Brigadier Sir John Smyth

Brigadier Sir John Smyth was educated at Repton and then Sandhurst but played no meaningful cricket at either. In 1915 he was awarded the Victoria Cross for an act of bravery while serving with the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs and also received the MC and was decorated by the Russians. In 1923, while serving with the army in India, he played two matches for the Eurpoeans at Lahore, aquitting himself well. In the first he made 3 and 19 and took one wicket; in the second he 51 and 27. He was invalided out the army in the Second World War and became a conservative MP, being created a Baronet in 1955 and a Privy Councilor in 1962.
Martin Williamson