Charles Rucker
English cricketer and British Army officer
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Charles Edward Sigismund Rucker MC (4 September 1894 – 24 November 1965) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.
Chislehurst, Kent, England
Blandford Forum, Dorset, England
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Charles Edward Sigismund Rucker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 September 1894 Chislehurst, Kent, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 24 November 1965 (aged 71) Blandford Forum, Dorset, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm fast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Patrick Rucker (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1914 | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 22 June 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rucker was born at Chislehurst in September 1894. He was educated at Charterhouse School,[1] before going up to University College, Oxford.[2] While studying at Oxford, Rucker made five appearances in first-class cricket for Oxford University in 1914.[3] A right-arm fast bowler, he took 13 wickets at an average of 22.23, with two five wicket hauls and best figures of 6 for 69.[4] With the bat, he scored 66 runs with a high score of 26 not out.[5]
His studies at Oxford were interrupted by the First World War, with Rucker being commissioned in the British Army in October 1916 as a second lieutenant.[6] He was a temporary lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) by October 1915,[7] He was decorated with the Military Cross (MC) in January 1916, the citation for which appeared in The London Gazette that month and reads as follows:
For conspicuous gallantry on the night of 15th-16th December, 1915, at Cordonnerie. He took out two parties to cut wire before a raid, and commenced work, but, being interrupted by an enemy listening post, he returned to report. The enemy being aroused, the raid was abandoned, but Lieutenant Rucker took out a bombing party and destroyed the listening post under a heavy fire. This post was inside the German wire and close to the enemy's parapet. He volunteered for both these duties.[8]
He relinquished his commission in January 1918 on account of ill health,[9] having lost a leg in action.[1]
Following the end of the war, Rucker returned to study at Oxford, though played no further first-class cricket due to the loss of his leg. He served as the secretary of Oxford University Cricket Club in 1919.[1] Rucker died at Blandford Forum in November 1965. His brother, Patrick, also played first-class cricket for Oxford and was killed during the Second World War, while another brother, Robin, was killed during the First World War in service with the Royal Air Force.[10]