Born in 1892 at Acton, son of Joshua William (Brewers Cashier) and Ellen Spong. 1901: With his family at “Hazelwood” Faraday Road, Acton. 1911: An Insurance Clerk with his family at 38 New Fillibrook Road, Leytonstone. His parents later moved to 46 Chadwick Road, Leytonstone. The family recalled that he played the organ and wrote music.
He was employed in the London Accident Department of the Northern Assurance Ltd. From his own home at “Fairhaven” Wavertree Road, South Woodford, he joined the Seaforth Highlanders as a Private, and landed in Europe on 1st January 1915. He was Commissioned on 1st February 1916 into the 3/2 London Regiment, and later transferred to 1/2 Battalion of that Regiment.
The Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Langemarck which began on 16th August 1917. After that day’s fighting Frederick Spong was reported missing.
The German military later informed the Red Cross that Frederick was captured on 16th August, but had died on 21st August 1917 in their captivity from loss of blood following the shattering of his foot.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com