William Pershke

William Jack Pershke (8 August 1918 – 21 January 1944) was an English first-class cricketer and an officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

William Pershke
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Jack Pershke
Born8 August 1918
Richmond, Surrey, England
Died21 January 1944(1944-01-21) (aged 25)
at sea
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1938Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 8
Runs scored 58
Batting average 11.40
100s/50s –/–
Top score 17*
Balls bowled 1,494
Wickets 28
Bowling average 26.85
5 wickets in innings 3
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 6/46
Catches/stumpings 5/–
Source: Cricinfo, 11 March 2020

Pershke was born at Richmond in August 1918. He was educated at Uppingham School, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford.[1] While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University in 1938, making eight appearances.[2] Playing as a right-arm fast-medium bowler, he took 28 wickets in his eight matches at an average of 26.85. He took five wickets in an innings on three occasions, with best figures of 6 for 46, which he took on debut against Glamorgan.[3][1] With the bat, he scored a total of 57 runs with a high score of 17 not out.[4]

Pershke served in the Second World War with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, enlisting as a leading aircraftman in April 1941.[5] He received a commission with the war substantive rank of flight officer in May 1942,[6] before being made a flight lieutenant in May 1943.[7] Flying with No. 105 Operational Training Unit, he was killed when the Wellington he was flying crashed over the sea while on a navigational exercise on 21 January 1944.[1]

References

  1. McCrery, Nigel (2011). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. 2nd volume. Pen and Sword. p. 372. ISBN 978-1526706980.
  2. "First-Class Matches played by William Pershke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. "First-class Bowling For Each Team by William Pershke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  4. "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by William Pershke". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  5. "No. 35171". The London Gazette. 23 May 1941. p. 2949.
  6. "No. 35598". The London Gazette. 16 June 1942. p. 2659.
  7. "No. 36094". The London Gazette. 13 July 1943. p. 3220.
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