Arthur Cocks (cricketer)

British first class cricketer and army officer

Arthur Cocks

Personal information

Full name|

Arthur Denis Bradford Cocks

Born| 29 July 1904
Dharamshala, Punjab Province,
British India
Died| 6 June 1944(1944-06-06) (aged 39)
Sword Beach, near Ouistreham, Normandy, France
Batting| Right-handed
Bowling| Unknown
Domestic team information
Years| Team
1924| Bedfordshire
Career statistics
| Competition | First-class

|

Matches | 2
Runs scored | 30
Batting average | 15.00
100s/50s | –/–
Top score | 26*
Balls bowled | 306
Wickets | 0
Bowling average | –
5 wickets in innings | –
10 wickets in match | –
Best bowling | –
Catches/stumpings | 3/–

Source: Cricinfo, 24 April 2019

Arthur Denis Bradford Cocks (29 July 1904 – 6 June 1944) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. Cocks served with the Royal Engineers from 1925-1944, serving in the Second World War, in which he was killed on D-Day. He also played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team.

## Life and military career[edit]

The son of George Arthur Cocks and his wife, Annie Violet Cocks, he was born in British India at Dharamshala.[1] Cocks was educated in England at Bedford School, where he played cricket for the school team.[1] He played minor counties cricket for Bedfordshire in 1924, making a single appearance in the Minor Counties Championship.[2] After leaving Bedford, he decided on a career in the army and attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.[1] He graduated from Woolwich in January 1925, entering into the Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant.[3] He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in January 1927.[4] In May of the same year he made his debut in first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team against Oxford University at Oxford, before making a second appearance in June against Cambridge University at Fenner's.[5] He scored 30 runs in his two first-class appearances,[6] while with the ball he bowled a total of 51 wicketless overs.[7]

He married Majorie Du Caurroy Chads in 1932 and shortly after served in British Burma,[1] where he was stationed at Rangoon. He returned to England in 1936, where he was promoted to the rank of captain in January,[8] before being seconded to the War Office as a staff captain in December 1937.[9] He relinquished his appointment at the war office in January 1939.[10] He served in the Second World War with the Royal Engineers, during which he was promoted to the rank of major in January 1942,[11] with a further promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel.[1] On D-Day he landed at Sword Beach with the 5th Assault Regiment, known as the 'Hobart's Funnies', in the course of which he was killed in action.[1] His body was returned to England and buried at St. Peter's Church, Frimley.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f McCrery, Nigel (2011). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Vol. 2nd volume. Pen and Sword. p. 372\. ISBN 978-1526706980.
2. ^ "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Arthur Cocks". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
3. ^ "No. 33015". The London Gazette. 27 January 1925. p. 593.
4. ^ "No. 33243". The London Gazette. 28 January 1927. p. 580.
5. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Arthur Cocks". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
6. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Arthur Cocks". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
7. ^ "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Arthur Cocks". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
8. ^ "No. 34250". The London Gazette. 28 January 1936. p. 603.
9. ^ "No. 34464". The London Gazette. 17 December 1937. p. 7917.
10. ^ "No. 34539". The London Gazette. 27 January 1939. p. 606.
11. ^ "No. 35433". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 January 1942. p. 437.

## External links[edit]

* Arthur Cocks at ESPNcricinfo