Eric Hamilton (cricketer)

Eric Hamilton
Personal information
Full name
Eric Peter Hamilton
Born(1913-05-05)5 May 1913
Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
Died15 July 1943(1943-07-15) (aged 30)
over Sicily, Fascist Italy
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1936City of Johannesburg
1937Transvaal
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 2
Runs scored 65
Batting average 21.66
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 33
Balls bowled –
Wickets –
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings –
Source: Cricinfo, 26 July 2020

Eric Peter Hamilton (5 May 1913 – 15 July 1943) was a South African first-class cricketer and South African Air Force officer.

Hamilton was born in Johannesburg on 5 May 1913.[1] His debut in cricket took place on 5 October 1936 for the City of Johannesburg against The Rest at the Old Wanderers.[2] During the match, Hamilton scored 32 runs, but was dismissed both innings.[3] Hamilton's second cricket match, representing Transvaal against the Orange Free State, occurred on 29–30 January 1937.[2] During the first inning, Hamilton made 33 runs before he was dismissed by Henry Sparks.[4]

During the Second World War, Hamilton enlisted in the South African Air Force and was commissioned as a lieutenant.[5] Trained as a Martin Baltimore pilot, he was posted to No. 21 Squadron in Malta, where the squadron supported the Allied invasion of Sicily.[6] During a daytime bombing mission on 15 July 1943, Hamilton and his two crew members were shot down and killed in Baltimore AG390.[7] He is buried at the Syracuse War Cemetery.[8]

References

Citations

  1. ^ McCrery 2017, p. 349.
  2. ^ a b "First-Class Matches played by Eric Hamilton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  3. ^ "City of Johannesburg v The Rest in 1936/37". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Orange Free State v Transvaal in 1936/37". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. ^ McCrery 2017, p. 340.
  6. ^ McCrery 2017, pp. 340–341.
  7. ^ McCrery 2017, p. 341.
  8. ^ "Casualty Details: E P Hamilton". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 26 July 2020.

Sources