JAQUES

Arthur

Lieutenant Arthur Jaques © IWM (HU 116322)

Captain, 12th Battalion, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment). Killed in action 27th September 1915. Born 7th March 1888 in Shanghai. Husband of Edith Glenny Vale (nee Davis) Jaques. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 39 and 40.

Details from CricInfo where his statistics can be found

Born at Shanghai on March 7, 1888. His death in the First World War robbed Hampshire of a talented fast bowler whose results in 1914 suggested he would have been a great player.

From 1905 to 1907 he was in the Aldenham XI, heading the bowling averages in his final year with 43 wickets at 10.74. He went on to Cambridge but did not play first-class cricket there, but in 1912/13 toured West Indies with the MCC, taking 5 wickets at 29. He first played for Hampshire in 1913, and then in 1914 in Championship matches alone he took 112 wickets at 18.26. He also played twice for the Gentlemen against Players in 1914, at Lord's and the Oval, but took only two wickets in the two games for 73 runs.

His best analyses for Hampshire in 1914 were 14 for 105 (including 8 for 67) v Derbyshire at Basingstoke; 14 for 54 (including 8 for 21) v Somerset at Bath when he and Kennedy bowled unchanged throughout, and 7 for 51 v Warwickshire at Southampton. In his total of 49 matches for Hampshire he took 168 wickets at 21.52. Wisden said: "Doubtless his unusual methods contributed much to his success, for, placing nearly all his field on the on-side, he pitched on the wicket or outside the leg-stump, and, swinging-in and getting on an off-break, cramped the batsmen so much that many of them lost patience and succumbed."

The year after his successful season of 1914 he was killed in action at Bois Hugo, Loos, France, on September 27, 1915, while serving as a Captain in the 12th West Yorkshire Regiment. He was 27.

Extract from Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 28 August 1915, page 8:

CAPTAIN ARTHUR JAQUES.

Today (Saturday), at North Stoneham Church, the marriage will take place, quietly, of Captain Arthur Jaques, of the 12th (Service) Battalion of the West Yorks Regiment, second son of Mrs. Allan Gunn, of Red Lodge, Bassett, and Miss Edith Glenny Vale Davis, second daughter Mrs. Atwood Beaven, of “Beauvoir,” Bournemouth. Last year Captain Jaques. who is a well-known Hampshire cricketer, was the acting captain of the county team, and his many friends, and county sportsmen generally, not only wish him the greatest happiness in his married life, but heartily congratulate him on his rapid progress in his profession.

Extract from Newcastle Daily Chronicle - Friday 03 December 1915, page 7:

SPORTING GOSSIP.

CAPTAIN ARTHUR JAQUES.

The news which came to hand unofficially in the early days of the week that Captain Arthur Jaqucs had been wounded, and was also missing, was received with deep regret by a wide circle of friends throughout the county. As acting-captain of the Hampshire County Cricket Club last season, the gallant officer rendered splendid service, not only by his valuable leadership, but also his splendid bowling feats in several matches. Players and members alike found in Captain Jaques a genial and trusted friend, whilst the general body of spectators admired his skill and dexterity on the field of play. All will join in the hope that better tidings concerning him will soon come along. It was only a few weeks ago that Captain Jaques was married at North Stoneham Church to Miss Edith Glenny Vale Davis, second daughter of Mrs. Atwood Beaver, and the distressing news must therefore be a very severe blow to his bride. Mrs. Allan Gunn, his mother, is also the recipient of sincere sympathy in her trouble. This not the only blow which has fallen upon her, for another son, Major J. H. Jaques, is reported wounded and missing, and is unofficially believed to be a prisoner war.

Extract from Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 9 October 1915, page 6:

DEATH OF CAPT. ARTHUR JAQUES.
Famous Hampshire Cricketer.

Captain Arthur Jaques, the famous Hampshire cricketer, who was reported as missing some time ago, is now stated to have been killed during the action at Loos on the 25th Sept.

The Captain belonged to a North-Country family, though born at Shanghai, his grandfather being for many years vicar of Bywell, Northumberland. He was also a nephew of Mr. T. W. Jaques, coal fitter, of Sunderland. He joined the army at the outbreak of the war, and pasting through the Officers' Training Corps received a commission in the West Yorks, proceeding to the front last September. He was about 26 years of age, and was married just before going to the war. His elder brother, Major James Jaques, has been missing since the Loos battle.

Jaques played regularly for Hampshire, besides figuring in an All England XI.

Extract from Bournemouth Guardian - Saturday 12 February 1916, page 2:

Arthur Jaques—Gentleman.

A striking and splendid tribute to the late Arthur Jaques, the well-known Hampshire cricketer, killed in action, is paid by the Revd. Bruce Cornford, in his parsh magazine this month. The rev. gentleman says : “I knew him when he was at Cambridge and afterwards—long, lean, lithe, and of an immense virility. The man who didn't talk overmuch, but who looked and thought, and was “keen” to the points of the hair on his head. Manly sports thrilled him. He excelled. An so one happy day, he stepped out on the green award, the demon bowler of the “Gentlemen of England.” The sturdiest batsman of the “Players” felt a strange tepidation when he faced him. And the wickets fell. He had everything the world could give him—love, youth, wealth. Of course he “joined up.” And on September 26 of last year that glad young life was willingly offered for you and me, for our wives and children, for “England”—which he thus had the great honour of representing on two fields.

Killed in action, leading his men. A “Captain courageous.” Not that he wanted to died. He wanted to live, he tingled with abundant life to his finger-tips. But cause was more than comfort, and soul broke the bounds of body. And, in a moment, a Prussian bullet brought the potheosis of his life, and the spirit of Arthur Jaques is now in a “high place.”

Extract from Bournemouth Guardian - Saturday 12 February 1916, page 2:

COUNTY CRICKETER’S WILL.

Captain Arthur Jaques, West Yorkshire Regiment, of Red House, Bassett, Southampton, the Hampshire cricketer, who played regularly for the county besides appearing for the Gentlemen at Lord’s, who was killed on 27 September, aged 26 years, has left estate of the gross value of £43,063. 15s. 11d., including personalty of the net value of £37,483. 3s. 4d. The testator gives £500 to the Hampshire County Cricket Club, for the payment of any debts, or for restarting the club.

Extract from Westminster Gazette - Monday 05 June 1922, page 5:

" PLAYED THE GAME."

A memorial to Hampshire cricketers who fell in the war was unveiled at Southampton by Mrs. Alan Gunn, mother of the late Captain Arthur Jaques, formerly a well-known member of the Hampshire XI. The memorial, which takes the form of a fumed oak tablet, is placed in the Pavilion, and bears the name of eighteen Hampshire players and the appropriate inscription, - “They played the game.”