Thomas Edmond John Fitton CBE (16 August 1911 – 31 August 2000), known as John, was an Anglo-Irish first-class cricketer and Royal Air Force officer.
Thomas Fitton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | Thomas Edmond John Fitton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 August 1911[1] Killarney, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 31 August 2000 (aged 89) Devon, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | Royal Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1935–1966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Air commodore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commands | Director of Mechanical Engineering 1 RAF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battles / wars | Second World War | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cricket information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium-fast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1932 | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Thomas Fitton at ESPNcricinfo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life
editFitton was born in Ireland at Killarney in August 1911. He was educated in England at Trent College, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford.[2] While studying at Oxford, he made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Oxford University against the touring South Americans at Oxford in 1932.[3] Fitton was unbeaten in both Oxford innings', with scores of 4 and 3 respectively. He also took two wickets with his right-arm medium-fast bowling in the South Americans first innings, dismissing Dennet Ayling and Cyril Ayling.[4]
Military career
editAfter graduating from Oxford, Fitton joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer on probation in October 1935.[5] From April 1936–September 1937, he was a pilot with 43 Squadron, before becoming a flight instructor in September 1937.[1] He was promoted to flying officer in April 1938,[6] before being granted the acting rank of flight lieutenant in April 1939 before relinquishing rank in August 1939.[7][8] Fitton transferred to the Technical Branch in April 1940,[1] at which point he held the full rank of flight lieutenant.[9][10] He was granted the temporary ranks of squadron leader in June 1941 and wing commander in June 1942.[11][12] In November 1942, he was made a full squadron leader, antedated to June 1941.[13]
Following the war, he was promoted to wing commander in July 1947,[14] before being promoted to group captain in July 1953.[15] Fitton became the deputy director of the Technical Services in September 1958,[1] He was promoted to air commodore in July 1961,[16] with Fitton being made an CBE in the 1962 New Year Honours.[17] In June 1963, he was appointed director of mechanical engineering with 1 RAF.[1] He retired from active service in August 1966.[18] Fitton died in Devon in August 2000.
Personal life
editFitton was married to Ruth Trewyn, née Oliver. They had one son.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Air Commodore T E J Fitton (37393)". www.rafweb.org. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Player profile: Thomas Fitton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "First-Class Matches played by Thomas Fitton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Oxford University v South Americans, 1932". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "No. 34219". The London Gazette. 12 November 1935. p. 7168.
- ^ "No. 34513". The London Gazette. 24 May 1938. p. 3358.
- ^ "No. 34619". The London Gazette. 25 April 1939. p. 2755.
- ^ "No. 34687". The London Gazette. 19 September 1939. p. 6353.
- ^ "No. 35083". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 February 1941. p. 1079.
- ^ "No. 34870". The London Gazette. 11 June 1940. p. 3519.
- ^ "No. 35187". The London Gazette. 10 June 1941. p. 3323.
- ^ "No. 35618". The London Gazette. 3 July 1942. p. 2925.
- ^ "No. 35791". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 November 1942. p. 5036.
- ^ "No. 38020". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 July 1947. p. 3421.
- ^ "No. 39900". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1953. p. 3608.
- ^ "No. 42403". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1961. p. 4932.
- ^ "No. 42552". The London Gazette. 29 December 1961. p. 9.
- ^ "No. 44090". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 August 1966. p. 9264.