Reginald Fulljames

Reginald Edgar Gilbert Fulljames MC (13 November 1896 – 31 July 1985) was an English cricketer and an officer in both the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Air Force (RAF), serving in both world wars.

Life and military service Born at Southsea, Hampshire in November 1896 to pawnbroker Gilbert Fulljames and Edith Marianne (née Totterdell), daughter of a Portsmouth corset manufacturer he was educated at Sutton Valence School, before attending Downing College, Cambridge. He served during World War I and learnt to fly in 1916, before serving with the Royal Flying Corps in France in 1917 with the rank of second lieutenant. He was shot down three times during the course of the war, including once by the infamous German flying ace Baron von Richthofen. The Royal Flying Corps was merged into the Royal Air Force in April 1918, with Fulljames also transferring to the new service. For his services as a pilot during the war he was awarded the Military Cross.

He became a flying instructor in 1918, and following the war he was granted the rank of flight lieutenant in 1919. With the war having interrupted his studies, he completed his engineering course at Downing College in 1922. He was promoted from flight lieutenant to squadron leader in December 1928, while serving at The School of Technical Training at RAF Halton. He twice took five wickets in an innings and once took ten wickets in a match, with best innings bowling figures of 7/25. He served during World War II, during which he achieved the rank of Wing Commander in March 1940. By 1945, he held the rank of temporary group captain. He retired from active service in May 1945, retaining the now permanent rank of group captain. He died at Curdridge, Hampshire, on 31 July 1985. He was survived by his wife, Annie Muriel Fulljames, with whom he had two children.