Hervey Lawrence

Lieutenant colonel Hervey Major Lawrence (24 March 1881 – 17 September 1975) was an English officer in the British Army and an amateur cricketer. He played seven first-class cricket matches between 1899 and 1914.

Lawrence served in the Boer War and in World War I when he commanded battalions in the Suffolk, Cheshire and Herefordshire Regiments. He won two Distinguished Service Orders and the Legion d'Honour during the war and was awarded an OBE in 1919. He died in 1975, the last remaining survivor of players who had played first-class county cricket before 1900.

Early life Lawrence was born at Hadlow in Kent in 1881, the son of Henry and Emily Lawrence. His father was a doctor. Lawrence was educated privately and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd militia battalion of the Cameronians in March 1900, as the battalion was being embodied for active service in the Second Boer War in South Africa.

Army career Lawrence served with the Cameronians in South Africa until 1902, winning the Queen's South Africa Medal. He was promoted to lieutenant in the 3rd battalion on 12 November 1900, but transferred as a second lieutenant to the 1st battalion, a regular army battalion, in 1901. From 1902 to 1905 Lawrence served in India during which he was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant, before transferring to be adjutant of the 5th battalion Suffolk Regiment, a Territorial Force battalion, in 1911.

During World War I Lawrence, who had been promoted to captain in 1913, in the action during which he was wounded in the side and the arm. The citation went on to say that "his personal influence had the most inspiring effect on officers and men". Lawrence was primarily a bowler but Wisden reports that he "met little success" in his matches for the county, although he played widely in club cricket that year, taking over 200 wickets in all matches during the season.

On his return from India he played occasionally for Kent's Second XI between 1906 and 1909 before beginning to make appearances for Army teams.

He died at Ely in Cambridgeshire in September 1975 aged 94. His Wisden obituary reported that he was "the last known survivor of those who played first-class county cricket before 1900".