Ernest Wright (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Ernest Vincent Wright MC
(24 October 1894 – 16 December 1977) was an English
cricket
er. Wright was a right-handed batsman. He was born at Kettering
, Northamptonshire
.
Wright served during World War I
, by 1917 he was a Temporary Lieutenant
, and in September of that year he was promoted to Acting Captain
. By February 1918 he still held the simultaneous ranks of Temporary Lieutenant and Acting Captain in the Tank Corps
. He was awarded the Military Cross
, which was mentioned in the London Gazette in July 1918, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. It was noted that he had commanded his tank
s with great skill and judgement during an attack, and when his tank ran out of petrol he went forward on foot with the infantry and assisted in the capturing of an objective while under heavy fire, helping advance the line by some 7,000 yards. In February of 1919, he relinquished his rank of Temporary Captain.
Following the war, Wright made two first-class cricket
appearances for Northamptonshire
in 1919 against Warwickshire
and Sussex
, both at the County Ground, Northampton. He scored a total of two runs in these matches. He died at the town of his birth of 16 December 1977. His brothers Albert, Richard and Stephen all played first-class cricket for Northamptonshire.
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....
(24 October 1894 – 16 December 1977) was 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. Wright was a right-handed batsman. He was born at Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
.
Wright served during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, by 1917 he was a Temporary Lieutenant
Lieutenant
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...
, and in September of that year he was promoted to Acting 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...
. By February 1918 he still held the simultaneous ranks of Temporary Lieutenant and Acting Captain in the Tank Corps
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
. He was awarded 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....
, which was mentioned in the London Gazette in July 1918, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. It was noted that he had commanded his tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s with great skill and judgement during an attack, and when his tank ran out of petrol he went forward on foot with the infantry and assisted in the capturing of an objective while under heavy fire, helping advance the line by some 7,000 yards. In February of 1919, he relinquished his rank of Temporary Captain.
Following the war, Wright made two first-class cricket
First-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...
appearances for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
in 1919 against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
and Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
, both at the County Ground, Northampton. He scored a total of two runs in these matches. He died at the town of his birth of 16 December 1977. His brothers Albert, Richard and Stephen all played first-class cricket for Northamptonshire.
External links
- Ernest Wright at ESPNcricinfo
- Ernest Wright 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...