Garnet Edwin Driver (26 May 1883 – 7 September 1916) was a South African first-class cricketer, solicitor, and South African Army officer.

Garnet Driver
Personal information
Full name
Garnet Edwin Driver
Born26 May 1883
Pietermaritzburg, Natal,
South Africa
Died7 September 1916(1916-09-07) (aged 33)
Kisaki, German East Africa
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1903/04Griqualand West
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 99
Batting average 49.50
100s/50s 0/1
Top score 62
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: CricInfo, 31 March 2021

The son of Edwin James Driver, he was born at Pietermaritzburg in May 1883. He was educated at both Hilton College and Maritzburg College.[1] After completing his education, he became a solicitor and a conveyancer. Driver was an all-round sportsman, playing rugby union for Wasps and club cricket for Standard Cricket Club.[1] He played a single first-class cricket match for Griqualand West against Western Province at Kimberley in 1903 in the Currie Cup.[2] He performed well in the match, being dismissed for scores of 37 and 62 by Charles Bain and Bonnor Middleton respectively,[3] but did not feature again in first-class cricket.

Driver served in the First World War with the South African Army, being commissioned into the 8th South African Horse in November 1914.[1] He was later promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant in May 1916, with seniority antedated to November 1914.[4] On 22 May 1916, he embarked for German East Africa. He was seriously wounded in action and captured during the Battle of Kisaki on 7 September 1916, dying from his wounds on the same day. He was posthumously mentioned in dispatches for 'meritorious service in the field in East Africa'.[5] He was buried at the Morogoro Cemetery. Driver was survived by his wife Ruby Adelaide Driver, with whom he had a daughter.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d McCrery, Nigel (30 July 2015). Final Wicket: Test and First Class Cricketers Killed in the Great War. Pen and Sword. p. 270. ISBN 978-1473864191.
  2. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Garnet Driver". CricketArchive. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Griqualand West v Western Province, Currie Cup 1903/04". CricketArchive. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  4. ^ "No. 29860". The London Gazette. 12 December 1916. p. 12133.
  5. ^ "No. 29933". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 February 1917. p. 1355.
edit