Teddy Wynyard - Military Career

Military Career

Wynyard was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 1st Regiment, Warwick Militia in 1881, transferring to regular service with the King's Liverpool Regiment in 1883. With the latter he was stationed in India and saw active service in the Burma Expedition 1885-87, winning the Distinguished Service Order in the latter year and being twice mentioned in despatches. Promoted Captain, he transferred again, to the Welch Regiment, in 1890. He was Adjutant of the Oxford University Volunteers in 1899-1900, then instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst until he retired in 1903.

While in charge of cricket at the College, he arranged an officer cadets' match against W.G. Grace's XI. Two days before the game Grace wrote to say he would be unable to play, but after learning none of the cadets had seen him play, Wynyard cleverly disguised himself with make-up and false beard and played in the match with the visiting team, batting, making several runs and getting purposely hit on the hand to retire 'hurt'. He revealed his identity minus beard and cap at the teams' lunch but no one had seen through the disguise and his realistic imitation of Grace's batting style.

After the outbreak of World War I, Wynyard was recalled in September 1914 as Major with the King's Regiment, then was attached to the Army Ordnance Corps in May 1915 before transferring to the Middlesex Regiment in November 1916 when he became Commandant at Thornhill Labour Camp, Aldershot. He finally retired in April 1919 when he was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire (military division).