Druce Robert Brandt (20 October 1887 – 6 July 1915) was an English first-class cricketer, academic and British Army officer.

Druce Brandt
Personal information
Full name
Druce Robert Brandt
Born20 October 1887
Streatham, Surrey, England
Died6 July 1915(1915-07-06) (aged 27)
Boezinge, West Flanders, Belgium
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1907–1908Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 8
Runs scored 105
Batting average 9.75
100s/50s –/–
Top score 23
Catches/stumpings 6/3
Source: Cricinfo, 4 January 2020

The son of Robert E. Brandt and Florence Brandt, he was born at Streatham in October 1887. He was educated at Harrow School, where he met with success in sport. He was in both the football and cricket XI's, in addition to winning the lightweight public schools' boxing championship in 1903.[1] From Harrow he went up to Brasenose College, Oxford where he played first-class cricket for Oxford University in 1907 and 1908, making eight appearances.[1][2] Playing as a wicket-keeper, he scored 105 runs with a highest score of 23, while behind the stumps he took 6 catches and made 3 stumpings.[3] After graduating from Oxford, he was employed as a lecturer and fellow by Brasenose College, Oxford.[1] Brandt spent two years with the college, before leaving to become a social worker in Bermondsey.[4]

Having previously been a member of the Oxford University contingent of the Officers' Training Corps, Brandt enlisted as a second lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade at the start of the First World War.[5] He was promoted to lieutenant in February 1915 and was killed in action at Boezinge in Belgium on 6 July 1915, while commanding a company of men detailed to capture a German trench.[6] His body was never recovered from the battlefield and he was commemorated at the Menin Gate.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d McCrery, Nigel (30 July 2015). Final Wicket: Test and First Class Cricketers Killed in the Great War. Pen and Sword. p. 111-2. ISBN 978-1473864191.
  2. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Druce Brandt". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Druce Brandt". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Brasenose and WWI". www.bnc.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  5. ^ "No. 28876". The London Gazette. 15 September 1914. p. 6599.
  6. ^ "No. 29125". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 April 1915. p. 3569.
edit