Village cricket match stopped due to the World War I set to resume

The reorganized match will take place at The Lee CC in Buckinghamshire

A village cricket match between The Lee CC and Manor House played in 1914 in Buckinghamshire that never reached its conclusion, due to the start of the First World War, is about to be resumed this Sunday.

The match between the two sides had commenced on August 3, 1914 but had to be called off due to rain. Subsequently, the war affected the village as a result of which the players decided to continue the game once the war was over, but many of the players ended up losing their lives in battle.

The Lee CC Chairman Matt Line has decided to reorganize the game and said that it would be a “fitting tribute” to the 30 people in the village who died.

This uncompleted match, which took place exactly a hundred years ago, became known after a member of The Lee CC read about it in Michael Senior’s book No Finer Courage, which talks about life in the village during the war.

"It was The Lee versus the Manor House and back in those days the house was the biggest employer and most of The Lee players were estate workers," Mr Line said.

"No doubt there would have been a bit of an edge to the game.

"In the war one [player] lost a leg and was severely injured. The Lee's fast bowler was killed by a sniper. But another chap - GD Roberts - did survive and went on to play rugby for England.

"We all sat around and thought, 'We just have to do this'. I think it will be a fitting tribute."