Early Years of the BCMCL

The following report is volunteered by Mr. Timothy Watkins of the Royal Engineers. For more photos, stories and information about the role of the Royal Engineers in BC, check out their website.

Another interesting article about Cricket in Victoria (Uvic)

The earliest reference to cricket in BC which I have found dates to 1851, when a set of cricket gear was presented to the men of the Hudson's Bay post at Fort Victoria by Capt. Walter Colquhoun Grant (formerly of the Scots Greys), BC's first private settler. By 1858 matches were held regularly in Victoria. A humorous article on an August 1858 match between the town team and the crew of HMS Satellite is attached (minus the scorecard, sadly). Click here to read the article (MS Word)

The earliest known cricket photograph was taken in 1857, by Roger Fenton at the Artillery Ground, when the Royal Artillery played Hunsdonbury.
On the mainland, the Royal Engineers arrived in 1858 & 1859 with the gold rush to the Fraser River, bringing the game with them. They set up their camp adjacent to the new capital of New Westminter. The first reference to cricket on the mainland appears in the Columbian newspaper for February 28,1862, under the headline 'A 'Bee' to clear the cricket ground': "[We] see one hundred Royal Engineers including their officers, with nearly as many civilians 'as busy as bees', some cutting down trees, some grubbing out stumps, and others piling wood upon several enormous fires, kindled for the purpose of consuming the timber. It was pleasing indeed to witness the happy reunion of the military and the citizens; but especially to see the officers for the time laying aside all distinction, and heartily uniting with the men in the arduous but praiseworthy employment of clearing the cricket ground. Shortly after two o'clock, His Excellency accompanied by Colonel Moody came upon the ground, and while the former was making himself agreeable to the people, the latter was making himself useful by taking hold, like a good fellow, and working amongst these men." [Note the not-so-subtle dig at His Excellency Governor James Douglas,not popular in New Westminster]. The ground in question was west of the Engineers' camp at Sapperton, which was on the site of the old BC Penitentiary, and east of Queen's Park. I believe that puts it just about on the site of Woodlands hospital.


The Engineers' matches seem to have taken place in the spring, presumably before many of the men were dispatched for duty in the interior. The following snippets (which also appear on our website) relate to 1862: 24th April 1862 - Easter Monday was a lively day on the Cricket ground. At noon the Royal Engineers, headed by the Band and followed by a number of their wives and children, marched to the ground, where several Tents had been erected. A number of Cricketers enjoyed a very good game, while the others amused themselves at football, quoits, etc. The day was delightful and everyone appeared highly pleased with the day's recreation 17th May - Ho Cricketers! Awake from your slumbers and prepare for the 24th of May! 24th May - Programme for To-day: One gun when the king of the day peeps over the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade range, the signal for the ringin of the church bells. A Royal Salute at 12 o'clock, during which the bells will ring and one gun when the sun dips in the waters of the great Pacific, at which the bells will again ring. On the cricket ground a match will come off between the Military and Civilians, commencing at 1 o'clock. In addition to these there will also be canoe and boat races, Quoits and base ball, foot ball and other games and amusements too numerous to mention. The whole to close with fireworks, kindly provided by the Royal Engineers. 28th May - ... At 11 o'clock the sport commenced on the Cricket ground, and was kept up with considerable interest until 5 1/2 p.m. The contest was between 11 Royal Engineers and 11 citizens. The game was a very close one and elicited much good playing on both sides, and towards the close excitement ran high as the issue appeared somewhat doubtful; but finally the superior playing of the Royal Engineers turned the scale in their favour, they winning by 2 runs and 2 wickets to go down. At the announcement of this result three hearty cheers were given for the victors, and as heartily returned. The following year, 1863, saw a repeat of the Queen's Birthday game, and a return match in June. The Columbian this time ran the full scorecards for both matches, which are attached. The first game was a two-innings affair, and the second only one innings due to rain. Click here to read the score card (MS Word) We have biographical details on many of the players, but this may be more detail than you want! Suffice it to say that the players are a real cross-section of colonial society. On the town team is the Reverend Sheepshanks of Holy Trinity Anglican church, pastor to the soldiers, and Francis Claudet, colonial Assayer and manager of our brand-new Mint. Among the soldiers is one officer, Capt. Henry Reynolds Luard, as well as the Acting Quartermaster Sergeant (Osment), the bandmaster (Haynes), the future Queen's Printer (Wolfenden), and the 16-year-old bugler (Butler). After the RE Detachment was disbanded in November 1863, the grounds continued to be used for matches. The attached photo is of a match in 1870 between the town's cricket club and the crew of a visiting ship (including one Royal Marine). Notice the leafy 'pavilion' at the far left.