Empire Cricket Booklet

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JEREMY LONSDALE

In all, he fitted in four games during the rest of the summer. R. M. Poore never again reached the same sporting heights that he achieved in 1899. He made one more century for Hampshire - in 1906 - and played his last first-class game just prior to the First World War. In 1911, as Lieutenant-Colonel Poore and commanding officer of the 7th Hussars, he returned to India but this time was a disappointment for him as he viewed from afar developments in France. He returned to England in 1920 and retired from the army the following year. He had not reached the absolute peak of his profession, but he had commanded one of the great regiments of the British army, been decorated on several occasions and mentioned in despatches. He was a universally respected and well-connected soldier and, in his day, the greatest sportsman in the forces. He settled down to a very active retirement, playing good-quality club cricket until 1936 and becoming a decent golfer. He died in July 1938. Poore holds a significant place in the development of cricket in southern Africa in the late nineteenth century. Without doubt he is one of the giants of the game - the 'great men' who helped to sustain, develop and popularise the game, setting new standards on the field by his prolific scoring, and providing organisational leadership. He personified the link between sport and the military, so important in the story told in this book. He was personally responsible for the victories that Natal sides had over English visiting sides in 1896, which caused considerable celebration in an otherwise humiliating and one-sided series . During the South African War, he helped to keep the game going, frequently playing within days of military activity. Such actions helped to nurture local support to play and care about the game. His style and approach to the game were also symbolic of the British moral and behavioural code.He was tall and upright in stance, modest in demeanour, honest in his dealings on the field, and single-minded in his attention to the activity at hand. He carried the appellation of the 'Grace of the Army' at a time when there was no greater compliment. Other contemporary Conclusions

of being scapegoats, some see the actions of Morant and Handcock as war crimes and argue that far from being a show trial, they were examined in detail over many weeks and found guilty on the basis of evidence provided by eye witnesses (albeit others have suggested they were mostly disgruntled former Carbineers who were unhappy with the way they had been led). As one author has written: 'Even if it is one day confirmed that Kitchener had ordered the Bushveldt Carbineers to kill unarmed men ... Morant and Handcock will remain cruel murderers of innocent victims, war criminals who were turned in by their own men.' 49 Following court-martial proceedings on 25 February, Poore received news that Morant and Handcock were to be sentenced to death, a judgement confirmed by Kitchener. 50 On 27 February, without telling his wife what he was doing, Poore saw off the early morning Cape Town train with two others of those arrested, lieutenants Witton (who apparently was escorted to a cricket match during his trial, much to the surprise of the court president, who was also present) and Picton on board, which would see them on their journey to prison in England, and then attended the jail where the executions were to take place. He was responsible for drilling the firing party and ensuring that the execution order was carried out. Poore (himself described as 'visibly shocked') wrote that they took it very well, with Morant tearing off his bandages, even though the handling of the firing party by the officer in charge was in his view very poor. Poore returned home by 6.30 a.m. During this time, Poore was joined by his wife, Lady Flora, who had apparently become maudlin at their separation. On 21 December, she left Southampton and in the New Year they were reunited after nearly two years apart. As a consequence, Poore saw out the final months of the war in much better spirits, and ultimately he did receive some recognition. In addition to the DSO, he received the Queen's Medal with six clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps and was mentioned in despatches three times. He returned home to England at the end of July 1902. Two weeks later, he appeared for Hampshire against the Australian tourists, making 14 and 62 not out.