Gerald Howard-Smith

Howard-Smith was born at Earl's Court on 21 January 1880 to Mary Beaumont O'Shaughnessy and her husband Philip Howard-Smith.[1] He was educated at Eton College, before going onto study law at Trinity College, Cambridge.[2] He made his debut in first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Cambridge University at Fenner's in 1900.[3] The following year he made his debut for Cambridge University in first-class matches against AJ Webbe's XI,[3] taking a five wicket haul on debut with figures of 6/23 in AJ Webbe's XI's first-innings.[4] From 1900 to 1903, he would make 20 appearances in first-class cricket; 17 for Cambridge University and three for the MCC.[5] Playing primarily as a right-arm fast bowler, Howard-Smith was a reliable, if not overly effective bowler, taking 29 wickets at an average of 44.10, with one five wicket haul.[6] He gained his Cambridge blue in 1903.[7] While studying at Trinity he was the president of both Cambridge University Cricket Club and Cambridge University Athletic Club.[2][7] Howard-Smith also won the varsity high jump against Oxford in 1901, 1902 and 1903,[7] also competing in Canada.[8]

After qualifying as a solicitor, he moved to Wolverhampton, where he joined the law firm Underhill, Thorneycroft & Smith and Neve, Co.[7] He played club cricket locally for Wolverhampton Cricket Club, captaining the club.[2] He was selected to play minor counties cricket for Staffordshire, playing in 1908 against Hertfordshire at Stoke-on-Trent, and once more in 1910 against Cheshire at Wolverhampton.[9] These were his only appearances in the Minor Counties Championship.[9]

Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, Howard-Smith was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the South Staffordshire Regiment.[7][10] His unit moved to frontline in March 1915, where shortly thereafter he was promoted to lieutenant and became the battalion bombing officer.[7] He was awarded the Military Cross on 14 January 1916,[11] for bravery during the Actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt.[2] He was known as the "anarchist" in his battalion due to his left-wing views.[7] During the course of the war he was wounded three times,[2] the third time fatally during action at Neuville-Saint-Vaast, France.[2][7] Stretchered from the battlefield whistling It's a Long Way to Tipperary,[2] he died shortly thereafter from complications at a field hospital on 29 March 1916.[7] He is buried at the Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension and is commemorated at St Mary's Church, Bushbury.[7][12]

• Benson, John (2016). Gerald Howard-Smith and the 'Lost Generation' of Late Victorian and Edwardian England. Routledge. ISBN 9781315584614.

• Gerald Howard-Smith at ESPNcricinfo
• Gerald Howard-Smith at CricketArchive