Arthur Murray Duthie OBE DSO (12 June 1881 – 3 June 1973) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. A career officer in the Royal Artillery, his military service encompassed both the Second Boer War and the First World War, being decorated with the Distinguished Service Order in the latter conflict. As a cricketer, he made one appearance in first-class cricket for Hampshire County Cricket Club.

Arthur Duthie
Personal information
Full name
Arthur Murray Duthie
Born12 June 1881
Saharanpur,
North-Western Provinces,
British India
Died3 June 1973(1973-06-03) (aged 91)
Chideock, Dorset, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingUnknown-arm fast-medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1911Hampshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 6
Batting average 3.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 5
Balls bowled 225
Wickets 5
Bowling average 28.20
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 3/85
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 21 January 2023

Life and military career edit

The son of the botanist John Firminger Duthie, he was born in British India at Saharanpur in June 1881.[1] He was educated in England at Marlborough College,[2] before proceeding to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. From there, he graduated as a second lieutenant into the Royal Artillery in November 1899.[3] Shortly after graduating, he was seconded for service in the Second Boer War with the Imperial Yeomanry.[4] He was promoted to lieutenant on 16 February 1901,[5] while in South Africa, and returned to service with the Royal Artillery in December 1902.[6] Promotion to captain followed in April 1908.[7] Duthie later made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Derbyshire at Southampton in the 1911 County Championship.[8] Playing as a bowler in the Hampshire side, he took 5 wickets in the match.[9]

Duthie served in the First World War and was promoted major in October 1914.[10] He was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in January 1916,[11] while the following month he was decorated by France with the Legion of Honour, Chevalier class.[12] He was appointed to the staff in January 1916, where he held the position of a deputy-assistant adjutant-general until June 1916.[13][14] In March 1917, he was made an acting lieutenant colonel whilst commanding a brigade of artillery,[15] relinquishing the rank the following month.[16] Shortly after the conclusion of the war, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1919 New Year Honours.[17] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in June 1921,[18] at which point he was serving in British India at the Artillery School at Quetta.[19] Following four years completion as a regimental lieutenant colonel in June 1925, Duthie was placed on the half-pay list.[20] He was promoted to colonel in June 1927, with seniority antedated to June 1925,[21] and was appointed commanding officer of the Lowland Division the following year,[22] before retiring in May 1931.[23]

In retirement, Duthie lived in Chideock, Dorset. He was known there for his generosity to the village's working men.[24] He died there in June 1973.[25] He had been married in 1917 to Mary Frances Yseult de Poher de la Poer, daughter of Edmond de la Poer, 1st Count de la Poer.[26]

References edit

  1. ^ "John Duthie". www.heenecemetery.org.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. ^ Marlborough College Register from 1843 to 1904 (5 ed.). H. Hart. 1905. p. 523.
  3. ^ "No. 27137". The London Gazette. 21 November 1899. p. 7016.
  4. ^ "No. 27425". The London Gazette. 15 April 1902. p. 2503.
  5. ^ Hart′s Army list, 1904
  6. ^ "No. 27513". The London Gazette. 6 January 1903. p. 107.
  7. ^ "No. 28136". The London Gazette. 12 May 1908. p. 3481.
  8. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Arthur Duthie". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Hampshire v Derbyshire, 1911 County Championship". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. ^ "No. 28960". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 October 1914. p. 8860.
  11. ^ "No. 29438". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 January 1916. p. 572.
  12. ^ "No. 29486". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 February 1916. p. 2066.
  13. ^ "No. 29478". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 February 1916. p. 1809.
  14. ^ "No. 29607". The London Gazette. 2 June 1916. p. 5466.
  15. ^ "No. 30045". The London Gazette. 1 May 1917. p. 4181.
  16. ^ "No. 30146". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 June 1917. p. 6237.
  17. ^ "No. 31092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1918. p. 7.
  18. ^ "No. 32354". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1921. p. 4710.
  19. ^ "No. 32364". The London Gazette. 21 June 1921. p. 4921.
  20. ^ "No. 33056". The London Gazette. 12 June 1925. p. 3947.
  21. ^ "No. 33298". The London Gazette. 29 July 1927. p. 4911.
  22. ^ "No. 33385". The London Gazette. 18 May 1928. p. 3506.
  23. ^ "No. 33716". The London Gazette. 15 May 1931. p. 3145.
  24. ^ An old Catholic family. Nottingham and Midland Catholic News. 8 February 1930. p. 16
  25. ^ "Wisden - Obituaries in 1973". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  26. ^ Major A. M. Duthie to Miss de la Poer. The Gentlewoman. 14 July 1917. p. 39

External links edit