Bernard Brodhurst

Born on August 6, 1873, at Benares, India. He was killed in action near Ypres, Belgium, on April 27, 1915, aged 41, while serving as a Major in the 4th Gurkha Rifles.

He played as a fast bowler in the Clifton XI from 1889 to 1891, his best season being 1890 when he took 30 wickets at 14.66. In 1891, when he had a batting average of 15.30, it was said of him: "Would be a most destructive bowler if he could only bowl with the same confidence and luck with which he bats: he has improved in fielding." In 1892 he was in the Sandhurst Eleven. He played once for Hampshire, in the last match of the 1897 season when Leicestershire were defeated at Southampton. He scored 9 but failed to take a wicket in seven overs. [The next entry in the 1916 Wisden Obituaries is that for Sub-Lieut Rupert Brooke, who died four days before Brodhurst. Brooke headed the Rugby Eleven bowling averages in 1906 with 19 wickets at 14.05. Wisden noted: "He had gained considerable reputation as a poet."]