Henry Baird

Henry Hume Chisholm Baird (13 April 1878 – 22 February 1950) was a Welsh cricketer and British Army officer. Entering into the East Kent Regiment from Sandhurst, Baird served in the Second Boer War with distinction, earning the Distinguished Service Order. He later played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team, the Marylebone Cricket Club, and a combined Army and Navy cricket team.

Early life and service in the Boer War Born at Haverfordwest to Alexander Baird, he was educated at Cheltenham College. From Cheltenham he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst,

He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in October 1899. Baird served in the Second Boer War, arriving in South Africa as a brigade signalling officer. He was present at the Relief of Kimberley in February 1900, soon after he took part in battle at Paardeberg and Poplar Gove, and the actions that immediately followed at Driefontein. His actions during the war saw him mentioned in dispatches, as well as being awarded the Queen's Medal.

Post-war and first-class cricket Baird stayed in South Africa until after the end of the Second Boer War, and only in November 1902 left Port Natal on the SS Ortona bound for Rangoon, British India.

Baird married Margot Kerr, the daughter of the Preston Member of Parliament John Kerr, in 1905. a post he held until December 1907.

He made his debut in first-class cricket in June 1910, when he was selected to play for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Oxford University, he following this up immediately after the match by playing for the MCC against Cambridge University, with both matches played at Lord's. In July 1910, he played a first-class match at Aldershot for a combined Army and Navy cricket team against the combined Oxford and Cambridge Universities cricket team, making his highest first-class score of 81 in this match. He played in the repeat fixture at Portsmouth the following year.

Baird was seconded to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in September 1912. He retired from active service as a captain in October 1913.

World War I and later life With the outbreak of the First World War, Baird rejoined the British Army in August 1914. Ill health caused by the war forced him to retire once more in July 1915. He later became the editor of the Ex-Service Man publication. He died at Sandwich in February 1950.