South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 16 May 1942
Cricket Abroad
That serving men who are sent abroad can still indulge in their favourite games is indicated in a letter recently received by ” Bill ” Thompson, captain of the Conisbrough Cricket Club, from his brother, “Chick,” who has been serving with the R.A.F. in South Africa for 18 months.
Chick, who is a former playing member of the Conisbrough Cricket Club, writes: “Well, I suppose you will now be getting ready for the cricket season again. I have played a few games for this station and have done quite well. I don’t know if they play on turf wickets at all in this country, but all the pitches we have played on have had matting down. By the time you have finished playing your feet are crying out from the heat.
We played the Officers’ Mess last week and the C.O. turned out. His name is Chichester, some relation, I believe, to the chap who formerly captained Yorkshire Seconds. He made 88, and did I know It! I was fielding at cover point. He is 6ft. 3in. tall, and talk about being able to crack an off ball—they went past me like bullets to the boundary. I made 28 not out on the same day.”