William Walker
Personal information
Full name
William Norman Walker
Born23 January 1894
Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died14 September 1960(1960-09-14) (aged 66)
Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RelationsJohn Walker (brother)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1922–1925Scotland
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 6
Runs scored 200
Batting average 18.18
100s/50s –/1
Top score 58
Balls bowled 938
Wickets 18
Bowling average 27.88
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 4/55
Catches/stumpings 5/–
Source: Cricinfo, 27 October 2022

William Norman Walker MC DL JP (23 January 1894 — 14 September 1960) was a Scottish first-class cricketer and cricket administrator, and an officer in the British Army.

Walker was born at Greenock in January 1894 and was educated at The Glasgow Academy.[1] He served in the British Army during the First World War, being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in August 1914,[2] with promotion to lieutenant following in August 1915.[3] He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in endeavouring to extinguish blazing ammunition which had been set alight by heavy howitzer shelling.[4] Walker was made second in command of a battalion in March 1918, at which point he was made an acting captain;[5] he relinquished his acting rank in August 1918 and ceased to be employed in the army in May 1919.[6][7] He remained commissioned until September 1922, when he resigned his commission and was granted the rank of captain.[8]

A club cricketer for Greenock, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Scotland against Ireland at Glasgow in 1922. He played first-class cricket for Scotland until 1925, making six appearances.[9] Playing as an all-rounder in the Scottish side, Walker scored 200 runs in his six matches at an average of 18.18; he made one half century score of 58.[10] With his right-arm medium pace bowling, he took 18 wickets at a bowling average of 27.88, with best figures of 4 for 55.[11]

Walker returned to military service in the Second World War with the Territorial Army.[12] He was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Renfrewshire in July 1945.[13] Walker was appointed honorary colonel of the 328 Medium Regiment (Highland) in July 1947,[14] before relinquishing his commission in December of the same year.[15] Walker served as the president of the Scottish Cricket Union the following year.[16] He relinquished his appointment as honorary colonel in July 1950.[17] A justice of the peace for Renfrewshire,[17] Walker died at Renfrew in September 1960. His brother, John, was also a first-class cricketer. Walker was a direct descendant of Johnnie Walker, the founder of the Scotch whiskey brand of the same name.

References

  1. ↑ The Glasgow Academy Roll of Honour 1914–1918. Edinburgh: John Smith and Son Limited. 1918. p. 18.
  2. ↑ "No. 28918". The London Gazette. 29 September 1914. p. 7700.
  3. ↑ "No. 29282". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 August 1915. p. 8722.
  4. ↑ "No. 13116". The Edinburgh Gazette. 20 July 1917. p. 1420.
  5. ↑ "No. 30685". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 May 1918. p. 5833.
  6. ↑ "No. 30902". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1918. p. 11069.
  7. ↑ "No. 31394". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1919. p. 7415.
  8. ↑ "No. 32745". The London Gazette. 8 September 1922. p. 6513.
  9. ↑ "First-Class Matches played by William Walker". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by William Walker". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "First-Class Bowling For Each Team by William Walker". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "No. 36797". The London Gazette. 14 November 1944. p. 5270.
  13. ↑ "No. 37238". The London Gazette. 24 August 1945. p. 4299.
  14. ↑ "No. 38058". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 August 1947. p. 4088.
  15. ↑ "No. 38152". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 December 1947. p. 6079.
  16. ↑ "Presidents and Honorary Members". www.cricketscotland.com. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  17. 1 2 "No. 39125". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 January 1951. p. 355.
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