Norman Grace

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Norman Grace
Personal information
Full nameNorman Vere Grace
Born31 July 1894
Thornbury, Gloucestershire,
England
Died20 February 1975(1975-02-20) (aged 80)
Amberley, Gloucestershire,
England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm slow
RelationsSee: Grace family
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 3
Runs scored 25
Batting average 5.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 14
Balls bowled 157
Wickets 7
Bowling average 16.28
5 wickets in innings 1
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 5/69
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 25 September 2019

Norman Vere Grace DL (31 July 1894 – 20 February 1975) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Navy officer.

A member of the famous cricketing Grace family, he was born to the Test cricketer E. M. Grace in July 1894 at Thornbury, Gloucestershire.[1] He was educated at Wellington College,[2] before joining the Royal Navy. He graduated from Britannia Royal Naval College in 1912, entering into service as a midshipman.[3] Grace served in the navy during the First World War, during the latter stages of which he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.[4] Following the war he played first-class cricket for the Royal Navy against the British Army cricket team at Lord's in 1920, claiming five wickets on debut.[5][6] Three years later in December 1923, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander.[7] He made two further first-class appearances for the Royal Navy against the Army in 1923 and 1927,[5] though he took only a further two wickets in these matches.[8] In July 1929, he was promoted to the rank of commander,[9] before being promoted to the rank of captain in June 1937.[10]

Grace served during the Second World War, captaining firstly the minelayer HMS Adventure from 1940–42, for which he was mentioned in dispatches,[11] and later the heavy cruiser HMS Berwick between January–August 1944.[3] From September 1944 to January 1946, he commanded HMS Vernon when it was based at Roedean School and oversaw its return to Portsmouth after the war.[12] After relinquishing his command of Vernon, Grace was appointed as a naval aide-de-camp to George VI in February 1946.[13] Four months later he retired from active service.[14] He later served as a deputy lieutenant for Gloucestershire in 1960.[15] Grace died in February 1975 at Amberley, Gloucestershire. He had married Lilla Marguerite Spiller in County Cork in 1932, with the couple having two sons.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ "Wisden - Obituaries in 1975". ESPNcricinfo. 19 December 2005. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Dr Edward Mills Grace of Thornbury". www.thornburyroots.co.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Norman Vere Grace, RN". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  4. ^ "No. 30551". The London Gazette. 1 March 1918. p. 2636.
  5. ^ a b "First-Class Matches played by Norman Grace". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Army v Royal Navy, 1920". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  7. ^ "No. 32889". The London Gazette. 18 December 1923. p. 8820.
  8. ^ "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Norman Grace". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  9. ^ "No. 33513". The London Gazette. 2 July 1929. p. 4361.
  10. ^ "No. 34414". The London Gazette. 2 July 1937. p. 4247.
  11. ^ "No. 35841". The London Gazette. 29 December 1942. p. 26.
  12. ^ "An account of HMS VERNON (R)". Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  13. ^ "No. 37487". The London Gazette. 1 March 1946. p. 1187.
  14. ^ "No. 37674". The London Gazette. 2 August 1946. p. 3938.
  15. ^ "No. 41960". The London Gazette. 19 February 1960. p. 1294.

External links[]

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