Frederick Campling

Who was Frederick Campling?

Frederick Stratford Campling was an English cricketer and Royal Air Force officer. His batting and bowling styles are unknown. He was born in Basford, Nottinghamshire.

Campling made his first-class debut in South Africa for Orange Free State against Rhodesia in 1930. He played five first-class matches in his career, all for Orange Free State and spread over a period of four years. His final first-class match came in the 1933/34 season against Border. In his five first-class matches for Orange Free State he scored 59 runs at a batting average of 9.83, with a high score of 16. Predominantly a bowler, he took 11 wickets at a bowling average of 22.09, with best figures of 4/75. He later played Minor Counties Championship cricket for Devon between 1935 and 1939.

Campling served in the Second World War. He was serving with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as part of No. 258 Squadron in Burma, where he held the rank of Leading Aircraftman. He became a prisoner of war to the Japanese, becoming a victim of the Sandakan Death Marches when he died on 22 March 1945. He is commemorated on the Kranji War Memorial in Singapore and the Ilsington War Memorial in Ilsington, Devon. As this memorial contains the names of Ilsington residents who gave their lives in war, it can be assumed Campling lived in the village during his life.