Background
His death was an indirect cause of the entire tradition of the Two-minute silence, instigated by his father when Mayor of Cape Town.
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Reginald Hands
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He was a South African cricketer who played in one Test match in February 1914. During that English tour, Hands made his only Test appearance in the fifth match of the series, played at Portuguese Elizabeth. He was dismissed stumped in both innings.
Reginald Hands was also a talented rugby forward and played two international matches for England in 1910 against France and Scotland.
All three were Rhodes Scholars. A lawyer, he was called to the Bar in 1911.
At the outbreak of war he joined the Imperial Light Horse and went with them to German South West Africa (now Namibia). He transferred to Société Anonyme Heavy Artillery and was posted to the Western Front, where he was seconded to the Royal Garrison Artillery.
He was promoted to Captain and became second in command of his battery.
During the Germans" final large offensive, begun on 21 March 1918, he was gassed, and succumbed to the effects of gas poisoning on 20 April 1918.
Achievements
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Not surprisingly given the period, his entire first-class cricket career lasted just 15 months in which time he played a few matches for Western Province in the Currie Cup (1912-1913) and against the visiting Marylebone Cricket Club led by J.W.H.T. Douglas (1913-1914). A useful right-handed batsman, he scored 0 and 7 in a match won convincingly by the visitors by 10 wickets. He (along with his two brothers, incidentally) had previously won his rugby Blue at Oxford University. He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his military service.
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Born
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Died
April 20, 1918 (aged 29) -
Nationality
South Africa United Kingdom