Cecil Banes-Walker
{{short description|English athlete & rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Cecil Banes-Walker
| image = Cecil Banes-Walker.jpg
| country = England
| fullname = Frederick Cecil Banes-Walker
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1888|06|19|df=yes}}
| birth_place = North Petherton, Somerset, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1915|05|09|1888|06|19|df=yes}}
| death_place = Aubers Ridge, near Fleurbaix, Pas-de-Calais, France
| batting = Right-handed
| role = Batsman
| club1 = Somerset
| year1 = 1914
| type1 = First-class
| debutdate1 = 9 July
| debutyear1 = 1914
| debutfor1 = Somerset
| debutagainst1 = Kent
| lastdate1 = 31 August
| lastyear1 = 1914
| lastfor1 = Somerset
| lastagainst1 = Essex
| hidedeliveries = true
| columns = 1
| column1 = First-class
| matches1 = 5
| runs1 = 172
| bat avg1 = 19.11
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 40
| catches/stumpings1 = 3
| date = 26 October
| year = 2009
| source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/3/3420/3420.html CricketArchive
}}
Frederick Cecil Banes-Walker (19 June 1888 – 9 May 1915) was an English first-class cricketer who played five matches for Somerset County Cricket Club. He also played rugby for Clifton Rugby Football Club, and hockey for Gloucestershire. He was killed in action during the First World War.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/cricketers-who-died-in-world-war-1-part-1-of-5-165998 |title=Cricketers who died in World War 1 — Part 1 of 5 |work=Cricket Country |accessdate=28 November 2018}}
Cricket career
Known as Cecil Banes-Walker, he made his name at Long Ashton Cricket Club.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/229821.html |title=Wisden — Obituaries in 1915 |publisher=Wisden |accessdate=26 October 2009}} He made his first-class debut in July 1914 in Gravesend against Kent. Batting at number nine, he made 5 and 28 in a nine wicket loss.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/9/9357.html |title=Kent v Somerset |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |accessdate=26 October 2009}} For his next match against Yorkshire, he was promoted to number three as Somerset fell for just 90 runs, chasing Yorkshire's 372. Following on, Banes-Walker remained not out on 15, and Somerset lost by an innings.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/9/9390.html |title=Yorkshire v Somerset |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |accessdate=26 October 2009}} His home debut brought another loss, Worcestershire the recipients this time, claiming a ten wicket victory, Banes-Walker's 8 and 23 while batting at number eight doing little to affect the match.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/9/9423.html |title=Somerset v Worcestershire |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |accessdate=26 October 2009}} His highest score came against Hampshire, as he hit 40 in the first innings at the County Ground, Southampton.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/9/9429.html |title=Hampshire v Somerset |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |accessdate=26 October 2009}} Somerset lost by an innings again, and Banes-Walker finished his first-class career win-less as Essex eased to a ten-wicket victory in his final match.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/9/9452.html |title=Somerset v Essex |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |accessdate=26 October 2009}}
Military service
On the outbreak of the First World War in the summer of 1914, Banes-Walker enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment as a private, but shortly after was gazetted into the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 7 October 1914.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnw.co.uk/medals/auctionarchive/viewspecialcollections/itemdetail.lasso?itemid=30514 |title=OFFICER CASUALTIES OF THE TWO WORLD WARS |date=27 June 2002 |publisher=Dix Noonan Webb |accessdate=26 October 2009}}{{London Gazette |issue=28926 |page=7926 |date=6 October 1914 }} He later completed a machine-gun course, and was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment as a machine-gun officer in March 1915.{{cite web|url=http://www.cliftonrfchistory.co.uk/memorial/WW1/walker.htm |title=Somerset officer killed |work=The Bridgwater Mercury|publisher= from online extract on Clifton Rugby Football Club website|date=19 May 1915 |accessdate=26 October 2009}} On 9 May 1915 the British launched the Battle of Aubers Ridge. The 2nd Devons were not involved in the assault, but seem to have been ordered into the front British trenches in support. The battalion's war diary records that as they were moving up, they came under heavy German artillery and machine-gun fire, and that between 6:45 and 7:30 Banes-Walker was killed, along with another second lieutenant. Four other second lieutenants were injured at the same time.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=8199340|title=War Diaries—Image details—23 Infantry Brigade: 2 Battalion Devonshire Regiment 1914 Nov. – 1919 Apr.|work=DocumentsOnline|publisher=The National Archives|format=fee usually required to view pdf of full original war diary|page=36|accessdate=27 October 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/8div.htm|title=The 8th Division in 1914–1918|first=Chris|last=Baker|work=The Long, Long Trail|year=1996–2009|accessdate=28 October 2009}} On 19 May, The Bridgwater Mercury reported that his father received intelligence that his son had been killed. Banes-Walker was buried at Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France.{{cite web|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/303109|title=Casualty details—Banes Walker, Frederick Cecil|publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|accessdate=27 October 2009}}
References
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Category:British Army personnel of World War I
Category:British military personnel killed in World War I
Category:Devonshire Regiment officers
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Gloucestershire Regiment soldiers
Category:Rugby union players from Somerset
Category:Military personnel from Somerset
Category:Burials in Hauts-de-France