Joseph Pocock

Joseph Albert Pocock (23 March 1884 – 8 August 1971) was an English first-class cricketer and an officer in both the British Army and the British Indian Army.

Pocock was born in March 1884 at Bedminster, Somerset. Pocock gained a non-commissioned rank in the Royal Engineers, holding the rank of quartermaster-sergeant into the First World War. It was during the war that he gained a commission as a second lieutenant in April 1915,^[1] with promotion to lieutenant following in July 1917.^[2] Following the war, Pocock transferred to the British Indian Army Corps of Engineers in January 1922, with the rank of captain.^[3] In India, Pocock made three appearances in first-class cricket for the Europeans cricket team, making two appearances in the 1923–24 Bombay Quadrangular against the Parsees and the Hindus, with a further appearance coming in the 1924–25 Bombay Quadrangular against the Hindus, with all three matches played in Bombay.^[4] Playing as a bowler, he took 16 wickets at an average of 33.12; he took two five wicket hauls, with best figures of 5 for 66.^[5]

In the Indian Army, a further promotion to major followed in September 1926.^[6] He was later promoted to lieutenant colonel in September 1934,^[7] prior to retiring in March 1939.^[8] Pocock died at Bristol in August 1971. His son was the businessman Michael Pocock.^[9]