John Devitt Elrick Gartly (8 January 1908 – 22 November 1941) was a South African first-class cricketer and South African Army officer.

John Gartly
Personal information
Full name
John Devitt Elrick Gartly
Born8 January 1908
Johannesburg, Transvaal,
South Africa
Died22 November 1941(1941-11-22) (aged 33)
Sidi Rezegh, Italian Libya
BattingUnknown
RoleWicket-keeper
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1931/32–1932/33Transvaal
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 3
Runs scored 38
Batting average 9.50
100s/50s –/–
Top score 10
Catches/stumpings 2/1
Source: Cricinfo, 10 June 2022

The son of William and Elizabeth Gartly, he was born at Johannesburg in January 1908 and was subsequently educated in the city at King Edward VII School.[1] Gartly made three appearances in first-class cricket as a wicket-keeper for Transvaal in 1932, playing twice against Western Province and once against Natal.[2] He scored 38 runs in his three matches, with a highest score of 10; as a wicket-keeper, he took two catches and made a single stumping.[3]

Gartly served in the South African Army during the Second World War as an officer in the 3rd Battalion, Transvaal Scottish Regiment. He served with the regiment in the East African campaign, seeing action in Italian Ethiopia during the Battle of Mega in February 1941, which resulted in the South Africans capturing the town from Italian forces. From there, the regiment proceeded to Egypt to take part in Operation Crusader, during which Gartly died from wounds at Sidi Rezegh on 22 November 1941.[1] At the time of his death he held the rank of major.[4] Gartly was buried at the Knightsbridge War Cemetery in Libya. His brother was also killed during the war in April 1945.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c McCrery, Nigel (17 July 2017). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Vol. 2nd. Pen and Sword. pp. 149–51. ISBN 978-1526706980.
  2. ^ "First-Class Matches played by John Gartly". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  3. ^ "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by John Gartly". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Obituaries during the war, 1942". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
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