Peter McRae

Foster Moverley McRae, commonly known as Peter McRae (12 February 1916 – 25 February 1944) was an English cricketer who played 25 first-class matches for Somerset County Cricket Club between 1936 and 1939. He died during the Second World War, when HMS Mahratta, which he served on as Surgeon Lieutenant, was torpedoed and sunk in the Barents Sea.

For the Australian rules footballer, see Peter McRae (footballer).

Peter McRae
Personal information
Full name
Foster Moverley McRae
Born(1916-02-12)12 February 1916
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died25 February 1944(1944-02-25) (aged 28)
HMS Mahratta, Barentz Sea
BattingRight-handed
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1936–1939Somerset
First-class debut22 August 1936 Somerset v Worcestershire
Last First-class30 August 1939 Somerset v Northamptonshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 25
Runs scored 972
Batting average 24.30
100s/50s 1/4
Top score 107
Catches/stumpings 9/–
Source: CricketArchive, 2 June 2010

Military career

During the Second World War, McRae served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was Surgeon Lieutenant on HMS Mahratta when it was torpedoed by the German submarine U-990.[1]

In 1941–1945 The Arctic Lookout, Noel Simon recounts a story he was told of McRae's actions after the sinking:

Having managed to climb onto one of the few Carley floats to have come through the sinking, he set about hauling the others aboard. The float soon became overcrowded. Remarking almost casually; "There's not enough room for us all" the doctor slipped over the side into the sea and was never seen again.[2]

He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.[1]

References
  1. "Somerset, Kingston, St. Mary War Memorial". Roll-of-Honour.com. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  2. "HMS MAHRATTA- Dr Peter McRae". 1941–1945 The Arctic Lookout (33). Winter 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
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