Geoffrey Rawson

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Geoffrey Rawson


country = England
fullname = Geoffrey Grahame Rawson
dayofbirth = 2
monthofbirth = 12
yearofbirth = 1887
placeofbirth = Shirmadavy
countryofbirth = India
dayofdeath = 14
monthofdeath = 1
yearofdeath = 1979
placeofdeath = Kensington, London
countryofdeath = England
batting = Right-handed
bowling =
role = Batsman
club1 = Army
year1 = 1921
type1 = First-class
onetype1 =
debutdate1 = 4 June
debutyear1 = 1921
debutfor1 = Army
debutagainst1 = Cambridge University
lastdate1 = 24 June
lastyear1 = 1921
lastfor1 = Army
lastagainst1 = Royal Navy
deliveries = balls
columns = 1
column1 = First-class
matches1 = 3
runs1 = 69
bat avg1 = 13.80
100s/50s1 = 0/0
top score1 = 39
deliveries1 = 0
wickets1 = -
bowl avg1 = -
fivefor1 = -
tenfor1 = -
best bowling1 = -
catches/stumpings1 = 5/0
date = 20 April
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/32/32273/32273.html CricketArchive

Major-General Geoffrey Grahame Rawson CB OBE MC (2 December 1887–14 January 1979) [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/19605.html Cricinfo profile] ] was a senior British Army officer who served in both the First and Second World Wars and had a notable cricket career, playing first-class cricket for the Army in 1921.

Military career

On graduation from Royal Military College Sandhurst in 1908, Rawson was commissioned into the Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant. [LondonGazette|issue=28171|startpage=6219|date=25 August 1908|accessdate=2008-05-16] He was promoted lieutenant on 18 August 1910. [LondonGazette|issue=28408|startpage=6039|date=19 August 1910|accessdate=2008-05-16] By 20 November 1915 he had been promoted to captain, and he was then given command of a signals company at a corps headquarters, with a temporary majority, [LondonGazette|issue=29534|supp=yes|startpage=3557|date=4 April 1916|accessdate=2008-05-16] he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in the 1916 King's Birthday Honours. [LondonGazette|issue=29608|supp=yes|startpage=5570|endpage=5576|date=2 June 1916|accessdate=2008-05-16] His temporary rank became a brevet on 3 June 1917. [LondonGazette|issue=30111|supp=yes|startpage=5465|date=1 June 1917|accessdate=2008-05-16] He was appointed assistant director, army signals (with the acting rank of lieutenant-colonel) on 19 April 1917, relinquishing the post (and the rank) on 13 November 1917. [LondonGazette|issue=30461|supp=yes|startpage=415|date=4 January 1918|accessdate=2008-05-16
LondonGazette|issue=30463|supp=yes|startpage=457|date=4 January 1918|accessdate=2008-05-16
LondonGazette|issue=30577|supp=yes|startpage=3293|date=12 March 1918|accessdate=2008-05-16] He was then appointed a Staff Captain at the War Office on 6 April 1918. [LondonGazette|issue=30653|supp=yes|startpage=5040|date=23 April 1918|accessdate=2008-05-16] He formally transferred from the Engineers to the newly established Royal Corps of Signals on 22 March 1921, and since taking up the post of Staff Captain, had been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. [LondonGazette|issue=32322|supp=yes|startpage=3837|date=12 May 1921|accessdate=2008-05-16]

On 1 April 1921 he was promoted from Staff Captain to Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, still at the War Office, [LondonGazette|issue=32334|supp=yes|startpage=4168|date=25 May 1921|accessdate=2008-05-16] holding the post until 29 January 1923. [LondonGazette|issue=32794|startpage=994|date=9 February 1923|accessdate=2008-05-16] By 1928 he was substantive lieutenant-colonel and commanded a signals regiment for four years until 15 May 1932, when he was promoted to colonel and placed on the half pay list. [LondonGazette|issue=33826|startpage=3220|date=17 May 1932|accessdate=2008-05-16
LondonGazette|issue=33827|startpage=3277|date=20 May 1932|accessdate=2008-05-16] On 5 December 1932 he was appointed chief instructor at the School of Signals, [LondonGazette|issue=33902|startpage=302|date=13 January 1933|accessdate=2008-05-16] holding the post until 5 December 1936. [LondonGazette|issue=34346|startpage=7819|date=4 December 1936|accessdate=2008-05-16] On 30 June 1937 he was appointed deputy director of the signals department at the War Office, and was granted the temporary rank of brigadier; [LondonGazette|issue=34414|startpage=4249|date=2 July 1937|accessdate=2008-05-16] he became director, with the acting rank of major-general, on 3 January 1941. [LondonGazette|issue=35096|supp=yes|startpage=1350|date=4 March 1941|accessdate=2008-05-16] He held the additional honorary appointment of Aide-de-camp to George VI between 1 August 1938 [LondonGazette|issue=34547|startpage=5605|date=2 September 1938|accessdate=2008-05-16] and April 1941, vacating the appointment when his acting rank of major-general was made substantive. [LondonGazette|issue=35170|supp=yes|startpage=2937|date=20 May 1941|accessdate=2008-05-16] The promotion was back-dated to 14 January 1941, with seniority from 14 June 1938. [LondonGazette|issue=35144|supp=yes|startpage=2348|date=22 April 1941|accessdate=2008-05-16] He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1941 King's Birthday Honours. [LondonGazette|issue=35204|supp=yes|startpage=3735|endpage=3736|date=27 June 1941|accessdate=2008-05-16] He retired on 2 December 1944, [LondonGazette|issue=36818|supp=yes|startpage=5498|date=27 June 1941|accessdate=2008-05-16] and was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Royal Corps of Signals on 31 December 1944, [LondonGazette|issue=36861|supp=yes|startpage=5936|date=26 December 1944|accessdate=2008-05-16] holding the role until 18 September 1950. [LondonGazette|issue=39082|supp=yes|startpage=6061|date=5 December 1950|accessdate=2008-05-16]

Cricket career

A right-handed batsman, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/32/32273/32273.html CricketArchive profile] ] Rawson played three first-class matches during the 1921 English cricket season, all for the Army. He first played against Cambridge University and Oxford University, before playing against the Royal Navy at Lord's. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/32/32273/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by Geoffrey Rawson] at CricketArchive]

He later played three matches for the Egypt national cricket team. Two against Free Foresters in 1927, and one against HM Martineau's XI in 1935. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/32/32273/Other_matches.html Other matches played by Geoffrey Rawson] at CricketArchive]

References