Dr. George Thornton, who died in London on January 31, occasionally played for Yorkshire and Middlesex before going to South Africa. Born at Skipton, Yorks, on December 24, 1867, he was educated at Skipton Grammar School, and took his degree at Edinburgh University. When the South African war broke out, Dr. Thornton was one of the first medical men to volunteer. He was made head of the Government Hospital at Pretoria, and spent nine years in South Africa. During this time he appeared for Transvaal, and for South Africa at Johannesburg in the first match Australia played in South Africa in October 1902 when Joe Darling's team were on the way home from England.

Left-handed, with both bat and ball, he was at his best in 1895 when for Middlesex he averaged 31 and took 23 wickets. He bowled with deadly effect against Gloucestershire at Lord's. The fifth man tried, he bowled W. G. Grace, who had scored 169, and in the last innings he took all five wickets that fell at a cost of 20--making nine for 72 in the match. Strangely enough in the corresponding fixture next season he gave by far his best batting display -- 161 -- and Middlesex won by an innings and 77 runs. He was not wanted as a bowler.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack