Charlie Walker (cricketer)

Charlie Walker

Personal information
Full name	Charles William Walker
Born	9 February 1909(1909-02-09) Brompton Park, South Australia, Australia
Died	18 December 1942(1942-12-18) (aged 33) Soltau, Germany
Batting style	Right-hand
Role	Wicket-keeper
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1928–1941	South Australia
Career statistics
Competition	First-class
Matches	109
Runs scored	1754
Batting average	14.99
100s/50s	0/2
Top score	71
Balls bowled	0
Wickets	0
Bowling average	n/a
5 wickets in innings	0
10 wickets in match	0
Best bowling	n/a
Catches/stumpings	171/149
Source: Cricinfo, 15 January 2007

Charles William "Charlie" Walker (19 February 1909 – 18 December 1942) was a cricketer who played for South Australia. A specialist wicket-keeper and right-handed batsman, Walker was born in Brompton, an inner-suburb of Adelaide.

Nicknamed "Chilla",^[1] Walker started his cricket career for the local Coglin Street Mission Cricket Club before making his Adelaide Grade cricket debut for West Torrens Cricket Club and later transferring to Prospect Cricket Club.^[2]

Walker made his first-class debut for South Australia at the end of the 1928/29 season, making eights dismissals (three caught and five stumped)^[1], and his form in the 1929/30 season, including four stumpings and three catches in a match against the touring English side, led to his inclusion in the 1930 Australian tour of England.^[1]

Unfortunately for Walker, a succession of finger injuries hampered his chances during the tour^[1] and he missed the 1934 England tour. Chosen for the 1938 Ashes tour of England, Walker again suffered a succession of injuries and did not play in a Test^[1]. Walker enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 3 February 1941 and gained the rank of Flying Officer.^[3] Assigned to the 14 Operational Training Unit, Walker was killed in action when he was shot down over Soltau, Germany while piloting a bomber aircraft.

Walker's sister May represented South Australia in netball while May's husband Bob Quinn was a leading Australian rules footballer with Port Adelaide Football Club.^[4] Walker's cousin Ron Hamence was a member of Don Bradman's Invincibles.^[5]

The South Australian Cricket Association now presents the Charlie Walker Trophy to the best wicket-keeper in Adelaide Grade Cricket. Walker's nephew Greg Quinn won the award seven times.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Pollard, J. (1988) Australian Cricket: The Game and its Players, Angus & Robertson Publishers, Sydney.
2. ^ West Torrens District Cricket Club http://webcat.wtcc.sa.gov.au/hipres/images/lhimages/579-4.pdf. Accessed 15 January 2008.
3. ^ World War II Nominal Roll, Commonwealth of Australia, 2002. http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=R&VeteranID=1066602 Accessed 18 January 2008.
4. ^ ^{a b} Porter, A. (2008) "Bob Quinn - A Legend who Stuck by his Mates", The Independent Weekely, 28 April 2008
5. ^ ed. Cashman, R. et al. (1997)The A-Z of Australian cricketers, Oxford University Press: Melbourne.

Persondata
Name	Walker, Charlie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	9 February 1909
Place of birth	Brompton Park, South Australia
Date of death	18 December 1942
Place of death	Soltau