Foster Cunliffe

Sir Foster Hugh Egerton Cunliffe, 6th Baronet (17 August 1875 – 10 July 1916) was an English historian and first-class cricketer who played for Oxford University from 1895 to 1898, for Middlesex from 1897 to 1903 and for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from 1899 to 1903. He was killed serving in World War I.[1]

Foster Cunliffe

Personal information
Born	17 August 1875 Belgravia, London, England
Died	10 July 1916 (aged 40) Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France
Batting	Left-hand
Bowling	Left-arm medium
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1895–1898	Oxford University Cricket Club
1897–1903	Middlesex County Cricket Club
1899–1903	Marylebone Cricket Club
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 56 Runs scored 1053 Batting average 15.26 100s/50s 0/0 Top score 70 Balls bowled 11304 Wickets 235 Bowling average 21.78 5 wickets in innings 15 10 wickets in match 10 Best bowling 8/26 Catches/stumpings 25/0
Source: Sir Foster Cunliffe. espncricinfo.com

Biography

Cunliffe was born in Belgravia, Westminster, London, the son of Sir Robert Cunliffe, 5th Baronet of Acton Park, Wrexham, Denbighshire and his wife Eleanor Sophia Egerton Leigh daughter of Egerton Leigh.[2] He was educated Eton College and at New College, Oxford and played cricket for the university from 1895 to 1898. In 1897 he made his debut for Middlesex and in 1899 began playing for MCC.

Cunliffe was a left-hand batsman and played 85 innings in 56 first-class matches with an average of 15.36 and a top score of 70. He was a left-arm medium pace bowler and took 235 first-class wickets with an average of 21.78 and a best performance of 8 for 26.[3]

Cunliffe also played non-first class county cricket for Shropshire, in two matches in 1895.[4]

Cunliffe became a Fellow of All Souls, Oxford and the first lecturer in military history at Oxford University, 1905-1908. in this capacity he worked closely with the history tutor C.T. Atkinson of Exeter College, Oxford. [5] He wrote The History of the Boer War.[6] He inherited the baronetcy on the death of his father in 1905.[2]

During World War I, Cunliffe served with the 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)[7] and reached the rank of major. He died of wounds at Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France. He was buried at Bapaume Post Military Cemetery, Albert, Somme.[8]

References

1. "Cricketers who died in World War 1 — Part 2 of 5". Cricket Country. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
2. Person Page – 30670. the Peerage.com
3. Foster Cunliffe. Cricket Archive
4. Percival, Tony (1999). Shropshire Cricketers 1844-1998. A.C.S. Publications, Nottingham. pp. 11, 42. ISBN 1-902171-17-9.Published under Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians.
5. John B. Hattendorf, "The Study of War History at Oxford, 1862-1990" in Hattendorf and Malcom H. Murfett, eds. The Limitations of Military Power: Essays Presented to Professor Norman Gibbs on his eightieth birthday (London: Macmillan, 1990), p. 13, 14, 41, 57.
6. Foster Hugh Egerton Cunliffe. Onread.com
7. MacDonald, Lyn, "Somme", Michael Joseph 1983. Reprinted by Penguin, 2013. ISBN 978-0-241-95238-2 pp. 110–111, 129–130.
8. Lords Cricket Ground. Roll of Honour

External links

• Website for Welsh heritage and culture