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Those who came before: A look at Somerset’s First Class players – Part Five

When Josh Thomas walked out to bat on his full Somerset debut against Essex, he became the 698^th player to represent the Club in First Class Cricket.

With this in mind, we thought we would take a look back at those who have come before.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a look back at some of the previous 697 players who have worn the Wyvern (or donned the Dragon) in red ball cricket.

#45 – John Ernest Trask

Cousin of fellow Somerset player, William Trask, John Trask was born near Yeovil in November 1861 and was educated at Somerset College in Bath before going on to study medicine at Bristol Medical School. He became house surgeon at the Bath Royal United Hospital before joining the military. After training at the Royal Military Hospital he spent time in India, where he captained the Gymkhana Cricket XI.

A regular for Lansdown CC in his youth, he made his Somerset debut in 1884. He played a further two First Class matches the following year. A further six First Class appearances followed in 1895 when he was home on leave from the army. His nine matches for Somerset saw him score 228 runs with a best of 46.

He was seconded to the Egyptian Army in 1895 and was praised for his ‘bravery and coolness while tending the wounded under heavy fire’ at the battle of Firket. He died from cholera on active service in 1896. He was just 34 years old.

#46 – George Tierney Mirehouse

Born in 1863 in Easton-in-Gordano alongside his twin sister, Milly, Mirehouse attended Westminster School and Jesus College, Cambridge University. He represented the university cricket team between 1884 and 1886.

He featured in four First Class matches for Somerset, scoring 21 runs and taking eight wickets with a best of three for 33.

He lived in Richmond Park Road, Clifton for a time, and was an active investor who managed a sugar refining business in Australia. He ended his own life at the age of 59 in New South Wales in 1923.

#47 – Herbert Tremenheere Hewett

Hewett was born in 1864 in Norton Fitzwarren and attended Harrow and Trinity College, Oxford where he played for the University XI. He arrived at Somerset as an Oxford undergraduate and is widely regarded to have been one of the most important figures in the Club’s early history, playing a key role in Somerset’s return to First Class status.

Trained as a barrister, he was a hard-hitting left-handed batter who was awarded the Somerset captaincy at the relatively young age of 26.

He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1893 and his 51 First Class matches for Somerset saw him score 2592 runs at an average of 30.85 with a best of 201.

He stepped down from the Somerset captaincy to pursue a career in law and moved to London. He passed away in Hove at the age 56 but is buried in the village where he was born. His funeral procession through Norton Fitzwarren saw every blind in the village drawn with the St George flag flying half-mast on the church.

#48 Harry Edmund Winter

The younger brother of fellow Somerset player, John Arundell Winter, Harry was born in Bampton, Devon but he moved to Bishops Lydeard shortly after his birth after his father inherited the estate at Watts House.

Educated at Taunton College School (now King’s College), he trained to become a solicitor in London and died at the age of 63 in Dartford, Kent. A keen athlete, he was a member of the Thames Rowing Club and was Honorary Secretary of the London Athletic Club.

He played one First Class match for Somerset in 1884, scoring 24 runs in the first innings against Kent but failing to score in the second innings.

#49 Edward Stanley

He was born in Charlton Horethorne near North Cadbury in 1852 where his family were lord’s of the manor. His father’s work in the ministry saw the family move to Pembroke and then Jersey. Edward was educated at Victoria College, Jersey where he played for the First XI from 1868 until 1870. While there, he also won the mile race by some distance with a time of five minutes and 45 seconds. His sporting aspirations were somewhat hampered when he was accidentally shot in the back whilst out with friends in 1872.

He embarked on a career in the military and died at the age of just 43 from malaria in 1896 in Ghana.

His one appearance for Somerset came in August 1884 against Lancashire at Old Trafford. He happened to be stationed in Manchester at the time and was called up by the Club at the last minute due to the unavailability of Herbert Fowler. He batted at 11 and was forced to retire hurt in the first innings after being struck by the ball before failing to score in the second innings.

#50 Octavius Goldney Radcliffe

Radcliffe was born in the Hamlett of Hilcott in Wiltshire in 1859. Privately educated, he only took up cricket in 1876. He caught the eye whilst playing for Yatton, where he was captain for two years in the early 1880s, topping the batting in 1884 with an average of 122.

He played five First Class matches for Somerset, scoring 323 runs at an average of 32.30 with a best of 101. However, W.G. Grace persuaded him to begin the process of qualifying for Gloucestershire by arranging lodgings in Thornbury.

Somerset’s loss was Gloucestershire’s gain. He went on to play 119 First Class matches and score more than 4400 runs for Somerset’s fiercest rivals. He also claimed 98 wickets for Gloucestershire.

After retiring from First Class cricket he captained Wiltshire and passed away at his home in the county at the age of 81 in 1940.

#51 Albert Edward Clapp

Born in Congresbury in 1867, Clapp was educated at Long Ashton School and was drafted into the Somerset side as an 18-year-old with the blessing of his employers at the time, Great Western Railway.

Unfortunately, the success he had achieved at non First Class level was not replicated in the First Class game. His 10 appearances for Somerset yielded 152 runs at an average of 10.85 with a best of 60 not out.

He worked as an insurance agent and returned to GWR. He died at Bristol General Hospital in 1936 aged 69.

#52 Thomas Crump

Crump was born in Shropshire in 1845 and was educated at Lucton School, Herefordshire before moving to Wadham College, Oxford. He trained in the ministry, graduating in 1868. After several curacy’s he ended up taking the position as the rector of Corfe where he would remain from 1880 until 1897.

His one and only First Class appearance for Somerset came at the age of 40 in the win over Hampshire. He contributed eight runs in Somerset’s first innings as was not required to bat a second time. He continued to play at club level and represented the Somerset Club & Ground team on a number of occasions.

After becoming vicar of East Pennard, cricket gave way to golf and he became a keen member at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club, although he did become a member of the Somerset CCC committee.

He died at the age of 61 in 1907 in East Pennard.

#53 Edward Caldecot Marsh

Marsh was born in India in 1865 but the family moved to Bath where he was raised. Educated at Malvern College, where he played for the First XI, he first appeared for Somerset as a 20-year-old, with his two First Class appearances coming during his summer vacations. He scored a total of 18 runs.

He appeared, on occasion, for Yatton, Weston-super-Mare and Devon. He graduated from Merton College, Oxford in 1887 and by 1892 he had taken up the role as schoolmaster at Kendal Grammar School. He played for Kendal CC between 1892 and 1894 where he was the leading batter in the North Lancashire and District League in 1893.

He passed away unexpectedly at the age of 61 in 1926.

#54 Charles Henry Hulls

Born in Luton in 1861, Hulls was sent to Blairlodge in Falkirk for his schooling. By 1882 he had been appointed as a music teacher at King’s School in Warwick. Here, he was able to indulge in his two passions; music and cricket and appeared in a non First Class match for Warwickshire.

He represented MCC in a number of fixtures and also played minor county cricket for Oxfordshire. His only First Class match for Somerset saw him score a total of eight runs.

He died of pneumonia at home in Southend at the age of 51.

#55 Crescens James Robinson

Born in Gloucester in 1864, Robinson was from a wealthy and cricket loving family who ran a team consisting entirely of family members for a number of years. Indeed, in 1891 a Robinson Family XI faced a team of W.G. Grace’s family at Backwell. Crescens scored 67 but he couldn’t guide his family to victory.

He featured in 31 First Class matches for Somerset, scoring 534 runs with a best of 55 against Kent.

He retired from the County game in 1896 and joined his brother, Theo, who also played for Somerset, in running an oil seed crushing business.

He died in Chelsea at the age of 77.