Geoffrey Brooke-Taylor
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Parker Brooke-Taylor (25 October 1895 – 13 January 1968) was an English cricket
er who played first class cricket for Cambridge University
in 1919 and 1920, for Derbyshire
in 1920 and for MCC
in 1928
Brooke-Taylor was born at Bakewell Hall, Bakewell
, Derbyshire. He was educated at Cheltenham College
where he was cricket captain in his last year. On 6 October 1914 joined the 4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery
as a Second Lieutenant. and served with them in World War I
. In January 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross
"For Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when under heavy and continuous shell fire for five hours with his battery. During the shelling a dump of charges caught fire, and he, with others, he succeeded in removing a large pile of neighbouring shell, which was all the time in imminent danger of explosion. His prompt action and gallantry saved a large amount of ammunition and material and probably many lives."
After the war, Brooke-Taylor attended Cambridge University There he played nineteen matches for Cambridge University
in 1919 and 1920. In the Varsity match
in 1919 he scored 55 in the second innings, helping Gilbert Ashton
to put on 74 for the fifth wicket before he was run out. However Oxford won that year, and the match the following year was a draw. He made his top score for Cambridge in 1920 against Sussex
. He also appeared in one match for Derbyshire in the 1920 season
against Somerset
and made 30 and 14. By 1926 he was in Argentina
where he played two matches against MCC that winter. Back in England in 1928 he played for MCC against Derbyshire, and in 1930 had returned to Argentina where he played two matches against Julien Cahn
's XI.
Brooke-Taylor was a left-hand batsman and played 40 innings in 25 first class matches with an average of 19.94 and a top score of 84. He was an occasional wicket-keeper
Brooke-Taylor died at Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina at the age of 72. His nephew David Brooke-Taylor
also played for Derbyshire.
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 who played first class cricket for Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
in 1919 and 1920, for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
in 1920 and for MCC
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 1928
Brooke-Taylor was born at Bakewell Hall, Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
, Derbyshire. He was educated at Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
where he was cricket captain in his last year. On 6 October 1914 joined the 4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
as a Second Lieutenant. and served with them in 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...
. In January 1918 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....
"For Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when under heavy and continuous shell fire for five hours with his battery. During the shelling a dump of charges caught fire, and he, with others, he succeeded in removing a large pile of neighbouring shell, which was all the time in imminent danger of explosion. His prompt action and gallantry saved a large amount of ammunition and material and probably many lives."
After the war, Brooke-Taylor attended Cambridge University There he played nineteen matches for Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
in 1919 and 1920. In the Varsity match
The University Match (cricket)
The University Match in a cricketing context is generally understood to refer to the annual fixture between Oxford University Cricket Club and Cambridge University Cricket Club...
in 1919 he scored 55 in the second innings, helping Gilbert Ashton
Gilbert Ashton
Gilbert Ashton MC was an English cricketer who played 62 first-class matches between the wars, mostly for Cambridge University and Worcestershire...
to put on 74 for the fifth wicket before he was run out. However Oxford won that year, and the match the following year was a draw. He made his top score for Cambridge in 1920 against 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...
. He also appeared in one match for Derbyshire in the 1920 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1920
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1920 was the English cricket club Derbyshire's fiftieth season. It was the club's twenty-second season in the County Championship and the most disastrous season ever experienced by any side since the County Championship was established...
against Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset 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 Somerset...
and made 30 and 14. By 1926 he was in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
where he played two matches against MCC that winter. Back in England in 1928 he played for MCC against Derbyshire, and in 1930 had returned to Argentina where he played two matches against Julien Cahn
Julien Cahn
Sir Julien Cahn, 1st Baronet was an entrepreneur, philanthropist and supporter of cricket.-His cricket XI:...
's XI.
Brooke-Taylor was a left-hand batsman and played 40 innings in 25 first class matches with an average of 19.94 and a top score of 84. He was an occasional wicket-keeper
Brooke-Taylor died at Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina at the age of 72. His nephew David Brooke-Taylor
David Brooke-Taylor
David Charles Brooke-Taylor was an English cricketer who played first class cricket for Derbyshire from 1947 to 1949....
also played for Derbyshire.