Cricketers at War: Cricket Heroes Who Also Fought for Australia in Battle

by Greg Growden

Aussie cricketing heroes who also fought for Australia during wartime
'That's nothing. Pressure is having a Messerschmitt up your arse.'

Keith Miller, when asked if he felt under pressure while captaining the NSW cricket team.



Numerous heroes of Australian cricket have also proved themselves on the battlefield, from Gallipoli to Vietnam and beyond. Among them are some of Australia's most illustrious cricketing Donald Bradman, Keith Miller, Keith Carmody, Jack Fingleton and, in more recent years, Doug Walters. In this sport/history page-turner, veteran sports journalist Greg Growden tells their extraordinary stories of bravery, hardship, courage and human endeavour.

346 pages, ebook

Published October 1, 2019

About the author

Greg Growden (c. 1960 – 14 November 2020) was an Australian sports journalist, author and biographer.

Growden grew up on his family's rice farm in the Riverina. He joined the Sydney Morning Herald in early 1978 soon after leaving school. He was chief rugby union correspondent for the paper from 1987 to 2012, and was the Australian rugby union correspondent for ESPN from 2012 to 2018. He is one of just two international rugby writers to cover all of the first eight World Cups.

He died of cancer on 14 November 2020. - wikipeadia

Reviews

[Shreedevi Gurumurty]

Extraordinary stories of bravery, hardship, courage and human endeavour.Aussie cricketing heroes who also fought for Australia during wartime 'That's nothing. Pressure is having a Messerschmitt up your arse.'Keith Miller, when asked if he felt under pressure while captaining the NSW cricket team.Numerous heroes of Australian cricket have also proved themselves on the battlefield, from Gallipoli to Vietnam and beyond. Among them are some of Australia's most illustrious cricketing names: Donald Bradman, Keith Miller, Keith Carmody, Jack Fingleton and, in more recent years, Doug Walters.For over a century, Australia's military commitments have interrupted tours and led to unconventional cricket matches around the world.As part of the British Empire,the Australian colonies offered troops for the war in South Africa,and many Australians joined British or South African colonial units.In WWI,many cricketers enlisted in the AIF.Recognising the role of sport in building fitness,friendship,and team bonding,military authorities encouraged the practice of team sports as recreation behind the lines.The 'Sportmen's Thousand' featuring Albert Jacka,VC,encouraged men to join,train,embark and fight together. Countless Australian cricketers were shaken to the core by their involvement in battle.The wars ruined many flourishing cricketing careers,but also enhanced some.Some found themselves entangled in a relentless recruitment propaganda campaign.Others were displayed as national heroes.Some were abused by the system,as cricket authorities debated over being 100% involved in the war effort,or for alternative service.Whether to continue playing 🏏or not during wartime became an emotional argument.Relationships were affected.Religion,patriotism,Empire allegiance all played a part,and often created divides.There were shirkers,reprobates,deserters,conmen,those who used the system.Some simply disappeared,their bodies never found,while the deaths of many notable players were mysterious,even sinister.Those who survived often wouldn't talk about it.Heroism is eternal.The cricketing ranks had them all.

[Daniel Rex]

As a concept, a fascinating one - Australian first class cricketers with war service in action and how it affected them and their cricket. Executed with respect and detailed research I was very impressed and drawn in to these stories, some triumphant some tragic.
One that caught my attention was that of Norman Callaway. He was born in Hay, NSW, and did, like a bright shining meteor, stun all with his sporting brilliance. Later moving to Sydney he played his only first class match against Queensland and scored 207. Destined for great things. No, he was lost in WW1. I taught for 21 years as a Science teacher at Hay War Memorial High School. The name Norman Callaway is on the honour roll out the front of the impressive original school building, and the detailed recounting of this gifted young sportsman's exploits (including sixes hit into the Hay Park grandstand, and write ups in the Riverine Grazier, the local paper I remember well) brought his story to vibrant life. Of course the book covers the post war Services teams after WW1 and WW2, but doesn't just focus on the famous cricketers like Keith Miller, but delivers those intimate portraits of not so well lauded cricketers and their sometimes tragic tales.