Arnold Hughes Eagleton Reading | |
---|---|
Born | 3 April 1896 Heilbron, Orange Free State |
Died | 4 January 1975 Sellicks Green, Somerset, England | (aged 78)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Marines |
Years of service | 1914–1946 |
Rank | Major-general |
Commands held |
5th RM Battalion (1940–1942) 102nd RM Battalion (1942–1943) RM Training Group Devon (1944–1945) Plymouth Division RM (1945–1946) |
Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
Awards | Order of the British Empire |
Major-General Arnold Hughes Eagleton Reading CBE DL (3 April 1896 – 4 January 1975) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Marines officer. He served in the Royal Marines from 1914–1946, rising to the rank of major-general, in addition to playing first-class cricket for the Royal Navy.
The son of the Reverend Mark Alfred Reading, he was born in the Orange Free State in April 1896 at Heilbron. [1] He was educated in England at Cranleigh School, [2] before joining the Royal Marines at the start of the First World War as a probationary second lieutenant. [3] During the war he was promoted twice, first to lieutenant in March 1915, [4] while in May 1918 he was promoted to captain. [5] Reading later made a single appearance in first-class cricket for the Royal Navy against the British Army cricket team at Lord's in 1929. [6] Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed in the Royal Navy first-innings for 12 runs by Frederick Arnold, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 7 runs by Edward Armitage. [7] He was promoted to major in June 1932, [8] before being promoted to lieutenant colonel. [9]
At the start of the Second World War he was posted to HMS St. Angelo in Malta. [1] In November 1939, he was made a temporary colonel, [10] which he relinquished in January 1940. [11] He was the commanding officer of 5th RM Battalion between March 1940 and February 1942, [1] taking part in the operations in Dakar between August and October 1940. He was made an acting colonel commandant in February 1942, [12] while in October 1943 he was made a colonel 2nd commandant. [13]
He was appointed as the Royal Marines aide-de-camp to George VI in October 1945, by which time the war was over, replacing Arthur Reginald Chater in the role. [14] After the conclusion of the war, Reading held the rank of temporary brigadier and was promoted to major-general in January 1946. [15] He was made a CBE in the 1946 Birthday Honours. [16] He was placed on the retired list in November of the same year, having ended his career as the commander of the RM Plymouth Division. [17] [1]
Following his retirement, Reading settled at Buckland St Mary, Somerset. He was appointed as a deputy lieutenant for Somerset in June 1955. [18] He later moved to Sellicks Green, where he died in January 1975. He was survived by his wife, Phoebe, whom he had married in 1933. [1]
Arnold Hughes Eagleton Reading | |
---|---|
Born | 3 April 1896 Heilbron, Orange Free State |
Died | 4 January 1975 Sellicks Green, Somerset, England | (aged 78)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Marines |
Years of service | 1914–1946 |
Rank | Major-general |
Commands held |
5th RM Battalion (1940–1942) 102nd RM Battalion (1942–1943) RM Training Group Devon (1944–1945) Plymouth Division RM (1945–1946) |
Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
Awards | Order of the British Empire |
Major-General Arnold Hughes Eagleton Reading CBE DL (3 April 1896 – 4 January 1975) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Marines officer. He served in the Royal Marines from 1914–1946, rising to the rank of major-general, in addition to playing first-class cricket for the Royal Navy.
The son of the Reverend Mark Alfred Reading, he was born in the Orange Free State in April 1896 at Heilbron. [1] He was educated in England at Cranleigh School, [2] before joining the Royal Marines at the start of the First World War as a probationary second lieutenant. [3] During the war he was promoted twice, first to lieutenant in March 1915, [4] while in May 1918 he was promoted to captain. [5] Reading later made a single appearance in first-class cricket for the Royal Navy against the British Army cricket team at Lord's in 1929. [6] Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed in the Royal Navy first-innings for 12 runs by Frederick Arnold, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 7 runs by Edward Armitage. [7] He was promoted to major in June 1932, [8] before being promoted to lieutenant colonel. [9]
At the start of the Second World War he was posted to HMS St. Angelo in Malta. [1] In November 1939, he was made a temporary colonel, [10] which he relinquished in January 1940. [11] He was the commanding officer of 5th RM Battalion between March 1940 and February 1942, [1] taking part in the operations in Dakar between August and October 1940. He was made an acting colonel commandant in February 1942, [12] while in October 1943 he was made a colonel 2nd commandant. [13]
He was appointed as the Royal Marines aide-de-camp to George VI in October 1945, by which time the war was over, replacing Arthur Reginald Chater in the role. [14] After the conclusion of the war, Reading held the rank of temporary brigadier and was promoted to major-general in January 1946. [15] He was made a CBE in the 1946 Birthday Honours. [16] He was placed on the retired list in November of the same year, having ended his career as the commander of the RM Plymouth Division. [17] [1]
Following his retirement, Reading settled at Buckland St Mary, Somerset. He was appointed as a deputy lieutenant for Somerset in June 1955. [18] He later moved to Sellicks Green, where he died in January 1975. He was survived by his wife, Phoebe, whom he had married in 1933. [1]