Francis Bacon

Born at Colombo on June 24, 1869. He drowned off the coast of Belgium on October 31, 1915, aged 46, when a mine sank the patrol ship 'Yacht Aries' in which he was serving as an Assistant-Paymaster in the Royal Naval Reserves. Educated at St Augustine's College, Canterbury, he then went to live in Basingstoke. Early in 1894, on the strength of three centuries for Basingstoke, he made his debut for Hampshire against Warwickshire at Edgbaston and scored a chanceless 114 in 130 minutes, although this was the year before the county gained first-class status. He played 75 matches between 1895 and 1911 with a highest score of 110 v Leicestershire in 1907. Small of stature (5ft 5in), he was a free hitter and an excellent cover fielder. He was one of the comparatively few cricketers who played first as a professional and afterwards as an amateur. From 1903 until his death he was Secretary of Hampshire CCC and, said Wisden, "giving every satisfaction whilst in that position and making many friends by his geniality".