John Leslie (cricketer, born 1888)

John Leslie
Personal information
Full name
John Leslie
Born26 August 1888
Westminster, London, England
Died1 October 1965(1965-10-01) (aged 77)
Brancaster, Norfolk, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm slow
RelationsCharles Leslie (father)
Ivor Gilliat (brother-in-law)
Hubert Pilkington (brother-in-law)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1908Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 3
Runs scored 42
Batting average 8.40
100s/50s –/–
Top score 23
Balls bowled 48
Wickets 0
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings 4/–
Source: Cricinfo, 20 May 2020

John Leslie DSO MC DL (26 August 1888 – 1 October 1965) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

The son of the cricketer Charles Leslie, he was born at Westminster in August 1888. He was educated at Winchester College,[1] before going up to Trinity College, Oxford.[2] While studying at Oxford, he made three appearances in first-class cricket for Oxford University in 1908, against the Gentlemen of England, the Marylebone Cricket Club and Worcestershire.[3] He scored 42 runs in his three matches, with a high score of 23.[4]

Leslie was commissioned in the Territorial Force as a second lieutenant in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry in October 1909,[5] before being promoted to lieutenant in October 1913.[6] Leslie served in the First World War, transferring to the 12th Royal Lancers in September 1914.[7] During the war he was awarded the Military Cross in June 1916 and following its conclusion he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the 1919 New Year Honours.[8][9] In March 1919, he was promoted to major.[10] He was later appointed as a director of the Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co., Ltd in July 1939.[11] In 1946, he was an Ecclesiastical Commissioner.[12] In 1938 he was a deputy lieutenant for Norfolk,[13] before serving as High Sheriff in 1950.[14] Leslie died in October 1965 at Brancaster, Norfolk.

He was married to Nannette Margaret Helen (née Gilliat), the sister of the cricketer Ivor Gilliat. His own sister was married to the cricketer Hubert Pilkington. Leslie's grandfather was the composer and conductor Henry David Leslie, while his great-great grandson is the actor Jack Huston.

  1. ^ Winchester College, 1836-1906: A Register. P. and G. Wells. 1907. p. 607.
  2. ^ First-Class Fixtures. Sporting Life. 7 May 1908. p. 8
  3. ^ "First-Class Matches played by John Leslie". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  4. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by John Leslie". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  5. ^ "No. 28301". The London Gazette. 26 October 1909. p. 7852.
  6. ^ "No. 28772". The London Gazette. 11 November 1913. p. 7872.
  7. ^ "No. 28890". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 September 1914. p. 6985.
  8. ^ "No. 29608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1916. p. 5575.
  9. ^ "No. 13375". The Edinburgh Gazette. 2 January 1919. p. 19.
  10. ^ "No. 31215". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 March 1919. p. 3113.
  11. ^ Sailed – July 28. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 31 July 1939. p. 13
  12. ^ "No. 37785". The London Gazette. 12 November 1946. p. 5533.
  13. ^ "No. 38461". The London Gazette. 19 November 1948. p. 6074.
  14. ^ "No. 38878". The London Gazette. 4 April 1950. p. 1666.