38 Facts About Alexander Wilkinson

Alexander Wilkinson had a first-class cricket career lasting 27 years.

Alexander Wilkinson was regarded as one of the most consistent batsmen of his day, despite playing much of his career with a damaged right hand.

Alexander Wilkinson first visited Austria in 1906, beginning a long connection with that country.

Alexander Wilkinson attended University College, Oxford, between 1910 and 1914, representing the university at cricket and hurdling.

Alexander Wilkinson first joined the British Army as a second lieutenant on the unattached list of the Territorial Force, being commissioned on 18 August 1913.

Alexander Wilkinson was promoted to lieutenant on 21 October 1915, and acting captain on 20 July 1917.

Alexander Wilkinson was awarded the Military Cross on 26 September 1917, and the citation was published on 9 January 1918, reading:.

Alexander Wilkinson was promoted to substantive captain on 15 September 1924.

Whilst the doctor was talking to the other officer present, Alexander Wilkinson entered the minefield, and managed to bring out the wounded man single-handed.

For those actions, Alexander Wilkinson was awarded the George Medal on 8 July 1941, as was the Royal Engineer officer, Major Arthur Henry Musgrave Norris, who subsequently cleared the remainder of the minefield, and Regimental Sergeant Major Ernest Joseph Legg and Lance-Sergeant Harry Fred Hardy, who assisted.

Alexander Wilkinson commanded the anti-aircraft elements of No 34 Beach Brick, consisting of one of his own batteries and one from 100th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment.

Alexander Wilkinson later described the landing to his opposite number of 100th HAA Rgt as 'A very pleasant exercise in Combined Operations with sufficient enemy fire to make it mildly interesting'.

Alexander Wilkinson was still commanding 99th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment when on 13 May 1944, during the final stages of the Battle of Monte Cassino he performed the actions that led to his award of the Distinguished Service Order on 21 September 1944.

Alexander Wilkinson's regiment had been detailed to make smoke to cover the bridges over the Gari River, early in the day it was reported that there was no smoke covering one particular bridge.

Alexander Wilkinson took a jeep to investigate the situation for himself, approaching the bridge the trailer from another jeep was found, which contained the equipment for making smoke, which was then loaded into his own jeep.

Alexander Wilkinson proceeded to cross the bridge on foot, under mortar and small arms fire, carrying replacement smoke canisters.

Alexander Wilkinson managed to begin the re-establishment of the smoke screen, left the one man still there tending the new smoke canisters, and gathered an additional party of men to ensure the screen was maintained.

Alexander Wilkinson was noted for his broadcasts, in German, on the local radio service, covering the province of Styria, of which Graz is the capital.

Alexander Wilkinson continued in this role until his second retirement, on 5 July 1947, when he was granted the honorary rank of colonel.

Alexander Wilkinson made many subsequent visits to the region, and in 1977 was awarded the Grand Gold Medal of Honour by the Styrian provincial government.

Alexander Wilkinson did have a substantial first-class career, spanning more than a quarter of a century, making his debut for HK Foster's XI against Oxford University during the 1912 English cricket season.

Alexander Wilkinson played six more first-class matches for the university team in the 1914 season, including a match against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord's, though he was eventually dropped from the team after having a poor season.

Alexander Wilkinson was shot in the right hand during the First World War, and almost had to have it amputated.

Alexander Wilkinson was unable to do much fielding on his right side.

Alexander Wilkinson followed that with non-first-class matches for the Army against the RAF and for the MCC against Buckinghamshire.

Alexander Wilkinson made his debut for the Combined Services cricket team that season, playing against the Gentlemen of England at Lord's.

Alexander Wilkinson again played for the Free Foresters against Oxford University and for the Army against both universities and the Navy.

Alexander Wilkinson played the same three matches for the Army in the 1922 season, though he didn't play for the Free Foresters, and played a first-class match for the Combined Services against Essex, as well as non-first-class matches for the Household Brigade against Eton College and for I Zingari against Winchester College.

Back in England, Alexander Wilkinson again played for the Army in first-class matches against both universities and the Royal Navy before playing in that year's Gentlemen v Players match at the Oval.

Alexander Wilkinson played for the Harlequins against Oxford University in 1927, for the Army against New Zealand the same year, and for the Free Foresters against Oxford University in 1929.

In 1927, Alexander Wilkinson went on a tour of Egypt with the Free Foresters, playing twice against the Egyptian national side.

Alexander Wilkinson captained the Army team for that match, which was his last first-class game for almost three years.

Alexander Wilkinson captained the team in both matches and scored a century in the second.

Alexander Wilkinson resumed his first-class career in May 1934 with a match for the Free Foresters against Oxford University, and over the following five years was a regular for the Free Foresters and the MCC, usually playing first-class matches against the two university teams, though he played for the MCC against Kent in the 1935 season.

Alexander Wilkinson played twice against Ireland in 1935 and 1937, against a Canadian XI in 1936, and against Scotland in 1939.

Alexander Wilkinson continued playing club cricket after World War II and scored a century in his final game, which he reckoned to be his hundredth in all cricket.

Alexander Wilkinson made eight centuries, his highest score of 129 coming in 1913 for Oxford University against the MCC.

Alexander Wilkinson represented the Household Brigade at golf, and played for the Harlequins golf club.