Gilbert Jose

Gilbert Edgar Jose (1 November 1898 – 27 March 1942) was an Australian first-class cricketer who played for South Australia. He died while a prisoner of war in Changi during World War II.

Early life

Jose was born in Taizhou, China, where his father, George Jose, worked as a CMS missionary.

Back in Australia, Jose attended St Peter's College in Adelaide.

Cricket career

Jose made his first-class debut for South Australia in the 1918/19 season, against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He scored a pair, run out without scoring in the first innings and bowled for 0 by Ted McDonald in his second innings. Although he only batted in the lower order, Jose wasn't called on to bowl in the match.

His second first-class appearance came in 1920/21, at the Adelaide Oval, against the touring Marylebone Cricket Club. He came in at six in the batting order and scored 16 in his first innings. Promoted up the order to five in the second innings, Jose scored just two.

Military service

Jose, a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, served with the Australian Army Medical Corps in World War II. A Major, he was assigned to the 10th Australian General Hospital and was taken prisoner by the Japanese. He was kept as a prisoner of war in Changi, Singapore and died from dysentery on 27 March 1942.

Family

He had two brothers, Ivan Bede Jose and Oswald Wilfred Jose, who both served in the first World War. Ivan was awarded a Military Cross and was later the Chief Surgeon at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Oswald was killed in action in 1917.

His son, Tony Jose, was also a first-class cricketer.