Christopher Oldfield

Christopher Campbell Oldfield JP (30 October 1838 – 14 May 1916) was an English British Army officer who played first-class cricket.

Christopher Oldfield
Personal information
Full name
Christopher Campbell Oldfield
Born30 October 1838
Patna, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died14 May 1916(1916-05-14) (aged 77)
Westminster, London, England
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1864Gentlemen of Kent
1865Gentlemen of England
1865–1873Gentlemen of the MCC
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 4
Runs scored 24
Batting average 4.80
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 19
Balls bowled 421
Wickets 9
Bowling average 15.22
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 4/45
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 11 October 2018

Early life and education

Oldfield was born at Patna in British India in October 1838, to Edith Frances Sheridan Guinness and her husband, William (or Henry) Swann Oldfield of the Bengal Civil Service.[1][2] He studied in England at Exeter College, Oxford. In December 1859 he was commissioned into the British Army as an Ensign in the 10th Foot Regiment.[3] He was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1863.[4]

Career

Oldfield made his debut in first-class cricket in 1864, playing for the Gentlemen of Kent against the Gentlemen of the Marylebone Cricket Club during Canterbury Cricket Week.[lower-alpha 1] He made two further first-class appearances in 1865, first for the Gentlemen of England against the Gentlemen of Middlesex at Islington, and then for the Gentlemen of the MCC against the Gentlemen of Kent during that year's Canterbury Week.[5]

From 1866, Oldfield was posted to Ireland, where he played cricket, including in noon-first-class matches for Ireland until 1871.[6] By 1867, he was serving with the 85th Foot Regiment, rising to the rank of Captain in August 1867.[7] He married Edith Frances Sheridan Guinness, of the Guinness family, in December 1872.[1] By 1873, Oldfield was serving in the 38th Foot, retiring on half-pay in November of that year.[8] Following his retirement, he joined the Royal Berkshire Militia, serving from 1873 until 1877.[2][8]

Following an eight-year gap, Oldfield made his fourth and final appearance in first-class cricket during the 1873 Canterbury Week, playing again for the Gentlemen of the MCC, this time with Kent County Cricket Club as the opponents.[5] In May 1877, he resigned his commission from the reserve militia.[9] Beyond his military service and playing cricket, Oldfield was a Justice of the Peace.[1] He was also in the service of the East India Company.[1]

Personal life

He died at Westminster in May 1916, his wife, with whom he had three children,[1] having predeceased him sixteen years prior.

Notes
  1. At the time Canterbury week was a major social event. Many amateur cricketers, who would not otherwise have played first-class cricket, played matches during the week which usually featured two or three matches which have since been awarded first-class cricket status.

References
  1. "Profile: Christopher Oldfield". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
  2. Emma Elizabeth Thoyts, History of the Royal Berkshire Militia (Now 3rd Battalion Royal Berks Regiment), Sulhamstead, Berks, 1897/Scholar Select, ISBN 978-1-37645405-5, pp. 194, 302.
  3. "No. 22341". The London Gazette. 30 December 1859. p. 4880.
  4. "No. 22738". The London Gazette. 22 May 1863. p. 2686.
  5. "First-Class Matches played by Christopher Oldfield". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
  6. "Teams Christopher Oldfield played for". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
  7. "No. 7771". The Edinburgh Gazette. 13 August 1867. p. 930.
  8. "No. 24033". The London Gazette. 11 November 1873. p. 4906.
  9. "No. 24451". The London Gazette. 1 May 1877. p. 2882.
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