BASIL SHEIDOW - they liked his administration and so did Gordon
Gordon District Cricket Club | September 23, 2025
Having written two books about the Gordon cricketers who fought in World War I and World War II, there are of course many stories of bravery and heroism. Not suggesting in any way that Basil Sheidow was not brave or would have been a hero given the opportunity, his service in World War II was definitely ‘unusual’.
Being keen to serve his country, Basil looked at the study opportunities he might be able to secure to give him a reasonably safe role in the war in the UK. While having no known skills in this profession, he decided on studying to be a ‘nursing orderly’ and upon receiving a certificate, he enlisted. Unable to find an AIF division to take him the enlistment officer decided he should go into the Airforce and be posted to the UK.
Upon arrival in the UK in November 1941, Basil was posted to the RAAF headquarters in London who at least had a medical branch and he took up an administrative role. After a couple of years ‘pushing papers’ he brazenly applied to RAAF Air Marshall Sir Richard Williams to be appointed as the RAAF Group “Sports Liaison Officer” highlighting his baseball and cricket sporting achievements in Australia including making the Gordon Second Grade team. His application indicated that he had become “supernumerary to the Nursing Orderly establishment of the Medical Branch of this Headquarters and the RAAF needed to better organise its sports participation.
While Basil’s application was rejected, he was fortunate that Air Marshall Williams didn’t decide he should be posted to the RAAF 460 Lancaster Squadron, which may not have been the safest of moves. He was, however, permitted to become a selector for any RAAF teams that were invited to play any cricket matches. While there was an official RAAF Selection Committee, none of them had any idea of who the players were, so Basil was brought in to give his views on the players.
The first opportunity he had was to pick a team to play against Sir Pelham (Plum) Warner’s XI at Lords in June 1943 which included the Bedser brothers. Faced with the daunting task of picking players who were either First Class or First Grade players in several states such as Keith Miller, Stan Sismey and Keith Carmody, the RAAF selection committee picked a side that coincidently included Basil Sheidow. He wasn’t going to miss out on a match at Lords. Basil scored 6 (out of a losing 100) before being bowled by Carlos Clarke a visiting West Indian Test fast bowler.
Air Marshall Williams wasn’t finished with Basil and in July 1943 posted him to the No 11 Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre in Bournemouth which, had been subjected to many bomb raids during the Blitz. Fortunately for Basil to became ‘supernumerary’ to the administration in Bournemouth not long after and was sent home in August 1943 just in time for the cricket season back home.
Upon his return to Chatswood, having first played in 1932 at age 18, Basil resumed his career with Gordon and went on to play 30 seasons, retiring in 1966. He ended up scoring 8,387 runs at 26.71, in all grades with the most runs by any second grade batsman with 4,833 runs and 1,123 in First Grade.
Basil is probably more renowned at Gordon for being either President (four years), Secretary or Permanent selector from 1955 to 1986. He was also a delegate to the NSW Cricket Association for 21 years from 1956-57, served on its Grade Committee for 11 seasons and was manager of the NSW Sheffield Shield team on three interstate tours. He was elected a Life Member of the Association in 1970 after becoming a Gordon Life member in 1961.
Perhaps Air Marshall Williams recognised Basil’s administrative capabilities very early on.
He died on 16 February 1992 at the age of 78 having spent sixty years involved with the club.
Having spoken to many Gordon members who knew Basil, the one thing they commented on was how he often commented on how he was in the RAAF in World War 2.
Little did they know.
Paul Stephenson
Author – ‘Service and sacrifice -Gordon District Cricket Club in the Second World War’
BeaconPoint Wellbeing Clips - The Issue Parents May Underestimate
