Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

A number of former players over-age did apply, and were accepted by the Army. His younger brother Richard by March was captain of a battalion. In July the Western Gazette listed a number of county players serving in the Army: these included Walter Hedley, Herbert Hewett, Vernon Hill, and the Rippon twins. The newspaper also reported the death of former bowler Frank Joy, a mistake however as he survived the war and lived until 1966. As a result of the war it appears though Lionel kept in practice there were no golf tournaments. His only cricket match each year was for MCC against Clifton College at Bristol. Generally the MCC took a strong side and many old players would turn out; these included Lord Hawke, JH Board, GJ Thompson, JT Hearne and FH Huish. Lionel’s only innings of note was in 1915 when he made 52; he did however take some wickets with his lobs. In December 1915, Lionel attended the Somerset County Cricket Club AGM. It was announced losses had fallen from £600 to £342, so the club could continue. An appeal would be made to members to continue to pay subscriptions while the war went on. This would continue and as a result the club could take part in the 1919 Championship; had the members not paid, Somerset would have folded. By 1917, Lionel was spending a lot of time on food committees and helping organise events to raise funds for the war. In April 1918 he joined the committee of the MCC. In December he went with Murray-Anderdon to represent Somerset and help arrange the fixtures for the 1919 season, as the war had finally ended in November. At the meeting it was agreed all county games would be played over two days with an early start and late finish; this was not popular and only lasted for that season. Devon, golf and the War 108