Victor Cannings Collection

This material is held atMiddle East Centre Archive, St Antony's College, University of Oxford

Reference
- GB 165 0386
Dates of Creation
- 1936-2006
Name of Creator
- Cannings, Victor Henry Douglas (b.1919)
Language of Material
- English
Physical Description
- 1 box

Scope and Content

Papers relating to service in the Palestine Police including a Police identity card, Criminal Code Ordinance for 1936, Palestine Police Magazines 1939-1947, 3 photographs of the Palestine Police Cricket Team, Certificate of Discharge from the Police and an oral history interview carried out in 2006 covering Cannings’ service in the Palestine Police. Also including a booklet on Jerusalem promoting the work of the Jewish Agency and press cuttings covering bombings and deteriorating security in Palestine 1944-1946 and an essay on Cannings' later cricket career, 1958.

Administrative / Biographical History

Cannings, Victor Henry Douglas (b.1919)

Born at Bighton, near Alresford, Hampshire on 3 April 1919. Educated at Old Alresford, Preston, Candover and Farnham West School and from there gained a scholarship to Guildford Technical College. Worked on high speed lathe until joining the Palestine Police in early 1939. Played cricket while at Guildford, representing the 'Young Players of Surrey', and continued to play both cricket and soccer while in Palestine. Met and befriended during his service many future prominent cricketers, including Norman Yardley (1915-1989), Jim Laker (1922-1986), Bob Appleyard (b.1924) and Lindsey Hassett (1913-1993), who later captained Australia. Toured Egypt (twice) and the Lebanon with the Police Cricket Team, and Egypt, Syria and Lebanon with the Soccer Team. Returned home in May 1946, later signing for Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Left Warwickshire in 1950 for Hampshire County Cricket Club, where he coached cricket during the winter in South Africa, Pakistan, Argentina and Trinidad. Appointed head cricket coach at Eton College in 1960. Retired in 1984. Returned in 1985 to coach Eton boys in their first year. Retired again in 1994. Victor Cannings married in 1947 and has two sons.

Arrangement

1. Palestine Police, 1933-2006
2. Jerusalem Booklet and Newspaper Cuttings, 1936-1946
3. Cricket Career, 1958
4. Photographs, 1939-1948

Access Information

Open

For further information on how to use the Middle East Centre Archive, please see our Archon entry at http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13531965

Acquisition Information

Received as a gift from Victor Cannings on 28 Feb 2006.

Other Finding Aids

Victor Cannings Collection (pdf file)

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

The photographs are available for viewing via contact sheets. The oral history interview is available for listening via an MP3 Player.

Archivist's Note

Fonds and file and item level description created by Debbie Usher 14 Mar, revised 27 Mar 2006, 4 Dec 2007, 3 Jul 2008, 23 Jan 2012. Biographical history supplied by Mr Victor Cannings.