Alexander Kearsey
Encyclopedia
Alexander Horace Cyril Kearsey DSO
, OBE
(17 December 1877 – 8 October 1967) was a career highly decorated British Army
officer who served in the Second Boer War
and World War I
. He was also an English
cricket
er, but his military career limited his cricketing appearances. The son of Francis Kearsey, he was born at Burstow Hall
, Surrey
. He was educated at Rottingdean School and Clifton College
, before attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
.
on 7 May 1896. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 7 May 1896, and was later promoted to Lieutenant
in 1900. Kearsey fought in the Second Boer War
, being present at the Relief of Ladysmith
. During the operations in the Relief, Kearsay was severely wounded at Venters Spruit on 20 Jaunary 1900. The following month, having recovered from his injuries sufficiently enough, he took part in action at Spion Kop
, Vaal Kranz and toward the end of February, action at Tucela Heights and Pieters Hill. Kearsey later took part in operations in Natal
from March to June 1900, including at the Battle of Laing's Nek. He also took part in operations in Transvaal Colony from May to June 1901 and operations in Orange River Colony
from December 1901 to 31 May 1902. Mentioned twice in dispatches during the course of the war by Sir Redvers Buller
, he was also mentioned in the London Gazette
in a list of soldiers and officers who had distinguished themselves in the conflict. Weeks later he was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, with the insignia
being presented by Edward VII
on 14 March 1902.
Following the Boer War, Kearsey was promoted to Captain
on 12 March 1904, while the following year he was transferred to the 10th Royal Hussars. He then served in the Territorial Force
as an adjutant
from March 1908 to April 1911. With the outbreak of World War I
, Kearsey attended the Staff College, Camberley
and was promoted to Major on 11 November 1914. At the start of the war, he was posted as part of the Embarkation Staff at Southampton
, following which he procceded to Belgium
with the 1st Life Guards, 7th Cavalry Brigade. He took part in the First Battle of Ypres
and saw action at Neuve-Chapelle
. In 1915, he was attached to the staff of the 7th Cavalry Brigade, and August 1915 he was appointed Brigade Major
with the 1/2nd South-Western Mounted Brigade, seeing action in Gallipoli. He later commanded the 5th Dorset Regiment
for months, till May 1916. Following this, he was appointed GS01 with the 54th Division, Egyptian Expeditionary Force
, seeing action at the first
and Second Battle of Gaza
, both of which ended in Ottoman
victories. He later commanded 1/5th King's Own Scottish Borderers
, seeing action at the Battle of El Teb, during the course of which he was wounded. At the time he was a temporary Lieutenant Colonel. For his services in the conflict, Kearsey was decorated by the Kingdom of Serbia
with the Order of the Karađorđe's Star, 4th Class with Swords and the Order of the Nile
. Transferring to the fledgling Royal Air Force
, he commanded the Cadet Wing and was appointed Staff Officer, 1st grade on 28 December 1918. During his life, Kearsey published a number of his records including, The War Records of the York and Lancaster Regiment, South Africa, 1900–1902,1903, which detailed his time with the York and Lancaster Regiment in the Boer War. He also published records of the campaign in Egypt and Palestine during World War I. He later wrote a number of books analysing military strategy.
. While serving in the British Raj
, he made his first-class
debut for the Europeans
against the Parsees
in 1903. He ended the Europeans first-innings unbeaten
on 0. In their second-innings, he was dismissed for 2 runs by Maneksha Bulsara. His second first-class appearance came for the Europeans in 1905, in a repeat of his debut match. In this match, he was dismissed for a duck
by Jehangir Warden in the Europeans first-innings, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 4 runs by the same bowler. Taking up position behind the stumps, he took a single catch and made a single stumping. He later made 2 Minor Counties Championship appearances in 1913 for Buckinghamshire
, against Berkshire
and Wiltshire
. He did not appear for Buckinghamshire after this season
.
and Lady Clementina Gertrude Helen Ogilvy, on 30 April 1907. The Mitfords were descendants of William the Conqueror. The couple had one son. Kearsey died in Wandsworth
, London
on 8 October 1967. He had survived his wife Frances, who had died in 1951, by 16 years.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(17 December 1877 – 8 October 1967) was a career highly decorated British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer who served in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was also an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er, but his military career limited his cricketing appearances. The son of Francis Kearsey, he was born at Burstow Hall
Burstow
Burstow is a parish in Tandridge, Surrey, England. It is one of the largest parishes in the local government district of Tandridge and its principal settlement is the village of Smallfield...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. He was educated at Rottingdean School and Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
, before attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
.
Military career
After graduating from Sandhurst, Kearsey was commissioned into the York and Lancaster RegimentYork and Lancaster Regiment
-History:It was formed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two other regiments:*65th Regiment*84th RegimentThe title of the regiment was derived not from the cities of York and Lancaster, or from the counties...
on 7 May 1896. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 7 May 1896, and was later promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1900. Kearsey fought in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, being present at the Relief of Ladysmith
Relief of Ladysmith
When the Second Boer War broke out on 11 October 1899, the Boers had a numeric superiority within Southern Africa. They quickly invaded the British territory and laid siege to Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking...
. During the operations in the Relief, Kearsay was severely wounded at Venters Spruit on 20 Jaunary 1900. The following month, having recovered from his injuries sufficiently enough, he took part in action at Spion Kop
Battle of Spion Kop
The Battle of Spion Kop was fought about west-south-west of Ladysmith on the hilltop of Spioenkop along the Tugela River, Natal in South Africa from 23–24 January 1900...
, Vaal Kranz and toward the end of February, action at Tucela Heights and Pieters Hill. Kearsey later took part in operations in Natal
Colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...
from March to June 1900, including at the Battle of Laing's Nek. He also took part in operations in Transvaal Colony from May to June 1901 and operations in Orange River Colony
Orange River Colony
The Orange River Colony was the British colony created after this nation first occupied and then annexed the independent Orange Free State in the Second Boer War...
from December 1901 to 31 May 1902. Mentioned twice in dispatches during the course of the war by Sir Redvers Buller
Redvers Buller
General Sir Redvers Henry Buller VC GCB GCMG was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, he was also mentioned in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
in a list of soldiers and officers who had distinguished themselves in the conflict. Weeks later he was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, with the insignia
Insignia
Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction...
being presented by Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
on 14 March 1902.
Following the Boer War, Kearsey was promoted to Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 12 March 1904, while the following year he was transferred to the 10th Royal Hussars. He then served in the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
as an adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
from March 1908 to April 1911. With the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Kearsey attended the Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
and was promoted to Major on 11 November 1914. At the start of the war, he was posted as part of the Embarkation Staff at Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, following which he procceded to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
with the 1st Life Guards, 7th Cavalry Brigade. He took part in the First Battle of Ypres
First Battle of Ypres
The First Battle of Ypres, also called the First Battle of Flanders , was a First World War battle fought for the strategic town of Ypres in western Belgium...
and saw action at Neuve-Chapelle
Battle of Neuve Chapelle
The Battles of Neuve Chapelle and Artois was a battle in the First World War. It was a British offensive in the Artois region and broke through at Neuve-Chapelle but they were unable to exploit the advantage.The battle began on 10 March 1915...
. In 1915, he was attached to the staff of the 7th Cavalry Brigade, and August 1915 he was appointed Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
with the 1/2nd South-Western Mounted Brigade, seeing action in Gallipoli. He later commanded the 5th Dorset Regiment
Dorset Regiment
The Dorset Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1958, the county regiment of Dorset. Until 1951 it was formally called The Dorsetshire Regiment, although usually known as "The Dorsets".-History:...
for months, till May 1916. Following this, he was appointed GS01 with the 54th Division, Egyptian Expeditionary Force
Egyptian Expeditionary Force
The Egyptian Expeditionary Force was formed in March 1916 to command the British and British Empire military forces in Egypt during World War I. Originally known as the 'Force in Egypt' it had been commanded by General Maxwell who was recalled to England...
, seeing action at the first
First Battle of Gaza
The First Battle of Gaza was fought in and around the town of Gaza on the Mediterranean coast in the southern region of Ottoman Palestine on 26 March 1917, during World War I...
and Second Battle of Gaza
Second Battle of Gaza
The Second Battle of Gaza, fought in southern Palestine during the First World War, was another attempt mounted by British Empire forces to break Ottoman defences along the Gaza-Beersheba line...
, both of which ended in Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
victories. He later commanded 1/5th King's Own Scottish Borderers
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
, seeing action at the Battle of El Teb, during the course of which he was wounded. At the time he was a temporary Lieutenant Colonel. For his services in the conflict, Kearsey was decorated by the Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
with the Order of the Karađorđe's Star, 4th Class with Swords and the Order of the Nile
Order of the Nile
The Order of the Nile is Egypt's highest state honor. The award was instituted in 1915 by Sultan Hussein Kamel to be awarded by Egypt for exceptional services to the nation...
. Transferring to the fledgling Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, he commanded the Cadet Wing and was appointed Staff Officer, 1st grade on 28 December 1918. During his life, Kearsey published a number of his records including, The War Records of the York and Lancaster Regiment, South Africa, 1900–1902,1903, which detailed his time with the York and Lancaster Regiment in the Boer War. He also published records of the campaign in Egypt and Palestine during World War I. He later wrote a number of books analysing military strategy.
Ribbons
Cricket
As a cricketer, Kearsey's batting style is unknown, but is is known he fielded as a wicket-keeperWicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
. While serving in the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, he made his first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut for the Europeans
Europeans cricket team
The Europeans cricket team was an Indian first-class cricket team which took part in the annual Bombay tournament. The team was founded by members of the European community in Bombay who played cricket at the Bombay Gymkhana....
against the Parsees
Parsees cricket team
The Parsees cricket team was an Indian first-class cricket team which took part in the annual Bombay tournament. The team was founded by members of the Zoroastrian community in Bombay....
in 1903. He ended the Europeans first-innings unbeaten
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
on 0. In their second-innings, he was dismissed for 2 runs by Maneksha Bulsara. His second first-class appearance came for the Europeans in 1905, in a repeat of his debut match. In this match, he was dismissed for a duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
by Jehangir Warden in the Europeans first-innings, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 4 runs by the same bowler. Taking up position behind the stumps, he took a single catch and made a single stumping. He later made 2 Minor Counties Championship appearances in 1913 for Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire County Cricket Club
Buckinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Buckinghamshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy. The Minor Counties play...
, against Berkshire
Berkshire County Cricket Club
Berkshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Berkshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and MCCA Knockout Trophy....
and Wiltshire
Wiltshire County Cricket Club
Wiltshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Wiltshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy....
. He did not appear for Buckinghamshire after this season
1913 English cricket season
The 1913 English cricket season saw Kent take the title for the fourth time in eight seasons.-Honours:*County Championship - Kent*Minor Counties Championship - Norfolk...
.
Personal life
Kearsey married Frances Mitford, the daughter of Algernon Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron RedesdaleAlgernon Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale
Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale GCVO, KCB , of Batsford Park, Gloucestershire, and Birdhope Craig, Northumberland, was a British diplomat, collector and writer...
and Lady Clementina Gertrude Helen Ogilvy, on 30 April 1907. The Mitfords were descendants of William the Conqueror. The couple had one son. Kearsey died in Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 8 October 1967. He had survived his wife Frances, who had died in 1951, by 16 years.
External links
- Alexander Kearsey at ESPNcricinfo
- Alexander Kearsey at CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...