Russell Bencraft
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry William Russell Bencraft CBE
MRCS
, LRCP
(4 March 1858 – 25 December 1943) was an English
cricketer
, cricket administrator and medical practitioner. He was born at Southampton
, Hampshire
.
he succeeded Sir Francis Lacey
as Hampshire captain.
At the age of 37 Bencraft retired from first-class cricket due to his commitments as a medical doctor.
Bencraft was also President of Southampton St. Mary's F.C. and his connections helped them secure the use of the County Ground
, at an annual rental of £200, when the Antelope Ground
was sold for re-development in 1896.
Committee. Bencraft was also actively involved in several local companies, including as the chairman of directors for the Southern Daily Echo
. As well as business interests Bencraft was actively involved in other sports besides cricket. Bencraft played for the Trojans Rugby Club
, then one of the best Rugby
clubs in Hampshire. A keen footballer Bencraft was the first President of the Southern Football League
, and held similar positions with the Hampshire Rugby Union and the Southampton Civil Service Sports Association.
In 1924 Bencraft was knighted at Buckingham Palace
. Bencraft lived in Southampton since his birth in 1858. During the Second World War Bencraft's house was destroyed in a German
air raid.
The cricketer Ernest Read was his nephew. Six months after having his left leg amputated
Bencraft died in Compton and Shawford
, near Winchester
, Hampshire
aged 85.
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...
MRCS
Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons
MRCS is a professional qualification for surgeons in the UK and IrelandIt means Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. In the United Kingdom, doctors who gain this qualification traditionally no longer use the title 'Dr' but start to use the title 'Mr', 'Mrs', 'Miss' or 'Ms'.There are 4 surgical...
, LRCP
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
(4 March 1858 – 25 December 1943) was 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...
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"....
, cricket administrator and medical practitioner. He was born 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...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
Hampshire County Cricket Club
When Bencraft was aged 21 Hampshire were threatened with extinction. He became club secretary, and during a period of sixty years he occupied every office at Hampshire, including that of President, which he held until when retiring from close participation in the game in 1936. In the 1895 County Championship1895 County Championship
The 1895 County Championship was the sixth officially organised running of the County Championship, and ran from 6 May to 2 September 1895. Surrey claimed their fifth title, which was decided by the percentage of completed matches by each side....
he succeeded Sir Francis Lacey
Francis Lacey
Sir Francis Eden Lacey was the first man to be knighted for services to cricket, on retiring as Secretary of MCC, a post which he held from 1898 to 1926. As Secretary, he initiated many important reforms...
as Hampshire captain.
At the age of 37 Bencraft retired from first-class cricket due to his commitments as a medical doctor.
Bencraft was also President of Southampton St. Mary's F.C. and his connections helped them secure the use of the County Ground
County Ground, Southampton
The County Ground in Southampton, England was a former cricket and football ground. It was the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club from the 1885 English cricket season until the 2000 English cricket season...
, at an annual rental of £200, when the Antelope Ground
Antelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
was sold for re-development in 1896.
Later life
After being educated at St Edward's School, Oxford, Bencraft became a qualified cricket ball examiner, which he ended his first-class career to pursue. Bencraft later served on the Marylebone Cricket ClubMarylebone 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...
Committee. Bencraft was also actively involved in several local companies, including as the chairman of directors for the Southern Daily Echo
Southern Daily Echo
The Southern Daily Echo, commonly known as the Daily Echo or simply The Echo, is a local newspaper that covers the area of south-central Hampshire, England, including the city of Southampton...
. As well as business interests Bencraft was actively involved in other sports besides cricket. Bencraft played for the Trojans Rugby Club
Trojans Rugby Club
The Trojans Club based at Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, Hampshire was formed in 1874, initially as a rugby club.There are now four very active sections, Rugby, Cricket, Hockey and Squash, covering all ages from Under 8 to Seniors and both men and women, boys and girls...
, then one of the best Rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
clubs in Hampshire. A keen footballer Bencraft was the first President of the Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, and held similar positions with the Hampshire Rugby Union and the Southampton Civil Service Sports Association.
In 1924 Bencraft was knighted at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
. Bencraft lived in Southampton since his birth in 1858. During the Second World War Bencraft's house was destroyed in a German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
air raid.
The cricketer Ernest Read was his nephew. Six months after having his left leg amputated
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
Bencraft died in Compton and Shawford
Compton and Shawford
Compton and Shawford is a civil parish in the City of Winchester, Hampshire, England. The word compton means village in a combe and aptly describes the settlement as it primarily consists of a long street on the side of a chalk valley....
, near Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
aged 85.
External links
- Russell Bencraft at CricinfoCricinfoESPNcricinfo is believed to be the largest cricket-related website on the World Wide Web. Content includes news,articles, live scorecards,live text commentary and a comprehensive and searchable database called 'StatsGuru', of historical matches and players from the 18th century to the present...
- Russell Bencraft 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...