Edward Williams (cricketer, born 1892)
Encyclopedia
Brigadier
Edward Stephen Bruce Williams CBE
(2 November 1892 – 20 January 1977) was a distinguished British Army
officer whose career spanned 35 years. He also an English
cricket
er. Williams was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm slow
and who occasionally kept wicket
.
, Devon
, the son of Major-General Sir Hugh Bruce Williams and Mabel Heward. He was later educated at Winchester College
. There he played for the college cricket team. Following this he undertook his military training at Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, becoming a commissioned officer with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 20 September 1911, and being assigned to The Rifle Brigade.
. With the start of the First World War in 1914, Williams initially served with the rifles in France
and Belgium
from August to October 1914. He spent a brief period time with the Royal Corps of Signals
in April 1915. It was also in May 1915 that he was promoted to Captain
, while seeing action in the Gallipoli Campaign. From October 1915 to March 1916, he served in Egypt
. From the 14 March 1916 to June 1916, Williams was a General Staff Officer, 3rd grade with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
. He returned to the Western Front
in June 1916, where in the course of duty he was wounded twice. In 1917, he was awarded the Légion d'honneur
and mentioned in dispatches to this degree. He returned to England in February 1918, where he was a Brigade Major in the Home Forces, where he ended the war.
He served shortly after the war in Iraq
, where took part in military action to put down the Iraqi revolt against the British
, for which he received a medal for. Two years later, in 1920, Williams was in charge of an Officer Company of Gentlemen Cadets at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
, a role he undertook for four years. Williams continued with the training theme, when in January 1929 he undertook dueies as a General Staff Officer for weapon training at Aldershot Command
. 1930 saw him promoted to Battalion Major, two years later he became a full major. 1930 also saw him take up a post which was to last four years with the Oxford University Contingent, Officer Training Corps. While undertaking the role he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
, gaining the rank fully four years later in 1938. Williams served in Malta
in 1937, in 1938 he became the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles Brigade. He went on to lead them in operations in British Palestine.
With World War II
underway, 1940 saw yet another promotion for Williams, this time to the rank of Colonel. He served briefly from 22 January to 31 January 1940 as the acting Commander of the 7th Support Group
. In February 1940, he was promoted to Acting Brigadier
and placed in command of the 182nd Infantry Brigade from February 1940 to July 1941. Williams was honoured in George VI
's birthday honours, bestowing him a CBE
which he received on 2 June 1943. In July 1941, Williams was a part of the Brigadier General Staff for Scottish Command
, a role he held until 20 April 1943. Later in 1944, Williams became part of the Brigadier General Staff in the East Africa Command
, a position he held from 14 February 1944 to 1946. Following the end of the war, Williams was granted the rank of Honorary Brigadier on 30 December 1946, the date of which he retired from active service.
debut. This came in 1922 for the Combined Services
against Essex
. He played cricket on a first-class level not only for the Combined Services, but also for the British Army
, who he played for on 22 occasions, as well as captaining
them in some matches. Williams was an able batsman, were it not for his military career it can be assumed he would have played county cricket
to some degree. In 22 matches for the Army, he 1,630 runs at a batting average
of 45.27, which made him one of the Army's stand out players of the twenties. He made three centuries
and seven half centuries for the Army. Williams had two stand out first-class seasons with the bat, scoring 366 runs in five innings at an average of 73.20. In that season
he scored his maiden double century against Oxford University
when opening the batting in the Army first-innings. His other standout season came in 1928 when he scored 344 runs at an average of 114.66, including his second double century and highest first-class score of 228. This came for the Army against the Royal Navy
.
Williams additionally played first-class cricket for the Free Foresters
to some degree of success, in just three first-class matches for them he scored 220 runs an average of 44.00, with a single century score of 142. His highest score for the Foresters came against Oxford University in 1933. He also played a single first-class match for the Marylebone Cricket Club
in 1933, against Oxford University. Outside of the first-class game, he played two Minor Counties Championship matches for Devon
in 1930 against the Surrey Second XI
and the Kent Second XI
.
. Williams' father died in 1942, the London Gazette made note of Williams making a claim for part of his fathers estate.
Williams died in Winchester
, Hampshire
on 20 January 1977.
Brigadier (United Kingdom)
Brigadier is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines.Brigadier is the superior rank to Colonel, but subordinate to Major-General....
Edward Stephen Bruce Williams CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(2 November 1892 – 20 January 1977) was a distinguished British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer whose career spanned 35 years. He also an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. Williams was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm slow
Spin bowling
Spin bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. Practitioners are known as spinners or spin bowlers.-Purpose:The main aim of spin bowling is to bowl the cricket ball with rapid rotation so that when it bounces on the pitch it will deviate, thus making it difficult for the...
and who occasionally kept wicket
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
.
Early life
Williams was born in PinhoePinhoe
Pinhoe is a village on the north eastern outskirts of Exeter in the English county of Devon, which was incorporated into the city in 1966. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,108 people resident within Pinhoe Ward , one of 18 wards comprising the City of Exeter...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, the son of Major-General Sir Hugh Bruce Williams and Mabel Heward. He was later educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. There he played for the college cricket team. Following this he undertook his military training at Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, becoming a commissioned officer with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 20 September 1911, and being assigned to The Rifle Brigade.
Military career
Williams received his first promotion on 17 April 1913, to that of a LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. With the start of the First World War in 1914, Williams initially served with the rifles in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
from August to October 1914. He spent a brief period time with the Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
in April 1915. It was also in May 1915 that he was promoted to Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
, while seeing action in the Gallipoli Campaign. From October 1915 to March 1916, he served in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. From the 14 March 1916 to June 1916, Williams was a General Staff Officer, 3rd grade with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
Egyptian Expeditionary Force
The Egyptian Expeditionary Force was formed in March 1916 to command the British and British Empire military forces in Egypt during World War I. Originally known as the 'Force in Egypt' it had been commanded by General Maxwell who was recalled to England...
. He returned to the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
in June 1916, where in the course of duty he was wounded twice. In 1917, he was awarded the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and mentioned in dispatches to this degree. He returned to England in February 1918, where he was a Brigade Major in the Home Forces, where he ended the war.
He served shortly after the war in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, where took part in military action to put down the Iraqi revolt against the British
Iraqi revolt against the British
The Iraqi Revolt against the British , or the Great Iraqi Revolution of 1920, started in Baghdad in the summer of 1920 with mass demonstrations of both Sunni and Shia, including protests by embittered officers from the old Ottoman army, against the policies of British Acting Civil Commissioner Sir...
, for which he received a medal for. Two years later, in 1920, Williams was in charge of an Officer Company of Gentlemen Cadets at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, a role he undertook for four years. Williams continued with the training theme, when in January 1929 he undertook dueies as a General Staff Officer for weapon training at Aldershot Command
Aldershot Command
-History:After the success of the Chobham Manoeuvres of 1853, a permanent training camp was established at Aldershot in 1854 on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief, Viscount Hardinge...
. 1930 saw him promoted to Battalion Major, two years later he became a full major. 1930 also saw him take up a post which was to last four years with the Oxford University Contingent, Officer Training Corps. While undertaking the role he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, gaining the rank fully four years later in 1938. Williams served in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
in 1937, in 1938 he became the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles Brigade. He went on to lead them in operations in British Palestine.
With World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
underway, 1940 saw yet another promotion for Williams, this time to the rank of Colonel. He served briefly from 22 January to 31 January 1940 as the acting Commander of the 7th Support Group
7th Support Group (United Kingdom)
.The 7th Support Group was a brigade size formation within the British 7th Armoured Division.-History:The 7th Support Group provided whatever support the division's armoured brigades needed for the operation in hand...
. In February 1940, he was promoted to Acting Brigadier
Brigadier (United Kingdom)
Brigadier is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines.Brigadier is the superior rank to Colonel, but subordinate to Major-General....
and placed in command of the 182nd Infantry Brigade from February 1940 to July 1941. Williams was honoured in George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
's birthday honours, bestowing him a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
which he received on 2 June 1943. In July 1941, Williams was a part of the Brigadier General Staff for Scottish Command
Scottish Command
-History:The Command was established in 1905 at Edinburgh Castle but moved to Craigiehall in the early 1950s.Since 1936 the General Officer Commanding Scottish Command has also always been appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle....
, a role he held until 20 April 1943. Later in 1944, Williams became part of the Brigadier General Staff in the East Africa Command
East Africa Command
-History:The formation was essentially an expansion of the East Africa Force which came into being in August 1940. It was reformed as a Command in September 1941 by General Sir William Platt and covered North East Africa, East Africa and British Central Africa. It established its own intelligence...
, a position he held from 14 February 1944 to 1946. Following the end of the war, Williams was granted the rank of Honorary Brigadier on 30 December 1946, the date of which he retired from active service.
Cricket
Williams was an able sportsman, taking a particular interest in cricket. Having played cricket for Winchester College in 1909 and 1910, it would not be until after the First World War that he would make his first-classFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut. This came in 1922 for the Combined Services
Combined Services cricket team
The Combined Services cricket team represents the British armed forces. The team played at first-class level in England for more than forty years in the mid-twentieth century. Their first first-class match was against Gentlemen of England at Lord's in 1920, while their last was against Oxford...
against Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
. He played cricket on a first-class level not only for the Combined Services, but also for the British Army
British Army cricket team
The Army cricket team is a cricket side representing the British Army. The team played a number of first-class matches between 1912 and 1939, although a combined "Army and Navy" side had played two games against a combined Oxford and Cambridge team in 1910 and 1911...
, who he played for on 22 occasions, as well as captaining
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
them in some matches. Williams was an able batsman, were it not for his military career it can be assumed he would have played county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
to some degree. In 22 matches for the Army, he 1,630 runs at a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of 45.27, which made him one of the Army's stand out players of the twenties. He made three centuries
Century (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for...
and seven half centuries for the Army. Williams had two stand out first-class seasons with the bat, scoring 366 runs in five innings at an average of 73.20. In that season
1925 English cricket season
The 1925 English cricket season did not have a Test series and the focus was ostensibly upon the County Championship, except that proceedings were dominated by Jack Hobbs who scored a then-record 16 centuries and 3024 runs. Along the way, Hobbs equalled and then surpassed the career record for...
he scored his maiden double century against Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
when opening the batting in the Army first-innings. His other standout season came in 1928 when he scored 344 runs at an average of 114.66, including his second double century and highest first-class score of 228. This came for the Army against the Royal Navy
Royal Navy Cricket Club
The Royal Navy Cricket Club is a cricket team representing the British Royal Navy and based at the United Services Recreation Ground, Portsmouth, Hampshire...
.
Williams additionally played first-class cricket for the Free Foresters
Free Foresters Cricket Club
Free Foresters Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club, established in 1856 for players from the Midland counties of England. It is a 'wandering' club, having no home ground....
to some degree of success, in just three first-class matches for them he scored 220 runs an average of 44.00, with a single century score of 142. His highest score for the Foresters came against Oxford University in 1933. He also played a single first-class match for the 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...
in 1933, against Oxford University. Outside of the first-class game, he played two Minor Counties Championship matches for Devon
Devon County Cricket Club
Devon County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Devon and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy....
in 1930 against the Surrey Second XI
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
and the Kent Second XI
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...
.
Personal life
Williams married Elizabeth Frances Chadwyck-Healey, daughter of Sir Charles Edward Heley Chadwyck-Healey, 1st Baronet on 14 April 1925. Elizabeth died in 1934, with the couple bearing no children. He later remarried with Evelyn Agnes Clay in 1938, the couple had four children; two sons and two daughters. One of their sons, David Arden Bruce Williams (1940–2007) was a Colonel in the Royal Green JacketsRoyal Green Jackets
The Royal Green Jackets was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division .-History:...
. Williams' father died in 1942, the London Gazette made note of Williams making a claim for part of his fathers estate.
Williams died in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
on 20 January 1977.
External links
- Edward Williams at ESPNcricinfo
- Edward Williams at CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...