George Berkeley

BERKELEY, MR. GEORGE FITZ-HARDINGE, who died at Hanwell Castle, Banbury, on November 14, aged 85, accomplished many fine performances as a medium-paced left-arm bowler late last century. Born in Dublin, he was in the Wellington College XI for four years, heading the bowling averages from 1887 to 1889. In 1887 he took 63 wickets, average 10.31, and in 1889 took 47, average 8.10. He gained his Blue at Oxford as a Freshman in 1890 and played four times against Cambridge, obtaining in the big matches 27 wickets for less than 13 runs each. His best performances in the University matches were five wickets for 20 runs in the second innings in 1891, when Cambridge, having compelled Oxford to follow on 102 behind, scrambled home by two wickets, and five for 38 -- including the wickets of K. S. Ranjitsinhji, E. C. Streatfield and C. M. Wells -- and four for 56 in 1893.

It was in the 1891 match that the Hon. F. J. N. Thesiger slipped when fielding during the opening hour, sprained his wrist and dropped out of the game. G. McGregor, the Cambridge captain, allowed T. B. Case to replace him in the Oxford team. In 1890, Berkeley distinguished himself for Oxford against the Australians by dismissing eight men for 70 runs. Two years later he appeared without success for Gentlemen against Players at The Oval.

For some seasons from 1904 he played occasionally for Oxfordshire. He served in the Worcestershire Regiment from 1898 to 1901, afterwards became a barrister and author and saw service in the First World War as Brigade musketry officer in the 3rd Cavalry Reserve Regiment and on the Claims Commission in France and Italy.