Donald Boumphrey Cricketer
Donald Boumphrey MC (4 October 1892 – 12 September 1971) was an English cricketer, educator and British Army officer. As a cricketer, his batting and bowling styles are unknown. Born in Birkenhead, Cheshire to Edwin Joseph Boumphrey and his wife Mary, he was christened in Wallasey, Cheshire on November 13, 1892. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, where he represented the school cricket team. Boumphrey attended the school with future cricket writer Neville Cardus, who played on the school team with him. Cardus later described Boumphrey "as one who, but for the Great War, would undoubtedly have been one of the finest schoolboy cricketers this country has ever turned out. " Boumphrey made his debut for Cheshire in the 1914 Minor Counties Championship against Northumberland. Boumphrey played Minor counties cricket for Cheshire from 1914 to 1933, which included 41 Minor Counties Championship matches In 1928, he played his only first-class match representing Wales against the touring West Indians. In this match he opened the batting for Wales, scoring 6 runs in the Welsh first-innings before being dismissed by George Francis and in their second-innings he scored 4 runs, before being dismissed by Learie Constantine. He served in the British Army during the First World War and was mentioned in dispatches in the London Gazette. One such mention confirmed his awarding of the Military Cross in 1917, at which time he held the rank of Temporary Lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps. Following the war he began coaching cricket and rugby at Rydal Penrhos school, an association which was to last for forty years. With the onset of the Second World War, he was mentioned in dispatches in the London Gazette in 1943, having been granted the rank of 2nd Lieutenant for his service with the Army Cadet Force. He was based in Caernarfonshire at the time. His father died on 6 May 1941, with mention being made in the London Gazatte of Boumphrey being the executor of his late fathers estate, including property in Fareham, Hampshire. His brother, Colin, who played a single first-class match for the Royal Air Force died in 1945. Following his death, Boumphrey made a claim for his brothers home in Aughton, Lancashire. It was in that house that Boumphrey died on September 12, 1971.
