Born8 September 1897
Westminster, London, England
Died4 December 1980(1980-12-04) (aged 83)
Sunningdale, Berkshire, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingUnknown
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 2
Runs scored 25
Batting average 12.50
100s/50s –/–
Top score 13
Balls bowled 217
Wickets 6
Bowling average 20.00
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 4/39
Catches/stumpings 3/–
Source: Cricinfo, 20 April 2019

Life and military career

The son of Lieutenant Colonel Sidney Fitzwyman Cooke and his wife, Alice Eliza Bancroft, he was born at Westminster and educated at Charterhouse School.[1] After completing his education at Charterhouse, he served in the First World War with the Royal Garrison Artillery, enlisting as a second lieutenant in October 1916.[2] After the war, he attended Pembroke College, Cambridge.[3]

He graduated from Pembroke in 1922, upon which he reenlisted with the Royal Artillery. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in September 1922.[4] He was seconded to the Experimental Establishment at Shoeburyness in April 1924.[5] He made his debut in first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team against the Royal Navy at Lord's in 1925, before making a second first-class appearance for the Army against Cambridge University at Fenner's in 1926.[6] He scored a total of 25 runs in his two matches,[7] as well as taking 6 wickets with best figures of 4 for 39.[8] He returned to the Royal Artillery in February 1928,[9] and attended the Gunnery Staff Course in September 1929,[10] during which he was promoted to the rank of captain in June 1930.[11]

He returned the Royal Artillery in January 1931,[12] but was seconded to the Pembroke Royal Garrison Artillery as an adjutant in November 1932.[13][14] He transferred to the Glamorgan Royal Garrison Artillery in December 1933.[15] He returned to Shoeburyness in November 1936,[16] and by August 1938 held the rank of major.[17] Having served in the Second World War, he retired from active service in May 1948, at which point he was granted the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel.[18] Cooke died in December 1980 at Sunningdale, Berkshire.

References
  1. "Player profile: Geoffrey Cooke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  2. "No. 28783". The London Gazette. 13 October 1916. p. 9874.
  3. The Cambridge University Calendar. University of Cambridge. 1922. p. 237.
  4. "No. 32804". The London Gazette. 9 March 1923. p. 1911.
  5. "No. 32935". The London Gazette. 13 May 1924. p. 3844.
  6. "First-Class Matches played by Geoffrey Cooke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  7. "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Geoffrey Cooke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  8. "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Geoffrey Cooke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  9. "No. 33353". The London Gazette. 3 February 1928. p. 763.
  10. "No. 33537". The London Gazette. 24 September 1929. p. 6101.
  11. "No. 33613". The London Gazette. 6 June 1930. p. 3570.
  12. "No. 33684". The London Gazette. 27 January 1931. p. 605.
  13. "No. 33889". The London Gazette. 6 December 1932. p. 7747.
  14. "No. 33890". The London Gazette. 9 December 1932. p. 7833.
  15. "No. 34005". The London Gazette. 15 December 1933. p. 8127.
  16. "No. 34343". The London Gazette. 24 November 1936. p. 7572.
  17. "No. 34538". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 August 1938. p. 5018.
  18. "No. 38301". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 May 1948. p. 3182.
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