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William Ditchfield

1903 – 1991

Cricketer

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About William Ditchfield

Lived 1903 – 1991 (aged 87). William Ditchfield was a New Zealand cricketer.

William George Ditchfield (21 May 1903 – 21 March 1991) was a New Zealand musician and cricketer. He played one first-class cricket match for Otago in 1933/34.

Ditchfield was born at Sydney in Australia in 1903. He worked as a window dresser and was a founder member of a "pioneering" New Zealand country and western band The Tumbleweeds in 1949, playing double bass, harmonica and banjo. He had previously played in The Hawaiian Serenaders and was inspired to form The Tumbleweeds after hearing Myra Hewitt sing Maple on the Hill, the song which became the groups best selling single with over 80,000 copies sold. The band were inducted into the New Zealand Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988, and hand impressions in cement were added to Gore's Gold Guitar Awards "Hands of Fame" walk in 1991.

Ditchfield died at Dunedin in 1991 and is buried in Andersons Bay Cemetery. Obituaries were published in the New Zealand Cricket Almanack in 1992 and in Wisden in 1993.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
William George Ditchfield

People in William Ditchfield's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Ditchfield's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Ditchfield?

cricketer (1903-1991)

When was William Ditchfield born?

William Ditchfield was born on 21 May 1903 in Sydney.

When did William Ditchfield die?

William Ditchfield died on 21 March 1991 in Dunedin.

What was William Ditchfield's occupation?

William Ditchfield was a cricketer.

What nationality was William Ditchfield?

William Ditchfield was New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Ditchfield

· Wikidata: Q24191154

· DBpedia: Bill Ditchfield

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Ditchfield. https://biography.guide/william-ditchfield/

MLA: "William Ditchfield." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-ditchfield/.

Chicago: "William Ditchfield." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-ditchfield/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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