James Leaf

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = James Leaf


country = England
fullname = James Gordon Leaf
dayofbirth = 18
monthofbirth = 10
yearofbirth = 1900
placeofbirth = Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire
countryofbirth = England
dayofdeath = 8
monthofdeath = 12
yearofdeath = 1972
placeofdeath = Osmaston, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
countryofdeath = England
club1 = Army
year1 = 1937
type1 = First-class
onetype1 = true
debutdate1 = 22 May
debutyear1 = 1937
debutfor1 = Army
debutagainst1 = Oxford University
deliveries = balls
columns = 1
column1 = First-class
matches1 = 1
runs1 = 5
bat avg1 = 2.50
100s/50s1 = 0/0
top score1 = 4
deliveries1 = 0
wickets1 = -
bowl avg1 = -
fivefor1 = -
tenfor1 = -
best bowling1 = -
catches/stumpings1 = 0/0
date = 26 April
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/30/30925/30925.html CricketArchive

James Gordon Leaf (18 October 1900–8 December 1972) was a British Army officer and English cricketer [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/16507.html Cricinfo profile] ] who played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team and played international matches for the Egypt national cricket team. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/30/30925/30925.html CricketArchive profile] ]

Biography

Born in Shipston-on-Stour in 1900, James Leaf attended Harrow School, playing a match for them against Winchester College in 1918. From Harrow he went to Royal Military College Sandhurst, and on graduation was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 15th Hussars on 24 December 1920. [LondonGazette|issue=32207|supp=yes|startpage=764|date=25 January 1921|accessdate=2008-05-15] The regiment merged with the 20th Hussars in 1922, Leaf continued as a second lieutenant in the new regiment, the 14th/20th Hussars, [LondonGazette|issue=32736|startpage=5865|date=8 August 1922|accessdate=2008-05-15] until his promotion to lieutenant on 24 December 1922 when he transferred to the 15th/19th Hussars. [LondonGazette|issue=32781|startpage=9169|date=29 December 1922|accessdate=2008-05-15] He played two matches for Egypt against the Free Foresters in 1927. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/30/30925/Other_matches.html Other matches played by James Leaf] at CricketArchive] He resigned his commission on 20 October 1928, [LondonGazette|issue=33431|startpage=6702|date=19 October 1928|accessdate=2008-05-15] but rejoined the army (and the 15th/19th) on 10 December 1930, with reduced seniority (from 29 August 1926). [LondonGazette|issue=33668|startpage=7890|date=9 December 1930|accessdate=2008-05-15] He was promoted captain on 20 November 1934. [LondonGazette|issue=34109|startpage=7682|date=30 November 1934|accessdate=2008-05-15]

He played his one first-class match for the Army against Oxford University in May 1937. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/30/30925/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by James Leaf] at CricketArchive] He was promoted major on 12 February 1940, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. [LondonGazette|issue=34789|supp=yes|startpage=841|date=9 February 1940|accessdate=2008-05-15] Between 1942 and 1945, he played six matches for the Catterick Garrison cricket team against Durham. He retired from the army on 18 October 1947. [LondonGazette|issue=38099|supp=yes|startpage=4869|date=14 October 1947|accessdate=2008-05-15] He died in Osmaston in 1972.

References