Born in Leeds, England, on 18 May 1905, Hedley Verity was a gentle, softly-spoken man. He was also one of the greatest cricketers of his generation.

Hedley’s statistics speak for themselves. He is widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest-ever slow-left-arm bowlers.

In 40 test matches, Hedley took 144 wickets at 24.37. In all First-Class cricket, Hedley took 1,956 at an incredible rate of 14.9.

Some of Hedley’s greatest achievements for his club side, Yorkshire, include world-record innings analyses of 10 for 10, 10 for 36 and 9 for 12, and 7 for 9. The latter came during a test match against Sussex, two days after the outbreak of the Second World War.

For England, perhaps Hedley’s greatest moment came across Australia at Lord’s in 1934. Hedley gave the performance of a lifetime, taking 14 wickets in a single day, breaking yet another global record.

Come the Second World War, Hedley was serving with B Company, 1^st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards).

Unfortunately, one of England’s greatest-ever cricketers lost his life in combat.

Leading B Company forward across a Sicilian cornfield as Eighth Army pushed on during Operation Husky, Hedley was struck in the chest by a German bullet.

Eye-witness accounts say Hedley continued to urge his men onward but was captured as he lay wounded amidst the corn. Hedley was taken as a POW to mainland Italy where he succumbed to his wounds, aged 38.

Hedley Verity, one of England’s greatest bowlers, is buried at Caserta War Cemetery, Italy.