Patrick William Rucker (5 May 1900 – 20 May 1940) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick William Rucker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 5 May 1900 Chislehurst, Kent, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 20 May 1940 (aged 40) Amiens, Picardy, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Unknown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Left-arm medium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Charles Rucker (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1919 | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 23 March 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rucker was born at Chislehurst in May 1900. He was educated at Charterhouse School, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford.[1] While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University in 1919. In his debut match against the Gentlemen of England at Oxford, he bowled the first delivery in first-class cricket since the 1918 Armistice and the first since the suspension of first-class cricket in 1914.[1] He made seven first-class appearances for Oxford in 1919, which included playing in The University Match against Cambridge.[2] He took 11 wickets with his left-arm medium pace bowling, at an average of 42.00 and best figures of 4 for 107.[3]
Rucker married Betty Fairweather at High Wycombe in 1927.[1] He later served in the Second World War, being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment in November 1939.[4] He fought during the Battle of France in May 1940, travelling to Amiens via Abbeville and Lens, all the while the regiment was harassed by Luftwaffe dive-bombers. On 20 May, his battalion was attacked at Amiens by a motorcycle battalion of the 1st Panzer Division, during which Rucker was killed in action. He is commemorated at the Dunkirk Memorial.[1] His brother, Robin, was killed during the First World War in service with the Royal Air Force,[1] while another brother, Charles, also fought in the First World War, with the army, and played first-class cricket.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e McCrery, Nigel (2011). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Vol. 2nd volume. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1526706980.
- ^ "First-Class Matches played by Patrick Rucker". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Patrick Rucker". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ "No. 34768". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 January 1940. p. 150.