Alban Arnold facts for kids

Alban Charles Phidias Arnold (born November 19, 1892 – died July 7, 1916) was an English cricket player. He played in top-level cricket matches called first-class cricket. He was also an officer in the British Army.

Alban Arnold's Early Life and Education

Alban Arnold was born in Tattenhall, Cheshire, England. His father was a Reverend named Charles Lowther Arnold.

Alban went to Twyford School first. Then, he attended Malvern College, where he was a key player on the college's cricket team. In 1911, he went on to study at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

His Cricket Career

While studying at Cambridge University, Alban Arnold joined the Cambridge University Cricket Club. He played his first big cricket match for them in 1912. This game was against the touring South African team.

Playing for Hampshire

In 1912, Alban also played four first-class matches for Hampshire. He was able to play for Hampshire because his father was a Reverend in Fareham, which meant Alban lived in the area. Three of these matches were part of the 1912 County Championship.

In 1913, he didn't play for Cambridge University. However, he did play for Hampshire against Cambridge that year.

Achieving a "Blue"

Alban played four more matches for Cambridge in 1914. One important match was the University Match at Lord's. This game was against Oxford University. By playing in this match, he earned his "blue". A "blue" is a special award given to top athletes at Cambridge University.

He also played eleven first-class matches for Hampshire in the 1914 season.

Cricket Achievements

For Cambridge University, Alban scored 229 runs. His average score was 25.44 runs per game. His highest score in a single game was 89 runs.

For Hampshire, he played sixteen matches and scored 542 runs. His average was 24.63 runs per game. He scored five "half-centuries," which means he scored 50 runs or more in five different games. His highest score for Hampshire was 76 runs.

In 1914, Alban also played one match for the Free Foresters. This game was against Cambridge University. He scored a half-century in that match too.

Service in World War I

When the First World War began, cricket matches were stopped. Alban Arnold joined the war effort. In September 1914, he became a second lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

Soon after, he joined the Royal Fusiliers. He fought with them in the Battle of the Somme. Sadly, Alban Arnold was killed in action during this battle on July 7, 1916. He died in Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France.

Alban Arnold has no known grave. His name is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. His obituary in Wisden said he had great potential. It mentioned that he "would probably have developed into a cricketer of very high class."