I know that Vivian is WW2 but I thought he was interesting to find out about ! Vivian Alexander Chiodetti is believed to be the only Indian first-class cricketer to have been killed while serving in the armed forces. Born on 31 May 1905 in Rawalpindi he became a regular soldier in the British Army in 1925 and was commissioned into the Manchester Regiment in 1928. While on leave in December 1931 he made his one appearance in first-class cricket, scoring 15 and 73 for the Hyderabad Cricket Association at Secunderabad in a semi-final of the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup Tournament. From September 1938 he was attached to the Burma Defence Force, and held the rank of acting major when he was killed as he led ‘C’ Company of the 3rd Battalion, Burma Rifles into action immediately after reaching Tavoy by ship at 1800 hours on 17 January 1942. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial to the Missing, Burma In Memory of Major VIVIAN ALEXANDER CHIODETTI 41419, 2nd Bn., Manchester Regiment attd. 3rd, Burma Rifles who died on 17 January 1942 Remembered with honour RANGOON MEMORIAL The Rawalpindi-born Vivian Chiodetti, a regular British Army soldier, played a match for Hyderabad before he was killed in Burma in 1942. The museum at Lord's tells the Chiodetti story Full name Vivian Alexander Chiodetti Born May 31, 1903, Rawalpindi, Punjab Died January 17, 1942, Kyaumedaung, Burma (aged 38 years 231 days) Major teams Hyderabad (India) Education Bishop Cotton School CHIODETTI, Major, VIVIAN ALEXANDER, 41419. 2nd Bn. Manchester Regiment attd. 3rd Burma Rifles. 17th January 1942. Face 17. http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Cemeteries/Rangoon_Memorial/C/html/chi-chl.htm Vivian is mentioned here in 1912 ... http://www.oldcottonians.org/index.htm This from incoming passanger lists ... he came from Australia .... I wonder why he was there ? and why did he join the Manchesters ? Vivian Chiodetti ~ Army Officer Age: 25 Port of Departure: Brisbane, Australia Arrival Date: 11 May 1931 Port of Arrival: Hull, England Ports of Voyage: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Colombo, Port Said, Malta, Southampton Ship Name: Hobsons Bay Shipping Line: Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line George told me this ... so I still don't know !! Here's a snippet from Robert Bonner .... On 1st October 1936 the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company named a locomotive of the Royal Scot class Manchester Regiment and the naming ceremony took place at Victoria Station, Manchester. A Guard of Honour was provided by the Depot under the command of Lieutenant V A Chiodetti.
