Ernest Burdett

Who was Ernest Burdett?

Ernest Wyndham Burdett MC, DSO was an English cricketer and Indian Army officer born in Roorkee, then in the British Raj. Burdett was a wicket-keeper.

Burdett was the son of Reverend William Jerome Burdett and Eliza Katharine Toye. He was educated at King's School, Bruton. Burdett was listed in the London Gazette, dated 11 February 1910, as serving in the Indian Army and as being promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant. He served in the 48th Pioneers. The following year it can be assumed that Burdett returned to England prior to July 1911, as he played five Minor Counties Championship matches for Devon in that year. Burdett served in the Indian Army during the First World War and was listed in the 6 April 1917 edition of the London Gazette, still serving in the 48th Pioneers and having been promoted to the rank of captain. He eventually reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During the course of the war he was decorated with the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order.

Fourteen years later he made his first-class debut for Railways A against Freelooters. He was dismissed for a duck in the Railways first-innings by Ladha Ramji.