Brigadier Julian Jefferson (18 July 1899 – 18 June 1966) CBE was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. Graduating from Sandhurst, he entered into the Welsh Guards during the later stages of the First World War. His military career spanned from 1918–1949, with Jefferson serving during the Second World War and commanding British forces in the North Caribbean in 1948. He was appointed a CBE in the 1948 Birthday Honours, and in the same year he was awarded the Legion of Merit by the United States. During the early part of his military service, he played first-class cricket for the British Army and the Combined Services cricket team. He was the father of the cricketer Richard Jefferson.

Julian Jefferson
Personal information
Full name
Julian Jefferson
Born18 July 1899
Ripon, Yorkshire, England
Died18 June 1966(1966-06-18) (aged 66)
Marylebone, London, England
BattingUnknown
BowlingUnknown
RelationsRichard Jefferson (son)
Will Jefferson (grandson)
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 2
Runs scored 84
Batting average 21.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 26
Balls bowled 208
Wickets 5
Bowling average 33.60
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 4/129
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 15 March 2019

Early life and military career

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Jefferson was born at Ripon, Yorkshire. He was educated at Gresham's School, before attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[1] He graduated from Sandhurst in August 1918, entering into the Welsh Guards as a second lieutenant during the closing stages of World War I.[2] His service number was 18441. Following the war, he made his debut in first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team against Cambridge University at Fenner's in 1919.[3] He took figures of 4 for 129 in the Cambridge first-innings.[4] In February 1920, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.[5] In 1922, he made a second appearance in first-class cricket for the Combined Services cricket team against Essex at Leyton in 1922.[3] He was seconded to the RMC, Sandhurst in September 1927, to command gentlemen cadets,[6] an appointment which lasted until August 1929.[7] He was promoted to the rank of captain in October 1928,[8] and the following year he was an adjutant.[9]

Later military career and life

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He attended the Staff College, Camberley from January 1933 to December 1934,[10] and was promoted to the rank of major while he was there in October 1934.[11] He was seconded to the War Office as a General staff Officer in August 1935,[12] a position he relinquished in January 1938.[13]

He also served throughout the Second World War, initially commanding the 1st Battalion of the Welsh Guards before assuming command of the 33rd Guards Brigade from 1941 to 1943. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in January 1941,[14] and to colonel in December 1944,[15] towards the end of the war. He was the commander of British forces in the North Caribbean by 1948, the year in which he was made a CBE in the Birthday Honours.[16] In November 1948, he was awarded the Legion of Merit by the United States government.[17] He retired from active service in April 1949, at which point he was granted the honorary rank of brigadier.[18] He ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers when he exceeded the age for recall in September 1957.[19]

He died at Marylebone in June 1966, at the age of 66. He was survived by his son, Richard, who also played first-class cricket. His grandson, Will Jefferson, was also a first-class cricketer.

References

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  1. ^ Meddings, Sabah (18 July 2014). "Former Gresham's Pupils Remembered in Centenary Match" (PDF). Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. ^ "No. 30893". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 September 1918. p. 10720.
  3. ^ a b "First-Class Matches played by Julian Jefferson". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Cambridge University v Army, 1919". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  5. ^ "No. 31789". The London Gazette. 20 February 1920. p. 2149.
  6. ^ "No. 33314". The London Gazette. 23 September 1927. p. 6059.
  7. ^ "No. 33531". The London Gazette. 3 September 1929. p. 5717.
  8. ^ "No. 33431". The London Gazette. 19 October 1928. p. 6702.
  9. ^ "No. 33543". The London Gazette. 15 October 1929. p. 6549.
  10. ^ "No. 33904". The London Gazette. 20 January 1933. p. 442.
  11. ^ "No. 34093". The London Gazette. 5 October 1934. p. 6249.
  12. ^ "No. 34193". The London Gazette. 27 August 1935. p. 5470.
  13. ^ "No. 34472". The London Gazette. 11 January 1938. p. 192.
  14. ^ "No. 35056". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 January 1941. p. 539.
  15. ^ "No. 36934". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 February 1945. p. 857.
  16. ^ "No. 38311". The London Gazette. 4 June 1948. p. 3372.
  17. ^ "No. 38459". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1948. p. 6059.
  18. ^ "No. 38584". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 April 1949. p. 1827.
  19. ^ "No. 41167". The London Gazette. 3 September 1957. p. 5215.
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