Description
Denmark Hill, London born right-hand batsman Walter Druce began his career in cricket with the Marlborough College eleven, captaining them in his last season before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge University. A regular in the University’s eleven from 1894, he captained them in 1895, when his younger brother Frank was also in the eleven, being awarded his Blue. He also spent a year keeping wicket for the University in 1894. He also won a Blue for rugby while at Cambridge in 1893 and 1894.
After leaving Cambridge, Druce played for a number of amateur teams until as late as 1913, by when he had played 39 first class matches, averaging 28 with the bat including making 3 centuries, with a highest score of 129. He also took 47 catches in first class cricket and made 5 stumpings.
During the First World War he served in the Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry, reaching the rank of captain in 1916.
He was the older brother of Frank Druce, who had also captained both Marlborough and Cambridge University, and played for Surrey as well as appearing in 5 Test matches for England.