Peter Nelson (cricketer, born 1913)


Peter Maurice Nelson was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. Nelson served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment from 1933-1946, during which he saw service in the Second World War. He also played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team.

Life and military career

Nelson was born at Bradfield and educated at Marlborough College. He played minor counties cricket for Oxfordshire in 1931, making a single appearance in the Minor Counties Championship. From Marlborough he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, graduating as a second lieutenant into the Royal Berkshire Regiment in August 1933. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in August 1936. He made his only appearance in first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team against Cambridge University at Fenner's in 1939. He batted once during the match, scoring 62 runs in the Army's first-innings, before being dismissed by Patrick Dickinson. With his right-arm off break bowling, he took a single wicket when he dismissed John Blake in the Cambridge University second-innings.
Nelson served in the Second World War, during which he was promoted to the rank of captain in August 1941. Following the war, he was promoted to the rank of major in August 1946. He retired from active service four months later on account of disability. In later life he was a horse trainer and breeder. He died at Newbury in February 1998.