Leonard Frank Jennings OBE (5 November 1903 – 28 March 1977) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Air Force officer. He served in the Royal Air Force as both a non-commissioned officer and a commissioned officer for approximately twenty-five years, as well as playing first-class cricket for the Royal Air Force cricket team.

Leonard Jennings
Personal information
Full name
Leonard Frank Jennings
Born5 November 1903
Marlborough, Wiltshire, England
Died28 March 1977(1977-03-28) (aged 73)
Battle, Sussex, England
BattingUnknown
BowlingUnknown
RelationsDavid Jennings (brother)
George Jennings (brother)
Tom Jennings (brother)
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 2
Runs scored 55
Batting average 27.50
100s/50s –/–
Top score 45*
Balls bowled 30
Wickets 0
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 20 March 2019

Life and military career

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Jennings was the son of David Jennings, who played for Devon in the Minor Counties Championship. David Jennings was later the professional coach and head groundsman at Marlborough College.[1] He played first-class cricket for the Royal Air Force cricket team in 1929, playing against the Royal Navy at Chatham.[2] He made a second first-class appearance against the British Army cricket team in 1931 at The Oval.[2] Across his two first-class matches, Jennings scored 55 runs with a high score of 45 not out.[3]

Having served in the Royal Air Force as a non-commissioned officer since at least 1929, Jennings was commissioned as a flying officer on probation in April 1940, to last for the duration of the Second World War.[4] He was confirmed in the rank in May 1941,[5] and was promoted to the temporary rank of flight lieutenant in January 1943,[6] with confirmation in the rank in September 1947.[7] Jennings was mentioned in dispatches in June 1945.[8] By 1952, he was an acting wing commander,[9] with him being made an OBE in the 1952 Birthday Honours.[9] He was promoted to the rank of squadron leader in May 1954, as well as retiring.[10] While on the Reserve of Officers list, he was promoted to the full rank of wing commander in January 1957.[11]

He died in March 1977 at Battle, Sussex. His brothers, David, George and Tom, all played first-class cricket.

References

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  1. ^ "Wisden - Obituaries in 1938". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b "First-Class Matches played by Leonard Jennings". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  3. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Leonard Jennings". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  4. ^ "No. 34859". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 May 1940. p. 3190.
  5. ^ "No. 35176". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1941. p. 3099.
  6. ^ "No. 35946". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 March 1943. p. 1310.
  7. ^ "No. 38102". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 1947. p. 4959.
  8. ^ "No. 27119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1945. p. 2990.
  9. ^ a b "No. 39555". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1952. p. 3016.
  10. ^ "No. 40163". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 April 1954. p. 2620.
  11. ^ "No. 41052". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 April 1957. p. 2473.
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