Reginald Keller

Reginald Charles Keller (5 August 1894 – 30 October 1986) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

Reginald Charles Keller
Born5 August 1894
Fareham, Hampshire, England
Died30 October 1986(1986-10-30) (aged 86)
Ballylickey, Munster, Ireland
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1914–1948
RankBrigadier
UnitRoyal Hampshire Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
Tanks Corps
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
Reginald Keller
Cricket information
BattingUnknown
BowlingUnknown
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1928/29–1929/30Europeans (India)
1926–1928Dorset
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 3
Runs scored 47
Batting average 11.75
100s/50s –/–
Top score 25
Balls bowled 348
Wickets 9
Bowling average 19.11
5 wickets in innings 1
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 5/50
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 5 October 2018

Early life and WWI

The son of Charles Keller, he was born at Fareham, Hampshire.[1] Keller was educated at Radley College, entering in 1909.[2] He served in the British Army during World War I, enlisting in September 1914 as a Second lieutenant in the Royal Hampshire Regiment.[3] In April 1917, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.[4] He served the latter part of the war in the Machine Gun Corps,[5] and remained in the corps after its conclusion.[6]

Cricket, WWII and later life

He joined the Tanks Corps in April 1921, by this point holding the rank of Captain.[7] He married Maureen Standish Harrison in March 1922, with the couple having a daughter in 1926.[1] He made his debut in minor counties cricket for Dorset in 1926, with Keller playing in the Minor Counties Championship six times from 1926–1928.[8] Having fulfilled the role of Assistant Instructor at the Tank Gun School, Keller relinquished this position in January 1929.[9]

While serving in British India, Keller made his debut in first-class cricket for the Europeans against the Muslims at Lahore in March 1929.[10] He played two further first-class matches in 1930, playing for the Europeans against the Muslim, and for a Punjab Governor's XI against the Muslims.[10] In the 1930 Europeans v Muslims match, Keller took his career best bowling figures, taking 5/50 from 21 overs.[11] He became a Major in April 1935.[12]

Weeks into World War II, Keller was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in October 1939.[13] In May 1940 he commanded 3rd Royal Tank Regiment during the defence of Calais in support of the Dunkirk evacuation,[14] and later commanded tanks in North Africa.[15] He retired from active service in March 1948, at which time he was granted the honorary rank of Brigadier.[16] He later moved to Ireland, where he lived out his final years at Ballylickey in County Cork,[1] dying there in October 1986.

References
  1. "Profile: Reginald Charles Keller". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  2. "Reginald Charles Keller (1909)". Radley College. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  3. "No. 28886". The London Gazette. 1 September 1941. p. 6911.
  4. "No. 30022". The London Gazette. 17 April 1917. p. 3611.
  5. "No. 30511". The London Gazette. 6 February 1918. p. 1718.
  6. "No. 31835". The London Gazette. 24 March 1920. p. 3621.
  7. "No. 32758". The London Gazette. 24 October 1922. p. 7461.
  8. "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Reginald Keller". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  9. "No. 33462". The London Gazette. 1 February 1929. p. 770.
  10. "First-Class Matches played by Reginald Keller". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  11. McCrery, Nigel (30 November 2017). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781526706980.
  12. "No. 34153". The London Gazette. 23 April 1935. p. 2739.
  13. "No. 34728". The London Gazette. 7 November 1939. p. 7599.
  14. Buckton, Henry (15 May 2017). Cover art Retreat: Dunkirk and the Evacuation of Western Europe. Amberley Publishing Limited. p. 125. ISBN 9781445664835.
  15. "Keller, Reginald Charles". generals.dk. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  16. "No. 38245". The London Gazette. 23 March 1948. p. 2063.
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