Clifford Barker (cricketer)

Clifford Mark Barker (16 April 1917 – 27 July 1942) was a South African first-class cricketer and South African Army officer.

Clifford Barker
Personal information
Full name
Clifford Mark Barker
Born(1917-04-16)16 April 1917
Pinetown, Natal, South Africa
Died27 July 1942(1942-07-27) (aged 25)
Qattara, Egypt
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1938Transvaal
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 13
Batting average 13.00
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 13
Balls bowled 208
Wickets 2
Bowling average 43.50
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 2/83
Catches/stumpings 1/0
Source: Cricinfo, 10 August 2020

Born in Pinetown in 1917,[1] Barker appeared in one first-class Currie Cup match for Transvaal against the Orange Free State at the Old Wanderers, Johannesburg, on 21 January 1938.[2] During the match, Barker took 2 wickets and was dismissed both innings.[3]

During the Second World War, Barker served as a lieutenant in the 1st Royal Natal Carabineers.[4] Between 26 and 27 July 1942, the unit was involved in defensive actions at Qattara during the First Battle of El Alamein, during which Barker was killed in action on 27 July.[4] He was buried at El Alamein War Cemetery.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Service Details". South African War Graves Project. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  2. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Clifford Barker". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Transvaal v Orange Free State in 1937/38". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b McCrery, Nigel (2017). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. pp. 222–225. ISBN 978-1-52670-695-9.
  5. ^ "Casualty Details: Clifford Barker". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 10 August 2020.