Eddie Crush
Encyclopedia
Edmund Crush (25 April 1917 – 9 June 2007) was an English cricketer playing for Kent (Kent County Cricket Club
) between 1946 and 1949.
Crush was born in Dover
on 25 April 1917, the youngest of seven brothers. He was educated at the Dover County School for Boys (Dover Grammar School for Boys
) in the 30's. He served during World War II with the Royal Engineers
. On D-Day
, he was a Subaltern and decorated with the Military Cross
for his actions during the fight for Caen
by Field Marshal Montgomery. His citation read: "As a result of his courage and determined leadership, anti-tank guns, troops and an anti-tank regiment of the Royal Artillery
were able to get up to the objective for consolidation at a very early stage in the battle."
Crush played First Class cricket for Kent as a right-arm fast/medium swing bowler, occasional seamer as well as a lower order batsman. The highlight of his career was dismissing Don Bradman in 1948 when Kent played the touring Australian Cricket Team
. Crush retired after the 1949 season.
Following his immediate post war playing career, Crush founded “Eddie Crush Sports Outfitters” which became a well known and successful business in his home down of Dover
. He remained an enthusiastic club cricketer during the 50’s playing for Dover Cricket Club and St Lawrence & Highland Court Cricket Club.
He married Dorothea Jennie Tolputt on Christmas Day 1955 at Lydden Church in Dover
, where many of Crush’s cricketing friends made a surprise visit to wish the couple well, including the then Kent Captain Doug Wright.
When he finally finished playing his beloved cricket, Crush retained very close links with the cricketing scene and devoted much of his personal time to helping young players appreciate the finer points of the game. Holding a MCC Advanced Coaching Certificate he spent many a happy Wednesday afternoon in the 60’s coaching aspiring players at the Dover College
.
Crush was known for his keen sense of humour and the playing of many practical jokes. During the late 60's "I'm Backing Britain
" campaign, Eddie patriotically decorated his sports shop with a centre piece window display proclaiming "I'm Backing Cowdrey", a reference to the Test Match being contested between England and Australia at the time where the England Captain was Colin Cowdrey
, another lifelong friend.
Crush fought hard to retain the First Class status of the Crabbel cricket pitch and ground in Dover
, but sadly his efforts were in vain when the County side finally withdrew in 1980 from playing at the then annual Dover Cricket Week fixture.
In his later life he served for many years as a Committee Member for the Kent County Cricket Club
. Given is natural sense of justice, fair play and knowledge of the game, Crush was invited to serve on the Test and County Cricket Board
(TCCB) Disciplinary Committee, which he did for many years in the mid 80’s. As well as being a lifelong member of the Kent County Cricket Club
he was also a member (President 1996–2007) of the Kent Hoppers Tie Club which was founded by his very dear cricketing friends Hopper Levett
and Les Ames
. Crush was also a member of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club
).
Crush also remained loyal to his military background and served in the 50’s as the Commanding Officer (Major) of a detachment of Royal Engineers Territorial Army Volunteer Reservists then based at Arch Cliff Fort in Dover
. Following his retirement from business life in the early 80’s he continued to serve as the Chairman of the Royal Engineers Association (Dover Branch) where he worked tirelessly to help ex-service personnel less fortunate than himself.
He died in 2007.
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
) between 1946 and 1949.
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
on 25 April 1917, the youngest of seven brothers. He was educated at the Dover County School for Boys (Dover Grammar School for Boys
Dover Grammar School for Boys
Dover Grammar School for Boys is a selective secondary school located in Dover, United Kingdom. The school is situated next to Astor College for the Arts, which is a non-selective school. It has a strong sporting rivalry with Astor and Sir Roger Manwood's School, a selective Grammar school in...
) in the 30's. He served during World War II with the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. On D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, he was a Subaltern and decorated with the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his actions during the fight for Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
by Field Marshal Montgomery. His citation read: "As a result of his courage and determined leadership, anti-tank guns, troops and an anti-tank regiment of the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
were able to get up to the objective for consolidation at a very early stage in the battle."
Crush played First Class cricket for Kent as a right-arm fast/medium swing bowler, occasional seamer as well as a lower order batsman. The highlight of his career was dismissing Don Bradman in 1948 when Kent played the touring Australian Cricket Team
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
. Crush retired after the 1949 season.
Following his immediate post war playing career, Crush founded “Eddie Crush Sports Outfitters” which became a well known and successful business in his home down of Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
. He remained an enthusiastic club cricketer during the 50’s playing for Dover Cricket Club and St Lawrence & Highland Court Cricket Club.
He married Dorothea Jennie Tolputt on Christmas Day 1955 at Lydden Church in Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, where many of Crush’s cricketing friends made a surprise visit to wish the couple well, including the then Kent Captain Doug Wright.
When he finally finished playing his beloved cricket, Crush retained very close links with the cricketing scene and devoted much of his personal time to helping young players appreciate the finer points of the game. Holding a MCC Advanced Coaching Certificate he spent many a happy Wednesday afternoon in the 60’s coaching aspiring players at the Dover College
Dover College
Dover College is a co-educational independent school in Dover in southeast England. It was founded in 1871, and takes both day pupils and boarders....
.
Crush was known for his keen sense of humour and the playing of many practical jokes. During the late 60's "I'm Backing Britain
I'm Backing Britain
I'm Backing Britain was a brief patriotic campaign aimed at boosting the British economy which flourished in early 1968. The campaign started spontaneously when five Surbiton secretaries volunteered to work an extra half an hour each day without pay in order to boost productivity, and urged others...
" campaign, Eddie patriotically decorated his sports shop with a centre piece window display proclaiming "I'm Backing Cowdrey", a reference to the Test Match being contested between England and Australia at the time where the England Captain was Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
, another lifelong friend.
Crush fought hard to retain the First Class status of the Crabbel cricket pitch and ground in Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, but sadly his efforts were in vain when the County side finally withdrew in 1980 from playing at the then annual Dover Cricket Week fixture.
In his later life he served for many years as a Committee Member for the Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
. Given is natural sense of justice, fair play and knowledge of the game, Crush was invited to serve on the Test and County Cricket Board
Test and County Cricket Board
The Test and County Cricket Board was established in 1968 to provide Test and county cricket in England, replacing the functions of the Board of Control for Test Matches and the Advisory County Cricket Committee. In 1992 Scotland severed their ties with the TCCB and England...
(TCCB) Disciplinary Committee, which he did for many years in the mid 80’s. As well as being a lifelong member of the Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
he was also a member (President 1996–2007) of the Kent Hoppers Tie Club which was founded by his very dear cricketing friends Hopper Levett
Hopper Levett
William Howard Vincent "Hopper" Levett . Educated at Brighton College, Hopper was an English cricketer who played in one Test in 1934. Levett was a gentleman farmer from an old Kentish family who owned hops farms for many years...
and Les Ames
Les Ames
Leslie Ethelbert George Ames, CBE was an outstanding wicket-keeper and batsman for the England cricket team and Kent County Cricket Club. In his obituary, the Wisden of 1991 described him as the greatest wicket-keeper-batsman of all time...
. Crush was also a member of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
).
Crush also remained loyal to his military background and served in the 50’s as the Commanding Officer (Major) of a detachment of Royal Engineers Territorial Army Volunteer Reservists then based at Arch Cliff Fort in Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
. Following his retirement from business life in the early 80’s he continued to serve as the Chairman of the Royal Engineers Association (Dover Branch) where he worked tirelessly to help ex-service personnel less fortunate than himself.
He died in 2007.