Robert Edwin Bush

Infobox Old Cricketer


nationality = Gloucestershire
country = Gloucestershire
country abbrev = Glo
picture = Robert Edwin Bush.pngname = Robert Edwin Bush
batting style = Right-handed batsman
bowling style = n/a
FCs = 17
FC runs = 221
FC bat avg = 9.60
FC 100s/50s = 0/0
FC top score = 42
FC balls = 0
FC wickets = 0
FC bowl avg = n/a
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = n/a
FC catches/stumpings = 6/0
debut date = 13 August
debut year = 1874
last date = 13 June
last year = 1877
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28347/28347.html Cricket Archive

Robert Edwin Bush (11 October 1855 – 29 December 1939) was a first-class cricketer for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club from 1874 to 1877, and from 1890 to 1893 was a member of Western Australia's first Legislative Council under responsible government. During World War I, he converted his home into a war hospital at his own cost.

Bush was born at Redland, Bristol; his father was Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Bush, who commanded a detachment of the 96th Infantry in Western Australia in the 1840s. Bush attended Clifton College from 1865 to 1875, captaining the school's cricket team in his last two years. Between August 1874 and June 1877, he played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, alongside W. G. Grace; he was a right handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper.

Travel and life in Australia

Some time afterwards, Bush travelled to Western Australia, where he worked for eighteen months as a jackaroo on Murgoo Station. After taking a cargo of horses to Mauritius, he spent six months from October 1879 to March 1880 exploring north of the Gascoyne River. He later took up a number of sheep and cattle stations in the area, becoming a leading Gascoyne pastoralist. He also became interested in gold prospecting, and joined the gold rush to the Yilgarn after the discovery of gold there in 1887.

In 1889, Bush became a Justice of the Peace, and in December of the following year, he became a nominated member of Western Australia's first Legislative Council under responsible government, which position he held until his resignation in July 1893.

In January 1893, he married a widow named Constance Harper (nee Lochee); she died three years later.

Return to England

Bush returned to England in the early 1900s, and bought "Bishop's Knoll" at Stoke Bishop near Bristol. In 1907, he married Margery Scott. In 1911 he became Sheriff of Bristol, and in the same year was president of the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. From 1912 to 1939, he was director of Dalgety and Co. in London.

When World War I broke out, Bush converted "Bishop's Knoll" into a hospital for wounded soldiers at his own cost, and subsequently served there as an ambulance orderly. "Bishop's Knoll War Hospital" admitted its first patients late in 1814; it would later treat many Anzac casualties of the Battle of Gallipoli, including Victoria Cross recipient John Patrick Hamilton. After the war, Bush was created a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem.

In 1919, Bush was the Australian delegate to the International Red Cross meeting at Geneva. In later life, he was involved in the film industry and in broadcasting. He travelled regularly throughout the world, returning to Western Australia 13 times. He died at "Bishop's Knoll" on 29 December 1939.

References

*Black and Bolton 2001
*cite journal|author=Cameron, C. W. M.|year=1982|title=R. E. Bush, Gascoyne Explorer and Pastoralist|journal=Early Days|volume=VIII|issue=VI
*cite web|title=Robert Bush, "Cricinfo"|url=http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/ENG/B/BUSH_RE_01028710/|accessdate=January 30|accessyear=2006
*cite web|title=Robert Bush, "Cricket Archive"|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28347/28347.html|accessdate=January 30|accessyear=2006
*cite web|title=List of first class matches played by Robert Bush, "Cricket Archive"|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28347/First-Class_Matches.html|accessdate=January 30|accessyear=2006
*Kimberly 1897

Persondata
NAME=Bush, Robert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Politician, Cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH=11 October 1855
PLACE OF BIRTH=Redland, Bristol
DATE OF DEATH=29 December 1939
PLACE OF DEATH=Bishop's Knoll at Stoke Bishop near Bristol