Ken Saxon

Kendall Reginald James von Tunzelmann Saxon MC (1 November 1894 – 1 June 1976) was a New Zealand soldier, first-class cricketer and educator.[1]

Ken Saxon

MC
Personal information
Full name
Kendall Reginald James von Tunzelmann Saxon
Born1 September 1894
Nelson, New Zealand
Died1 June 1976(1976-06-01) (aged 81)
Pinner, Middlesex, England
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
RelationsDoug Coombs (nephew)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1923/24–1924/25Nelson
1923/24Canterbury
1927–1934Cambridgeshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 43
Batting average 21.50
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 43
Catches/stumpings 0/–
Source: Cricinfo, 21 July 2019

Life and career

Saxon was born in Nelson, New Zealand, one of seven children of James and Clara Saxon.[2] He was educated at Nelson College and returned to teach there in 1913.[3]

Saxon served in the First World War as an officer in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. While serving as a lieutenant in the 4th Battalion in 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry in action". In 1918, as a captain in the 1st Battalion, he was awarded a bar to his MC for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty". Each time he had shown courage and leadership under fire, the first time while wounded.[4] His older brother Jack was killed at the Somme in 1916.[4]

In October 1919 he began studying science at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.[5] He represented Cambridge in the rugby match against Oxford in 1920, but a war wound to his knee prevented his taking part in 1921.[6] He won the long jump at the Cambridge University sports in 1921 with a jump of 21 feet 9 inches, beating the future Olympian Harold Abrahams by one inch. He graduated in June 1922, married Frances Smyth of Monks Kirby, Warwickshire, in Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire, on 29 June, and sailed for New Zealand on 20 July to take up a position at Nelson College.[7]

Saxon captained Nelson when they won the Hawke Cup from Wanganui in January 1924, opening the batting and making the two highest scores of the match, 59 and 42 not out.[8] A month later he was selected in the Canterbury team to play a first-class match against the touring New South Wales, again opening the batting, and making 43 and 0.[9]

Returning to England in the mid-1920s, Saxon took up a teaching position in Cambridgeshire.[10] At the end of 1928 he began teaching at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood.[11]

Saxon played regularly for the Cambridgeshire team in Minor Counties cricket from 1927 to 1934.[12] His highest score in Minor Counties cricket was 160, opening the batting against Surrey Second XI in 1933.[13]

Saxon married for a second time in May 1931 to Elizabeth Francis of Cambridge. They lived in London.[11]

References
  1. "Player profile: Ken Saxon". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  2. "Kendall Saxon". MyHeritage. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  3. "Personal War Notes". Colonist. 18 October 1916. p. 11.
  4. "Kendall Reginald James von Tunzelmann Saxon". Auckland Museum. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  5. "At the Universities: Dominion undergraduates". Press: 10. 18 December 1919.
  6. "Home Universities". Press: 11. 29 January 1921.
  7. "Notes for Women". Otago Daily Times: 8. 18 August 1922.
  8. "Wanganui v Nelson 1923-24". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  9. "Canterbury v New South Wales 1923-24". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  10. "Headmaster returns". New Zealand Herald: 12. 1 February 1928.
  11. "Personal and Social". Otago Daily Times: 12. 22 May 1931.
  12. "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Ken Saxon". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  13. "Cambridgeshire v Surrey Second XI 1933". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
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