Remembering the Sussex players and secretary who gave their lives during the two World Wars

Sussex cricketers (first-class) and club secretary who lost their lives in the First World War

Arthur Horace Lang born Malabar Hill, Bombay, India, October 25, 1890; died Cuinchy, France, January 25, 1915.  2nd Lieutenant Grenadier Guards.  Educated Harrow.  Cambridge University blue 1913; Sussex 13 matches 1911-13: in 22 first-class matches he scored 830 runs at 22.43; highest 141; 17 catches, 16 stumpings; also played for Suffolk.

Kenneth Herbert Clayton Woodroffe born Lewes, Sussex, December 9, 1892; died Neuve-Chapelle, France, May 13, 1915.  2nd Lieutenant 6 Battalion Rifle Brigade attached 2nd Welsh Regiment.  Mentioned in Despatches.  Educated Marlborough.  Cambridge blue 1913-14.  Fast bowler.  Two brothers were also killed.  Hampshire 2 matches 1912-13; Sussex 2 matches 1914; in 18 first-class matches he scored 172 runs at 8.19; highest 22 not out; 5 catches; 55 wickets at 27.27; best 6 for 43.  His brother Sidney was awarded the VC.

Geoffrey Charles Walter Dowling born Melbourne, Australia, August 12, 1891; died Hooge, Belgium, July 30, 1915.  Captain 7th King’s Royal Rifle Corps.  Educated Charterhouse.  Sussex 4 matches 1911-13: 123 runs at 15.37; highest 48; 4 catches; 1 wicket for 19. 

Bernard Henry Holloway born Wandsworth, January 13, 1888; died Loos, France, September 27, 1915.  Captain 9 Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment.  Educated The Leys. Lacrosse for England.  Sussex 8 matches 1911-14; MCC in West Indies 1910-11.  19 first-class matches: 701 runs at 22.61; highest 100; 13 catches.

George Lumley Whatford born Eastbourne, July 20, 1878; died Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia, November 22, 1915.   Captain 66th Punjabis.  Educated Harrow.  Sussex 2 matches 1904: 21 runs at 10.50; highest 13.

Charles Dennis Fisher born Blatchington Court, Sussex, June 19, 1877; died Jutland (HMS Invincible), May 31, 1916.  Lieutenant RNVR.  Educated Westminster.  Oxford blue 1900.  Sussex 15 matches 1898-1903: 429 first-class runs at 13.40; HS 80; 7 catches; 8 wickets at 30.25; best 2 for 8.  One of 11 children; 6ft 3ins tall; brother killed 1918; another became vice-admiral; another was bank chairman; sister married composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.

John William Washington Nason - born Tewkesbury, August 4, 1889; died Vlamertinghe, Belgium, December 26, 1916.  Captain Royal Flying Corps.  Gloucestershire 19 matches, having played 22 times for Sussex and won blues at Cambridge 1909-10.

Ernest Herbert Relf born Sandhurst, Berkshire, November 19, 1888; died Evington, Leicester, July 27, 1918.  Gunner 337th Siege Bty, Royal Garrison Artillery.  Brother of A.E. and R.R.Relf (Sussex).  Sussex 12 matches 1912-14: 232 runs at 11.60; HS 36; 3 catches; 8 wickets at 26.50; best 2 for 24.

Francis Oddie club secretary, was serving in the Middlesex Regiment when he was killed in France in October 1916

Sussex cricketers (first-class) who lost their lives in the Second World War

Kenneth Scott born Crowborough, Sussex August 17th 1915; died Bronte, Sicily, Italy, August 9th 1943. Major, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment; Sussex 6 matches in 1937: in 14 first-class matches scored 274 runs at 15.22; highest 56; took 3 catches. He also took 12 wickets at 59.58; best 2-13; also played for Oxford University and Free Foresters. 

Alexander Shaw born Shardlow, Derbyshire September 7th 1907; died New Delhi, India July 19th 1945. Captain, 11th Sikh Regiment; Sussex one match in 1927: in two first-class matches scored seven runs at 2.33; highest 6, took four catches and three stumpings; also played for Bengal.