David James Falshaw Watson (18 November 1919 – 3 October 1943) was an English cricketer – a right-handed batsman. He was born at

St Pancras, London St Pancras () is a district in north London. It was originally a medieval ancient parish and subsequently became a metropolitan borough. The metropolitan borough then merged with neighbouring boroughs and the area it covered now forms around ...

. Educated at Sedbergh School, Watson later studied at the University of Oxford. Watson made his first-class debut in unusual circumstances during a match between Oxford University and a combined Minor counties team in 1939. Having bowled nine

overs Over may refer to: Places *Over, Cambridgeshire, England *Over, Cheshire, England *Over, South Gloucestershire, England *Over, Tewkesbury, near Gloucester, England **Over Bridge *Over, Seevetal, Germany Music Albums * ''Over'' (album), by Pete ...

in Oxford University's first-innings, the Minor Counties Francis Wilkinson was injured and took no further part in the match. The spectating Watson was allowed by the agreement of Oxford University to take to the field for the Minor Counties as a

substitute player In team sports, substitution (or interchange) is replacing one player with another during a match. Substitute players that are not in the starting lineup (also known as bench players, backups, interchange, or reserves) reside on the bench and ar ...

. Batting in the Minor Counties first-innings, Watson scored 33 runs before he was dismissed by

Michael Farebrother Michael Humphrey Farebrother (28 February 1920 – 27 September 1987) was an English first-class cricketer and educator. Farebrother was born at Chelsea in February 1920. He was educated at Eton College, before going up to Trinity College, ...

, while in their second-innings he was dismissed by the same bowler for 35 runs. Following this match he made a second first-class appearance, this time for Oxford University against

Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ; postal abbreviation Leics.) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East Midlands, England. The county borders Nottinghamshire to the north, Lincolnshire to the north-east, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire t ...

. In a match which ended as a draw he was dismissed for 7 runs in the university's first-innings by

Vic Jackson Victor Edward Jackson (25 October 1916 – 30 January 1965) was an Australian first class cricketer who played for New South Wales cricket team, New South Wales and Leicestershire County Cricket Club. From Australia to Cahn's XI Jackson made ...

, while in their second-innings he remained unbeaten with 8 runs.

Military career and death

Watson served in the

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

, reaching the rank of

sub-lieutenant Sub-lieutenant is usually a junior officer rank, used in armies, navies and air forces. In most armies, sub-lieutenant is the lowest officer rank. However, in Brazil, it is the highest non-commissioned rank, and in Spain, it is the second high ...

by 1943. Serving as part of the Fleet Air Arm stationed at

HMS Saker HMS ''Saker'', also known as HMS ''Saker I'', HMS ''Saker II'' and HMS ''Saker III'', has historically been the ship to which Royal Naval personnel serving in the United States of America are assigned. Consequently, it is a stone frigate, and has ...

in the United States, Watson was undertaking a training flight on 3 October 1943 with a F4U Corsair when his plane was involved in a mid-air collision with fellow Fleet Air Arm pilot and

fighter ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

Alfred Jack Sewell close to the Maine town of New Gloucester, killing both pilots. Watson was buried with full military honours at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard cemetery.

References

External links

David Watson
at ESPNcricinfo
David Watson
at CricketArchive {{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, David 1919 births 1943 deaths Cricketers from the London Borough of Camden People from St Pancras, London People educated at Sedbergh School Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford English cricketers Minor Counties cricketers Oxford University cricketers Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II Fleet Air Arm aviators Royal Navy personnel killed in World War II Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Cricketers from Yorkshire Fleet Air Arm personnel of World War II Royal Navy officers of World War II Military personnel from the London Borough of Camden