WW1 MILITARY CROSS & PAIR WITH MEMORIAL PLAQUE, 9th NOTTS & DERBY REGT, KIA F&F 4-10-1917, A FIRST CLASS PROFESSIONAL CRICKETER

Mint cased GVR WW1 Military Cross (MC), WW1 Pair & Memorial plaque with engraved hallmarked silver sports medalTo- 2-LIEUT.W.W.O'DELLWilliam Ward O'Dell was a first class professional cricketer & played for Leicestershire. He made 193 appearances between 1901 & 1914 & scored 3368 runs including 50 half centuries. On his first professional appearance he was playing against the LCC at Crystal Palace & the first wicket he took was that of W.G.Grace. Two weeks later he repeated his victory & again took the wicket from W.G.Grace. He was killed in action in France & Flanders serving with the 9th battalion of the Notts & Derby Regiment / Sherwood Foresters 4-10-1917 & having no known grave he is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial.He was awarded the MC just prior to his death in the London gazette 14-9-1917 with the following citation.For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty in taking out a patrol at a critical moment & gaining very valuable information, which resulted in bodies of the enemy who were massing for attack, being dispersed by our artillery fire. Throughout all operations he has consistently displayed the upmost courage & coolness.GVF or better, The MC is neatly engraved on the reverse & the memorial plaque is housed in its original box off issue. Complete with fairly extensive research details that includes a few original photographs along with a signed team sheet of the full Leicestershire side for July 11th 1904 for the match between Nottingham & Leicester that includes the recipients signature.