Arthur Harry Kneller OBE (28 April 1894 — 19 July 1969) was an English first-class cricketer and colonial official in Kenya Colony.

Arthur Kneller
Personal information
Full name
Arthur Harry Kneller
Born(1894-04-28)28 April 1894
Kingsclere, Hampshire, England
Died19 July 1969(1969-07-19) (aged 75)
Chichester, Sussex, England
BattingRight-handed
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1924–1926Hampshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 8
Runs scored 76
Batting average 8.44
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 25
Catches/stumpings 0/–
Source: Cricinfo, 9 January 2009

Cricket and colonial service edit

The son of Harry Kneller, he was born in April 1894 at Kingsclere, Hampshire. He was educated at Ardingly College, where he played for the college cricket team.[1] Kneller served in the First World War, being commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery as a second lieutenant in June 1917.[2] Shortly after the conclusion of the war, he was promoted to lieutenant in December 1918.[3] He later played first-class cricket for Hampshire, making his debut against Sussex at Portsmouth in the 1924 County Championship. He played first-class cricket until 1926, making eight appearances.[4] He scored 76 runs in his eight matches, at an average of 8.44 and a highest score of 25 not out.[5]

Kneller joined the Colonial Office after playing first-class cricket, becoming a colonial official in Kenya Colony. He was appointed Inspector of Labour in December 1934 by Governor Sir Joseph Byrne,[6] with him later being appointed a registration officer in June 1938.[7] He was appointed a senior labour officer in February 1941,[8] before being appointed Acting-Deputy Labour Commissioner in February 1948.[9] He returned to his substantive rank of Principal Labour Officer in March 1948,[10] but was reappointed Acting-Deputy Labour Commissioner in June of the same year.[11] In July 1950, he was appointed be a Deputy Labour Commissioner,[12] and was appointed as a Labour Commissioner in September of the following year,[13] before reverting to his substantive post of Deputy Labour Commissioner in September 1952.[14] He was appointed an OBE in the 1953 Coronation Honours.[15] Kneller later took part in the investigation into mistreatment of Kenyan prisoners during the Mau Mau rebellion, at which point he was employed by the Kenya Wattle Manufacturers Association.[16] Kneller later retired to England, where he died at Chichester in July 1969.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Wisden – Obituaries in 1969". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  2. ^ "No. 30170". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 July 1917. p. 6789.
  3. ^ "No. 31265". The London Gazette. 1 April 1919. p. 4309.
  4. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Arthur Kneller". CricketArchive. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  5. ^ "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Arthur Kneller". CricketArchive. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Kenya Gazette". Vol. 37 (1 ed.). 2 January 1935. p. 7. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. ^ "Kenya Gazette". Vol. 40 (32 ed.). 28 June 1938. p. 682. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  8. ^ "Kenya Gazette". Vol. 43 (37 ed.). 2 September 1941. p. 550. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. ^ "Kenya Gazette". Vol. 50 (8 ed.). 22 February 1948. p. 133. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  10. ^ "Kenya Gazette". Vol. 50 (11 ed.). 16 March 1948. p. 209. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  11. ^ "Kenya Gazette". Vol. 50 (24 ed.). 15 June 1948. p. 383. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  12. ^ "Kenya Gazette". Vol. 52 (35 ed.). 1 August 1950. p. 593. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  13. ^ "Kenya Gazette". Vol. 53 (46 ed.). 11 September 1951. p. 893. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  14. ^ "Kenya Gazette". Vol. 54 (54 ed.). 30 September 1952. p. 952. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  15. ^ "No. 39863". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 May 1953. p. 2974.
  16. ^ Jack, A. P. (1959). "Administrative Enquiry Into Allegations of Ill-treatment and Irregular Practices Against Detainees at Manyani Detention Camp and Fort Hall District Works Camps". p. 171. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)

External links edit