David Wyatt Monaghan (13 July 1922 – 27 January 1944) was a New Zealand first-class cricketer and New Zealand Army soldier.

David Monaghan
Personal information
Full name
David Wyatt Monaghan
Born13 July 1922
Pahiatua, Wairarapa, New Zealand
Died27 January 1944(1944-01-27) (aged 21)
Caserta, Campania, Italy
BattingUnknown
RelationsHarold Monaghan (father)
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 19
Batting average 9.50
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 10
Catches/stumpings 0/–
Source: Cricinfo, 2 April 2021

The third son of the archdeacon and cricketer Harold Monaghan and his wife, Jessie, Monaghan was born at Pahiatua in July 1922.[1] He received his early education at Timaru on the South Island, before attending Christ's College, Christchurch. He was a talented sportsman, representing the college in cricket, football, athletics and swimming, in addition to being a champion gymnast in 1940.[2] He was nominated for a team of New Zealand schoolboys to tour Australia in 1939, but the outbreak of the Second World War in Europe led to the tour being cancelled.[3]

Upon completing his education in 1940, Monaghan gained employment in the Public Trust Office in Timaru.[3] By 1943, he was serving in the New Zealand Army as a signalman in the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals.[1]

He made a single appearance in first-class cricket for the South Island Army cricket team against the North Island Army cricket team at Wellington in February 1943.[4] He made scores of 10 and 9 and was dismissed by Jack Lamason and Tom Pritchard respectively.[5]

By July 1943, Monaghan had gone to Europe with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, where he saw action during the Italian campaign.[3] He died from sickness in January 1944 at Caserta in Italy.[2] He was buried at the Caserta War Cemetery.[1] Monaghan's brother, Gerald, was also killed in the war.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c McCrery, Nigel (2011). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Vol. 2nd. Pen and Sword. pp. 426–7. ISBN 978-1526706980.
  2. ^ a b Death of Athlete. The New Zealand Herald. 14 February 1944. p. 5
  3. ^ a b c d Obituary Singnalman D. W. Monaghan. Press. 5 February 1944. p. 6
  4. ^ "First-Class Matches played by David Monaghan". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ^ "North Island Army v South Island Army, 1942/43". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
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