William Jack Pershke (8 August 1918 – 21 January 1944) was an English first-class cricketer and an officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Jack Pershke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 August 1918 Richmond, Surrey, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 21 January 1944 (aged 25) at sea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm fast-medium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1938 | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 11 March 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pershke was born at Richmond in August 1918. He was educated at Uppingham School, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford.[1] While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University in 1938, making eight appearances.[2] Playing as a right-arm fast-medium bowler, he took 28 wickets in his eight matches at an average of 26.85. He took five wickets in an innings on three occasions, with best figures of 6 for 46, which he took on debut against Glamorgan.[3][1] With the bat, he scored a total of 57 runs with a high score of 17 not out.[4]
Pershke served in the Second World War with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, enlisting as a leading aircraftman in April 1941.[5] He received a commission with the war substantive rank of flight officer in May 1942,[6] before being made a flight lieutenant in May 1943.[7] Flying with No. 105 Operational Training Unit, he was killed when the Wellington he was flying crashed over the sea while on a navigational exercise on 21 January 1944.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c McCrery, Nigel (2011). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Vol. 2nd volume. Pen and Sword. p. 372. ISBN 978-1526706980.
- ^ "First-Class Matches played by William Pershke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "First-class Bowling For Each Team by William Pershke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by William Pershke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "No. 35171". The London Gazette. 23 May 1941. p. 2949.
- ^ "No. 35598". The London Gazette. 16 June 1942. p. 2659.
- ^ "No. 36094". The London Gazette. 13 July 1943. p. 3220.