Victor Henry Wells-Cole MC (29 April 1897 – 8 March 1987) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. Wells-Cole served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during both world wars, in addition to playing first-class cricket for the Europeans cricket team in British India.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Victor Henry Wells-Cole | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 29 April 1897 Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 8 March 1987 (aged 89) Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Unknown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Unknown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1923/24 | Europeans | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1924 | Lincolnshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 16 February 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life and World War I
editWells-Cole was born at Lincoln to Gervas Frederic Wells-Cole and his wife, Mary Beatrice Brook.[1] He was educated at Winchester College.[2] From Winchester he attended Sandhurst, graduating in April 1915 and entering into the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry as a second lieutenant.[3] Serving during World War I, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in April 1917,[4] and was awarded the Military Cross in November 1917.[5] He transferred to the Labour Corps in March 1918.[6]
First-class cricket and World War II
editBy 1923, Wells-Cole was back serving in the King's Own, gaining the rank of captain in March of that year.[7] He served in British India the following year, playing in a first-class cricket match for the Europeans against the Hindus at Lahore.[8] He batted twice during the match, scoring 1 run in the Europeans first-innings before he was dismissed by Brij Lall, while in their second-innings he was dismissed without scoring by Jagan Mehta.[9] After going wicketless in the Hindus first-innings, he took figures of 3 for 44 in their second-innings.[9] Returning to England shortly after, he played minor counties cricket for Lincolnshire in 1924, making three appearances in the Minor Counties Championship.[10] He was promoted to major in September 1935.[11] He later served during the Second World War, during which he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in April 1942.[12] He retired from military service in April 1952.[13]
Personal life
editWells-Cole was married to Thomasina Scott Oliver, with the couple having one daughter.[1] His brother, Neville Wells-Cole, was killed during the First World War.[2] He died at Huntingdon in March 1987, at the age of 89, just a few weeks away from his 90th birthday.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Profile: Lt.-Col. Victor Henry Wells-Cole". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Wells-Cole, Neville William". Winchester College. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ "No. 29133". The London Gazette. 16 April 1915.
- ^ "No. 30008". The London Gazette. 3 April 1917.
- ^ "No. 30399". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 November 1917.
- ^ "No. 30762". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 June 1918.
- ^ "No. 32831". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 June 1923.
- ^ "First-Class Matches played by Joe Price". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Europeans v Hindus, 1923/24". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Victor Wells-Collins". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ "No. 34205". The London Gazette. 8 October 1935.
- ^ "No. 35543". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 April 1942.
- ^ "No. 39525". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 April 1952.