Lives in Cricket No 5 - Rockley Wilson

grass, but more often sand and stones. “A ground shot seldom counts more than one, however truly hit.” In October, 1918, Rockley attained the rank of Captain, though he said he did not “care a blow” about the promotion. By then it was clear that the end of the war was approaching. But after the Armistice was signed, Rockley’s de- mobilisation was delayed by riots in Palestine and Syria over the failure of the Allies at the Peace Conference in Versailles to grant self-determination to the Arabs. He was posted to Aleppo, an Arab city in northern Syria and one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world – he said its citadel reminded him of Scarborough Castle – where he spent the early months of 1919 on economic and political intelligence work. It was not until May, 1919 that Rockley was able finally to leave the army and look forward to renewing his teaching career at Winchester. Rockley Wilson therefore had an interesting and not especially dangerous war. Others were less fortunate. Yorkshire’s Major Booth (Major was his Christian name, not a military rank) was killed at the Battle of the Somme in July, 1916, and Alonzo Drake, who had been in poor health before 1914, died shortly after the war. Although he could hardly have expected it during his sojourn in the Middle East, these tragedies, and the retirement of Schofield Haigh, who as already mentioned went to Winchester College as the professional coach, were to open the door for Rockley Wilson Great War Interlude 67 “Lt E.R.Wilson b Sgt Kelly 5” in the match GHQ Officers v Sergeant Majors and Sergeants is the formal story. This picture of the match in Palestine in 1918 gives an idea of the conditions.