The Devils' Own Cricket Club was also referred to as the Law Cricket Club and the Law (Devils' Own) Cricket Club. The club was formed in 1875 from members of the local legal fraternity and business people in Sandhurst (Bendigo). In addition to the Devils' Own Cricket Club, there were many male cricket clubs formed in Bendigo in the 1870's, for example, the Bendigo United Cricket Club; Epsom Cricket Club; All Trades Cricket Club; New Chum Cricket Club; California Gully Cricket Club; Long Gully Cricket Club; Butchers' Cricket Club; View Point Cricket Club; Myers Street Cricket Club; Australian Natives Association Cricket Club; View Point Cricket Club; Beehive Cricket Club; Advertiser Cricket Club; Kangaroo Flat Cricket Club; Golden Square Cricket Club; North Bendigo Cricket Club; Crusoe Cricket Club; City Cricket Club; Bohemians Cricket Club and the Happy Valley Cricket Club. Where did the name 'Devils' Own' come from? The Inns of Court Regiment, London, has a unique place in history as a result of its ancient and intimate connection with the Law and lawyers. It recruited and 'officered' almost exclusively from the legal profession, drawn from barristers, attorneys, notaries and their clerks and students practising in the area of the Inns of Court comprising Middle Temple, Inner Temple, Lincoln’s Inn and Gray’s Inn. During Napoleonic Wars all Inns raised companies. During a review by King George III in Hyde Park in 1803, the King used his dislike for lawyers – particularly ones carrying arms – to name the massed ranks of the Law Association as "The Devil's Own".[5] "It is understood that the King was in high health and excellent spirits at the time. The Bloomsbury and Inns of Court Volunteers was reformed in 1797 during the Napoleonic Wars. It was shortly afterwards that the regiment gained its enduring nickname. During a review by King George III in Hyde Park in 1803, the King used his dislike for lawyers – particularly ones carrying arms – to name the massed ranks of the Law Association as "The Devil's Own". "It is understood that the King was in high health and excellent spirits at the time. When the 'Temple companies' had defiled before him, his Majesty enquired of Lord David Erskine, who commanded them, as lieutenant colonel, what was the composition of that corps? 'They are all lawyers, Sire,' said Erskine. 'What! What! 'exclaimed the King, 'all lawyers? all lawyers? Call them the Devil's Own, call them the Devil's Own!" "And the Devil's Own they were called accordingly." ( Norton, F.C., A short history of the military & naval services of the Inns of Court and the members of the Bench and the Bar, 1886, William Clowes & Sons, Stamford Street and Charing Cross, London) Did Bendigo’s legal fraternity name themselves DOCC with the intent that they would reflect the distinguished pedigree and qualities of the Devil’s Own regiment? Details of one the players in the 'Devils'Own' CC : Pelling Hugh Gough Pigott Stainsby Conant, solicitor, born Hampshire, England 1846. Arrived Australia 1871. Pelling was the son of Francis Pigott Stainsby Conant Esq., Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man. He married Catherine Anne Drummond. In 1874, his practice was in the Albion Chambers, Sandhurst, given as 'Pelling H.G.P.S. Conant, Solicitor'. Organisation-Club/society-sportA transcript of the Devils Own Cricket Club article in the 19th February, 1875 edition of the Bendigo Advertiser docc, devils own cricket club, sandhurst, bendigo advertiser, pelling h.g.p. s. conant, solicitor, barrister