Percival Bertram Sanger (19 October 1899 – 17 September 1968) was an English first-class cricketer, polo champion and British Army officer. In a military career which spanned from 1918–1947, he served in both the British Army and the British Indian Army. Additionally, he played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team, as well as winning the prestigious Hurlingham Club Championship in polo.

Percival Sanger
Personal information
Full name
Percival Bertram Sanger
Born19 October 1899
Reading, Berkshire, England
Died17 September 1968(1968-09-17) (aged 68)
Avebury, Wiltshire, England
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 2
Batting average 2.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 2
Catches/stumpings 2/1
Source: Cricinfo, 13 April 2019

Life and military career

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Sanger was born at Reading and was educated at Cheltenham College.[1] From there he attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, graduating in June 1918 as a second lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery and serving in the latter stages of the First World War.[2] He made a single appearance in first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team against the Royal Navy at Lord's in July 1925.[3] Batting once in the match, he scored 2 runs in the Army's only innings, before being dismissed by Dallas Brooks.[4] Playing as a wicket-keeper, he also took two catches and made a single stumping.[4]

He was seconded for service with the Colonial Office in September 1925, by which point he held the rank of lieutenant.[5] He was granted the temporary rank of captain in March 1929, while serving with the Royal West African Frontier Force.[6] He was restored to the Royal Artillery in November 1929,[7] after ceasing to be employed in the Royal West African Frontier Force.[8] By 1931, Sanger was serving in the British Indian Army as a captain.[9] He was promoted to the rank of major in September 1938.[10][11] He served during the Second World War with the British Indian Army as part of the Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry.[12] Following the conclusion of the war, Sanger was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in December 1945, with seniority antedated to June 1944.[13]

While serving in India he was a noted 8-goal handicap polo player.[12] Sanger took part in the Inter-regimental Tournament, the Western India Championship, the Radha Mohan Tournament, and the Queen's Bay Challenge Cup.[12] In England he was a previous Hurlingham Club champion and winner of the Hargreaves (Warwickshire) Cup.[12] He retired from active service with the British Indian Army in April 1947, retaining the rank of lieutenant colonel.[14] In retirement he was appointed to the British Army's Regular Army Reserve of Officers as a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Armoured Corps in January 1949.[15] Having exceeded the age for recall, he was removed from the reserve of officers list in October 1954.[16] He died in September 1968 at Avebury, Wiltshire.

References

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  1. ^ "Player profile: Percival Sanger". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  2. ^ "No. 30728". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1918. p. 6669.
  3. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Percival Sanger". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Army v Royal Navy, 1925". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  5. ^ "No. 33091". The London Gazette. 9 October 1925. p. 6505.
  6. ^ "No. 33517". The London Gazette. 16 July 1929. p. 4703.
  7. ^ "No. 33559". The London Gazette. 10 December 1929. p. 8025.
  8. ^ "No. 33561". The London Gazette. 17 December 1929. p. 8208.
  9. ^ "No. 33752". The London Gazette. 11 September 1931. p. 5905.
  10. ^ "No. 34557". The London Gazette. 30 September 1938. p. 6144.
  11. ^ "No. 34606". The London Gazette. 10 March 1939. p. 1640.
  12. ^ a b c d Laffaye, Horace A. (2015). The Polo Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). McFarland. p. 330. ISBN 978-0786495771.
  13. ^ "No. 37699". The London Gazette. 23 August 1946. p. 4249.
  14. ^ "No. 37940". The London Gazette. 25 April 1947. p. 1856.
  15. ^ "No. 38685". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 August 1949. p. 3862.
  16. ^ "No. 40335". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 November 1954. p. 6685.
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