Bryan Ronnie Image 1 Kent 1937

Description

Educated at Rugby School, Beckenham, Kent born left-handed batsman Ronnie Bryan was an amateur cricketer who played with his brother Jack for Kent’s Second XI in 1914 as well as for the Club and Ground side before the start of the First World War. He made his first class cricket debut for Kent against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in June 1920, going on to play five times for the County during the 1920 season as well as six times for the Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship.

After being stood down from the Army in early 1921 Bryan joined Lloyds Bank and was only able to play cricket during his annual holiday. He made six appearances for Kent in each of 1923 and 1924, two in 1925 and one in 1928 as well as playing for the Club Cricket Conference a number of times, including against touring New Zealand, West Indies and South African national sides. He also played regularly for the Lloyds Bank side and for Beckenham Cricket Club.

In 1937 Bryan took three months leave from work and was appointed joint captain of Kent alongside Bryan Valentine. He played 20 matches for Kent during the season, having not played first class cricket since 1928 as Kent tried to replace Percy Chapman as captain. These were the final first class appearances of Bryan’s career.

Bryan was one of three left-handed brothers who all played for Kent. He played only once in a first class match alongside brothers Jack and Godfrey, against Lancashire at Dover in 1925. In 40 first class matches for Kent, Bryan scored 1,154 runs at an average of 22.62 with 7 half centuries and a highest score of 89 not out. An occasional bowler, he took a single wicket in first class play at a cost of 9 runs, conceding 22 runs in a total of 13 overs bowled in all matches, and he also took 30 catches in first class play.

Bryan also had a significant career as a soldier serving in both First and Second World Wars. At the outbreak of the First World War Bryan was still at school and was too young to enlist. In 1915, aged 17, he joined the Territorial Force, being awarded a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment, the same battalion in which his brother Jack was serving. He was initially posted to a Provisional Battalion as he was too young to serve overseas. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1917 and, in January 1918, posted to the main complement of the battalion, now old enough to serve on the front line.

Bryan arrived on the Western Front in France in April 1918 and was attached to the Royal Sussex Regiment at Friville in the Somme sector. He saw action in the Hundred Days Offensive and was in action until the end of the War. After the Armistice he volunteered for service in the Army of Occupation on the Rhine and was stationed in Germany until the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 and was transferred to the Territorial Reserve in February 1921.

At the outbreak of the Second World War Bryan was reappointed to the Reserve of Officers before seeing action with the Manchester Regiment in France. He was evacuated from Dunkirk with the Manchesters alongside his brother Jack. In 1942 he was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps. He was awarded a Bronze Star in 1948, a US award which could be awarded to anyone who had served with US forces.

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