Kenneth Woodroffe

Kenneth Herbert Clayton Woodroffe (9 December 1892 − 13 May 1915) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. He predominantly played his first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club as a fast bowler. He later saw action in the First World War with the Rifle Brigade and was killed in action on the Western Front in May 1915.

Early life and cricket The son of Henry Long Woodroffe and his wife, Clara, he was born at Lewes in December 1892. He was educated firstly at Rose Hill School in Kent, before attending Marlborough College, where he played for the college cricket team. From there, he matriculated to Pembroke College, Cambridge. His debut was a success with the ball, taking figures of 5 for 33 in the South Africans first innings with his right-arm Fast bowling. As a freshman at Cambridge in 1913, he played first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club on six occasions as a bowler, gaining his blue in that seasons University Match at Lord's. His best innings bowling figures of 6 for 43 came for Sussex against Surrey.

First World War service With the onset of the First World War, Woodroffe was commissioned into the 6th Battalion, Rifle Brigade as a second lieutenant in August 1914. He went to Western Front with the 6th Battalion, which was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. and had been mentioned in dispatches. His 19-year-old brother, second lieutenant Sidney Woodroffe (8th Rifle Brigade), was killed two months after him in 1915 while showing such bravery that he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Another brother, Leslie, was also killed in action during the war.