Charles Pepper was born on 6 June 1875 in County Cork, Ireland but came to England as a young boy. Initially a professional at Rye CC, he moved to Scotland and played for Brechin CC, and then to Nottingham in 1900 where he played for Forest Wanderers on the Forest Recreation ground.
A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium bowler, Pepper was noticed while carrying his bat throughout Notts Colts’ innings against Yorkshire Colts in May 1900; he subsequently played for Notts against the West Indies in July 1900 and in seven County Championship matches during the 1900 and 1901 seasons. After leaving Trent Bridge he was a professional at Darlington CC between 1902 and 1904, while also playing five matches for Bedfordshire in the Minor Counties Championship during August 1903. He played just seven First-Class games, averaging 18.00 with the bat and a high score of 40no against Lancashire in his last match; he also took three wickets at a cost of 24.00. In 1902 Pepper took an engagement with Bedfordshire CC and made three appearances for that county the following season.
Charles Pepper enlisted as a Private in the 16th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys Regiment, Chatsworth Rifles) and soon reached the rank of Sergeant. He arrived in France in April 1916 and was killed by a shell on 13 September 1917 while standing with his commanding officer outside the battalion headquarters in Flanders; he was 42 years old. He was buried beside his commanding officer at La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium.
May 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 264