Arnold Pomfret

English cricketer, ophthalmologist, and Royal Navy officer

Arnold Ashworth Pomfret

Born| 1 June 1900
Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Died| 3 April 1984(1984-04-03) (aged 83)
Taunton, Somerset, England
Allegiance| United Kingdom
Service / branch| Royal Navy
Years of service| 1922–1923; 1926–1957
Rank| Surgeon Rear Admiral
Battles / wars| Second World War
Awards| Order of the Bath
Order of the British Empire

Surgeon Rear Admiral Arnold Ashworth Pomfret CB OBE (1 June 1900 – 3 April 1984) was an English first-class cricketer, ophthalmologist and Royal Navy officer.

## Life

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The son of John Pomfret of Blackburn, Lancashire, he was educated at Blackburn Grammar School. He studied at Manchester University, graduating there in 1922, and the University of Oxford. He joined the Royal Navy in 1923 as a Surgeon Lieutenant on a short service commission.[1][2][3] After leaving the navy to concentrate on his medical training, Pomfret rejoined as a Surgeon Lieutenant in August 1926.[4] He was one of the first naval medical officers to specialise in ophthalmology and was the first to undertake major eye surgery.[2]

Pomfret became a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander in 1929, and worked at the Royal Naval Hospital, Simon's Town from 1931 to 1934.[5] He became a Surgeon Commander in August 1934 and in 1940 he was medical officer in charge of the Royal Navy Sick Quarters on Liugong Island, Wei Hai Wei, and in that capacity received a Japanese military delegation of the Wei Hai Wei occupying forces.[6][2] Pomfret subsequently withdrew from Wei Hai Wei along with the remainder of British forces following the occupation. The following year he was made an OBE in the 1941 New Year Honours and was promoted to the rank of Surgeon Captain in June 1944.[7][8]

He was appointed an Honorary Surgeon to the Queen in November 1953,[9] a capacity he served in until his retirement from active service in October 1957.[10] Pomfret retired with the rank of Surgeon Rear-Admiral, having been promoted to that rank in October 1954.[11] He was made a Companion to the Order of the Bath in the 1957 Birthday Honours.[12] Pomfret retired to Taunton, where he died in April 1984.[2]

## Cricket

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Pomfret played first-class cricket for the Royal Navy, for which he is recorded playing in 1929.[13] His three appearances in 1929 came against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the British Army and the Royal Air Force.[14] Against the MCC he took a five wicket haul, with figures of 6 for 39 in the MCC second-innings, which contributed to a 23 runs victory for the Royal Navy, despite having been asked to follow-on from their first-innings.[15] A right-arm fast-medium bowler, he ended his brief first-class career with 12 wickets at an average of 24.25.[16]

## Family

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Pomfret married in 1928 Carlene Blundstone: they had a son and two daughters.[17] Their daughter Jocelyn married Alexander Crawford Simpson Boswell in 1956.[18] Carlene Pomfret's memoir Cabin Trunks & Far Horizons was published in 1991.[19]

## References

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1. ^ Kelly's (1961). Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes. Kelly's Directories. p. 1609.
2. ^ a b c d Surgeon Rear Admiral A. A. Pomfret CB, OBE, MB, CHB, DO, DOMS, British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Edition) Vol. 289, No. 6454 (Nov. 10, 1984), p. 1319. Published by: BMJ JSTOR 29517247
3. ^ "No. 32741". The London Gazette. 25 August 1922. p. 6227.
4. ^ "No. 33192". The London Gazette. 17 August 1926. p. 5443.
5. ^ "POMFRET, Surgeon R Adm Arnold Ashworth (1900- 1984)". www.aim25.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
6. ^ "No. 34150". The London Gazette. 12 April 1935. p. 2512.
7. ^ "No. 35029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1940. p. 8.
8. ^ "No. 36599". The London Gazette. 7 July 1944. p. 3194.
9. ^ "No. 40048". The London Gazette. 22 December 1953. p. 6946.
10. ^ "No. 41259". The London Gazette. 20 December 1957. p. 7442.
11. ^ "No. 40323". The London Gazette. 9 November 1954. p. 6367.
12. ^ "No. 41089". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1957. p. 3367.
13. ^ Bailey, Philip; Thorn, Philip; Wynne-Thomas, Peter (1984). Who's Who of Cricketers. London: Newnes Books. p. 812\. ISBN 0600346927.
14. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Arnold Pomfret". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
15. ^ "Royal Navy v Marylebone Cricket Club, 1929". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
16. ^ "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Arnold Pomfret". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
17. ^ "Pomfret, Arnold Ashworth". Who's Who. Vol. 1981\. A & C Black. p. 2070. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
18. ^ "Pomfret, Arnold Ashworth". Who's Who. Vol. 1981\. A & C Black. p. 269. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
19. ^ Pomfret, Carlene (1991). Cabin Trunks & Far Horizons. MM Productions. ISBN 9780951768501.

## External links

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* Arnold Pomfret at ESPNcricinfo
* Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com