Arthur du Boulay

Major Arthur Houssemayne du Boulay (18 June 1880 – 25 October 1918) was a British military officer and amateur cricketer. Born in Kent, he served in the Royal Engineers from 1897 and saw active service in the Second Boer War and First World War. He played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and died in the 1918 flu pandemic whilst on active service in October 1918. Early life Du Boulay was the oldest child of Colonel Woodforde Houssemayne du Boulay and his wife Rose (née Hawkins). His father served in the Royal Engineers and du Boulay was born in 1880 at New Brompton in Chatham, Kent, close to the regimental headquarters. The family home was The Warren in Charlton, then in Kent. Du Boulay was educated at Cheltenham College where he was in the school cricket XI for three years and was captain in 1897, his final year at school, scoring over 300 runs and taking 33 wickets. He played for Kent's Second XI during the year and Wisden described him as a "fine batsman" and predicted that he may go on to play county cricket. He also played rugby union at school. Military career After leaving school, du Boulay opted for a military career and entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, the training academy for officers in the Royal Engineers, in January 1898. He shared the athletic award for the academy in 1898, and was awarded the Sword of Honour for being the best cadet on his course. He continued to play cricket at the academy, leading the batting and bowling averages in 1899. After graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Engineers on 22 November 1899. Following service at the Royal School of Military Engineering (SME) at Chatham and in Ireland, du Boulay served in South Africa towards the end of the Second Boer War (1899–1902). He remained in South Africa until 1904 and was promoted to lieutenant whilst in the country, on 22 November 1902. Returning to Britain, du Boulay served as an instructor at the SME until 1908. He then served as adjutant in the 1st London Divisional Engineers, a Territorial Force division.