Wilfrid Reay facts for kids

Wilfrid Francis Reay was an English cricketer and a British Army officer. He was born on June 12, 1891, and sadly passed away on October 8, 1915, during a war.

Early Life and Work

Wilfrid was born in Wallington, England, in 1891. His father, J. H. Reay, worked for the government. As an adult, Wilfrid worked at the London Stock Exchange. This is a place where people buy and sell shares in companies. He was married to Dorothy Katherine Livermore.

Cricket Career

Wilfrid played first-class cricket just once. This is the highest level of cricket below international matches. He played for the Gentlemen of England team against Oxford University. This match took place in June 1910 in Eastbourne.

In that game, Wilfrid batted once and scored 5 runs. He was "not out," meaning he was still batting when his team's turn ended. When he bowled, he took one wicket. This means he got one of the opposing players out. He bowled eleven "overs," which is a set of six balls. His bowling figures were 1 wicket for 51 runs. Wilfrid's brother, Gilly Reay, was also a first-class cricketer.

Military Service and Sacrifice

When the First World War began, Wilfrid joined the British Army. He became a soldier in the Royal Fusiliers regiment in August 1914. He was part of a special group called "The Stockbrokers' Battalion."

Wilfrid arrived in Boulogne, France, on July 30, 1915. His battalion was sent to a place called Tilques. Sadly, Wilfrid was killed in action on October 8, 1915, near Thiepval. His body was never found. He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial, which honors soldiers who died in the war and have no known grave.