Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 5 August 1919, page 7


NOTED CRICKETER

DEAD.

MR. DAVID W. GREGORY.

Mr. David William Gregory, probably the most notable pioneer of big cricket in Aus-tralia, died yesterday morning, in his 75th year, at his home, The Hermitage, Kissing Point-road, Turramurra.

Born at Fairy Meadow, near Wollongong, the late Mr. Gregory was bright, alike in his school career and in his youthful sports, and honours be won in the former included a medal given by Sir William Denison. Shortly afterwards he entered the Auditor-General's Depart-ment, and he remained in the Public Service for 44 years. In the course of that time the service was reconstructed, and he was trans-ferred from the position of Inspector of Public Accounts to that of paymaster at the Treasury. On his retirement the then Premier, Sir Joseph Carruthers, on behalf of a large circle of political and official subscribers, presented the late Mr. Gregory with a mass of silverplate, and, praising his services in very eulogistic language, mentioned that he had served under ten Governors.

The "Sydney Morning Herald" recorded in 1861 that on April of that year a single-wicket match for £100 aside was played between Caffin, Thompson, and Lawrence, of New South Wales, and Conway, Costick, and Wills, of Victoria, and that the Victorians won with one wicket to spare. The fame of the Gregorys even at that period was high, and so that New South Wales might have its revenge, it was sug-gested that Dave, Edward, and Charlie Greg-ory should play the Victorians. They did so and won by five runs. That was the last single-wicket match played in the colony.

Still greater distinction came to him when

the first English team visited Australia. He was made captain of the Australians, and under his guidance the Englishmen suffered their first defeat. The winning team included such players as J. M. Blackham and Kendall, the latter taking the place of Spofforth, who insisted upon standing aside in favour of Murdoch. In the following match, however, both Spofforth and Murdoch were included in the team, but Blackham was omitted. The Australians were defeated on that occasion.

The late Mr. Gregory also captained the

first Australian team to meet the Englishmen

on even terms—11 men a-side—and in 1878 he skippered the first white Australian team to visit England.

The deceased was also for about five years

secretary of the New South Wales Cricket As-

sociation, in the revivication of which he was

the leading spirit.

Cricket came naturally to the deceased. His father landing at what is now known as Hyde

Park in 1826, and settling in the neighbour-hood, played enthusiastically, so that the

Gregory family is within a few years of 100 years connection with cricket in Australia. Four of the deceased's seven brothers—Wal-ter, Edward, Charlie, and Arthur—played in representative cricket; his nephews, Syd. and Charles, are household names with the present generation. Another nephew, Jack, is playing successfully with the A.I.F. team in England. But the Gregorys were also warriors, for ten of them took part in the great war. Ronald—a son of the late Mr. David Gregory—was the first of the clan to

win a military decoration, though two others have emulated him.