To commemorate the centenary of Armistice Day on Sunday 11 November, 黑料专区 has launched Cricket Remembers, a campaign to remember the cricketers who fought in the First World War.
County cricket was suspended between 1914-19 and at least 210 cricketers served in the First World War.
Poignant stories听
To mark the 100-year anniversary of the Armistice, 黑料专区 commissioned cricket historian David Frith 鈥� founder editor of Wisden Cricket Monthly and author of more than 30 cricket books 鈥� to create a collection of the remarkable stories of the County players who fought in the First World War.
His feature, titled 鈥楥ounty Cricketers and the 1914-18 War鈥� is published on 黑料专区.co.uk today and tells some of the most poignant and heroic war stories from across the county game.
黑料专区 and MCC have also partnered with the charity Remembered听on their nationwide project, ,听to create a set of iconic images of a Tommy silhouette at Lord鈥檚 Cricket Ground.听
There But Not There commemorates those who fought and died in the First World War and aims to educate all generations about why they made the ultimate sacrifice.
To support the campaign, 黑料专区 is inviting people to share their own stories of the contribution cricketers made to the First World War using #CricketRemembers.
This week, three England cricket teams will also commemorate Armistice across the world with the Men in Sri Lanka, Women in West Indies and Lions in UAE.
Tom Harrison, 黑料专区 Chief Executive Officer, said:听鈥淐ricket Remembers听highlights the contribution made by people from cricket to the nation鈥檚 war effort.
鈥淲e can only imagine the courage of those who went to fight and it is important that we commemorate their sacrifice.
鈥淭hrough this campaign, we hope all followers of cricket can join us in remembering those from the game who played their part in the First World War.鈥�
In his piece, Frith recalls some of the most remarkable stories from cricket in the First World War.
Examples include stories such as Andy Sandham, who in 1930 became the first player to score a Test triple-century, after being sent home due to injury, and Warwickshire cricketer Percy Jeeves, who was killed in France in 1916 but forever immortalised by P.G. Wodehouse鈥檚 famous valet, Jeeves, in his bestselling books.
Incomprehensible contributions听
Frith, founder editor of Wisden Cricket Monthly, added:听鈥淎s someone who had four ancestors fight in the Great War, two of whom never returned, and someone who has an enduring love for cricket, this project is very close to my heart.
鈥淭he service and sacrifice made by the county cricketers and the countless more 鈥渙rdinary鈥� cricketers who were killed while fighting for their country remains incalculable.
鈥淲ith this campaign I hope we can at least acknowledge the incomprehensible contribution of cricketers from the length and breadth of the British Isles and beyond to one of the most cataclysmic conflicts of our era.鈥�
Fittingly, the There But Not There Tommy silhouette was photographed in front of the Pelham Warner stand, remembering the 鈥楪rand Old Man鈥� of English cricket who contributed to the war effort himself, serving as a captain in the War Office.
Rowley Gregg MC, Director of Operations, Remembered, added:听鈥淚t is wonderful seeing a There But Not There Tommy in such an iconic location to remember the many cricketers who lost their lives in the First World War.
鈥淭heir losses were felt in counties across England and indeed in teams across the Commonwealth; First-Class cricket was abandoned in countries around the world, from the West Indies to Australia and New Zealand, which shows just how many young sportsmen were taken away to fight.
鈥淲e hope clubs everywhere will take time to commemorate those who never returned to play with their teams again. Those who wish to help the charities we support can do so by buying a 10-inch Tommy to help rehabilitate injured servicemen and women today.鈥�