James Mason

James Ernest Mason (29 October 1876 – 8 February 1938) was an English amateur cricketer who played one first-class cricket match for Kent County Cricket Club and later played once for Berkshire County Cricket Club. He served in the British army on the home front during World War I and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-colonel. In civilian life he worked as a solicitor.

Early life Mason was born in Blackheath, then part of the county of Kent, one of seven brothers and three sisters. His father, Richard, had played for Worcestershire before the county gained first-class cricket status and worked as a solicitor. His mother, Ann, was the daughter of John Eagleton. His brother Jack played five Test matches for England, captained Kent between 1892 and 1902 and was one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year in 1898.

Mason was educated at Abbey School in Beckenham and then at Tonbridge School where he showed promise as a batsman. On leaving school he began training to become a solicitor.

Military service At the start of World War I Mason, aged 38, volunteered for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). He was appointed as an Able Seaman and posted to an anti-aircraft unit. A number of his brothers were serving in the Army Service Corps (ASC) and, in March 1915, Mason applied to leave the RNVR and join the ASC, being commissioned as a lieutenant in June. For a time he was in partnership with a William Weed, however the partnership was dissolved in July 1912 and he joined Amery-Parkes and Company in London as a legal partner. with four other solicitors.