John Stephenson (cricketer, born 1907)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel John William Arthur Stephenson DSO
(1 August 1907 – 20 May 1982) was a Hong-Kong-born English cricketer
who played first-class cricket
in both India and England from the late 1920s until shortly after the Second World War. His Wisden
obituarist opined that "there would always have been fewer empty grounds" had more players been like him. He was also a British Army
officer, who saw service in the Second World War.
After some games for Buckinghamshire
in the 1927 Minor Counties Championship whilst Stephenson was at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the Middlesex Regiment
on 2 February 1928. Posted to India, he made his first-class debut for Europeans
against Muslims
at Bombay Gymkhana
in the 1928/29 Bombay Quadrangular
tournament, scoring 17 and 42 as well as taking 2-24 in the second innings.
In his next match, against Parsees
, he scored his maiden century, hitting 135 in the first innings.
He played one more game for Europeans that season, then two more the following year, without much success. In 1930/31 he played for Madras against the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram
's XI, then returned to the Europeans side and produced a good all-round display against Indians
, making 117 (he never made another first-class century) and taking six wickets in an innings victory.
Stephenson was promoted to lieutenant
on 2 February 1931, and returned to England later that year. He again turned out for Buckinghamshire, but in August made his English first-class debut for the Army
against MCC
at Lord's
. In a low-scoring match, his 20 not out
in the second innings helped guide the Army to a four-wicket win.
Over the next couple of seasons, he mixed further appearances for the Army (although not achieving any particular success) with continued appearances for Buckinghamshire.
He began 1934 with a game for Free Foresters against Cambridge University
at Fenner's
in early June, and took 4-99 in the first innings; at that stage his best innings return.
A few days later, Stephenson commenced the Essex
career which he would continue until the outbreak of war. His most successful season was 1936, in which he recorded his highest aggregates of both runs (521 at 18.60
) and wickets (84 at 22.19
).
That summer also saw him record his best bowling figures, when he claimed 9-46 for the Gentlemen against the Players
at Lord's, which remains the best innings return ever recorded for the Gentlemen.
Following this performance, there was talk that Stephenson might be preferred to Bill Copson
for the Ashes
tour that winter, but it was not to be.
Stephenson was promoted to captain on 12 April 1937, and for the 1937 and 1938 cricket seasons his army duties precluded his playing a full season of cricket, but he continued to turn out for Essex when he could, and managed about 50 wickets in each season. In 1939 he played much more, and acted as captain on a number of occasions, one of three players so employed by Essex that year.
Stephenson retired from the army on 1 July 1939, but the outbreak of war soon saw him recalled. During the war he continued to serve with the Middlesex Regiment, rising to the war substantive rank of major, and as a temporary lieutenant-colonel he commanded the 1/7th Battalion of the regiment in North Africa. For his leadership of the battalion (which formed the machine gun battalion of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division) at the Second Battle of Alamein and during the subsequent advance on Tripoli
—and particularly for his actions at Corradini and during the attack on the Mareth Line
—the divisional commander, Major-General
Douglas Wimberley
, recommended him for an immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO). The recommendation for the award describes how he personally ensured that the battalion supported the infantry, sometimes leading individual companies under heavy fire, and his carrying out of reconnaissance under fire. The commander of Eighth Army
(the Desert Rats), General
Bernard Montgomery, endorsed the recommendation with the words, "I very strongly recommend this award". The award of the DSO was gazetted
on 17 June 1943. Stephenson was also subsequently Mentioned in Despatches on 13 January 1944. He did not continue in active service after the war, he was promoted to substantive major in the Reserve of Officers on 1 January 1949, and granted honorary rank as a lieutenant-colonel at the same time. He remained in the reserve until he reached the age limit for service on 6 November 1957.
The Second World War also effectively ended his cricket career, although he did play three first-class matches afterwards. The first of these, for England against the Australian Services
in May 1945, was in fact the first first-class game to have been played in England since 1939, and Stephenson took 5-116 in the first innings.
He also played a single match for Worcestershire
against Leicestershire
in May 1947,
and finally one game for South v Glamorgan
at the end of 1948,
though he did nothing remarkable in either match.
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...
(1 August 1907 – 20 May 1982) was a Hong-Kong-born English cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played first-class cricket
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...
in both India and England from the late 1920s until shortly after the Second World War. His Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
obituarist opined that "there would always have been fewer empty grounds" had more players been like him. He was also a 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 saw service in the Second World War.
After some games 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...
in the 1927 Minor Counties Championship whilst Stephenson was at Royal Military Academy 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...
, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Middlesex Regiment
Middlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
on 2 February 1928. Posted to India, he made his first-class debut for 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 Muslims
Muslims cricket team
The Muslims 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 Muslim community in Bombay....
at Bombay Gymkhana
Bombay Gymkhana
Bombay Gymkhana ,, established in 1875, is one of the premiere gymkhanas in the city of Mumbai, India. It is located in the South Mumbai area and was originally built as a British-only club, designed by English architect, Claude Batley. The Gymkhana Grounds lie in the southern end of the Azad Maidan...
in the 1928/29 Bombay Quadrangular
Bombay Quadrangular
The Bombay Quadrangular was an influential cricket tournament held in Bombay, India from 1912 to 1936. At other times it was known variously as the Presidency Match, Bombay Triangular, and the Bombay Pentangular....
tournament, scoring 17 and 42 as well as taking 2-24 in the second innings.
In his next match, against 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....
, he scored his maiden century, hitting 135 in the first innings.
He played one more game for Europeans that season, then two more the following year, without much success. In 1930/31 he played for Madras against the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram
Maharajkumar of Vizianagram
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Vijayananda Gajapathi Raju , better known as the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram or Vizzy, was an Indian cricketer, cricket administrator and politician.- Childhood :...
's XI, then returned to the Europeans side and produced a good all-round display against Indians
Indians cricket team
The Indians cricket team was an Indian first-class cricket team which took part in the annual Madras Presidency Matches against the Europeans cricket team, commencing in December 1915.-Sources:* Vasant Raiji, India's Hambledon Men, Tyeby Press, 1986...
, making 117 (he never made another first-class century) and taking six wickets in an innings victory.
Stephenson was promoted to lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 2 February 1931, and returned to England later that year. He again turned out for Buckinghamshire, but in August made his English first-class debut for the Army
British Army cricket team
The Army cricket team is a cricket side representing the British Army. The team played a number of first-class matches between 1912 and 1939, although a combined "Army and Navy" side had played two games against a combined Oxford and Cambridge team in 1910 and 1911...
against MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
. In a low-scoring match, his 20 not out
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...
in the second innings helped guide the Army to a four-wicket win.
Over the next couple of seasons, he mixed further appearances for the Army (although not achieving any particular success) with continued appearances for Buckinghamshire.
He began 1934 with a game for Free Foresters against Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
at Fenner's
Fenner's
Fenner's is the University of Cambridge's cricket ground.-History:Fenner's has hosted first-class cricket since 1848, and many of the world's great players have graced the wicket. The ground was established on land leased for the purpose by Francis Fenner, after whom the ground is named.Playing for...
in early June, and took 4-99 in the first innings; at that stage his best innings return.
A few days later, Stephenson commenced the Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
career which he would continue until the outbreak of war. His most successful season was 1936, in which he recorded his highest aggregates of both runs (521 at 18.60
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
) and wickets (84 at 22.19
Bowling average
Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned...
).
That summer also saw him record his best bowling figures, when he claimed 9-46 for the Gentlemen against the Players
Gentlemen v Players
The Gentlemen v Players game was a first-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between one team consisting of amateurs and one of professionals . The first two games took place in 1806 but the fixture was not revived until 1819. It was more or less annual thereafter...
at Lord's, which remains the best innings return ever recorded for the Gentlemen.
Following this performance, there was talk that Stephenson might be preferred to Bill Copson
Bill Copson
Bill Copson was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1932 and 1950, and for England between 1939 and 1947. He took over 1,000 wickets for Derbyshire, and was prominent in their 1936 Championship season...
for the Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
tour that winter, but it was not to be.
Stephenson was promoted to captain on 12 April 1937, and for the 1937 and 1938 cricket seasons his army duties precluded his playing a full season of cricket, but he continued to turn out for Essex when he could, and managed about 50 wickets in each season. In 1939 he played much more, and acted as captain on a number of occasions, one of three players so employed by Essex that year.
Stephenson retired from the army on 1 July 1939, but the outbreak of war soon saw him recalled. During the war he continued to serve with the Middlesex Regiment, rising to the war substantive rank of major, and as a temporary lieutenant-colonel he commanded the 1/7th Battalion of the regiment in North Africa. For his leadership of the battalion (which formed the machine gun battalion of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division) at the Second Battle of Alamein and during the subsequent advance on Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
—and particularly for his actions at Corradini and during the attack on the Mareth Line
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
—the divisional commander, Major-General
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
Douglas Wimberley
Douglas Wimberley
Major-General Douglas Neil Wimberley CB, DSO, MC was commander of the 51st Division at the Second Battle of El Alamein in World War II and lead it across North Africa to Sicily....
, recommended him for an immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order
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...
(DSO). The recommendation for the award describes how he personally ensured that the battalion supported the infantry, sometimes leading individual companies under heavy fire, and his carrying out of reconnaissance under fire. The commander of Eighth Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
(the Desert Rats), General
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Bernard Montgomery, endorsed the recommendation with the words, "I very strongly recommend this award". The award of the DSO was gazetted
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...
on 17 June 1943. Stephenson was also subsequently Mentioned in Despatches on 13 January 1944. He did not continue in active service after the war, he was promoted to substantive major in the Reserve of Officers on 1 January 1949, and granted honorary rank as a lieutenant-colonel at the same time. He remained in the reserve until he reached the age limit for service on 6 November 1957.
The Second World War also effectively ended his cricket career, although he did play three first-class matches afterwards. The first of these, for England against the Australian Services
Australian Services cricket team
The Australian Services XI was a cricket team comprising solely military service personnel during World War II. They became active in May 1945 after the defeat of Nazi Germany. The team played matches against English cricket sides of both military and civilian origins to celebrate the end of the war...
in May 1945, was in fact the first first-class game to have been played in England since 1939, and Stephenson took 5-116 in the first innings.
He also played a single match for Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
in May 1947,
and finally one game for South v Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
at the end of 1948,
though he did nothing remarkable in either match.