Born on 6th July 1892 at Manchester, son of Frederick John (Commercial Traveler - Axle & Spring Trader) and Florence Spriggs. 1901: With his family at 116 Herbert Street, Manchester. 1911: A college student with family at 7 Eastwood Road, South Woodford. Educated at Leyton Technical School and Clarkes College in the Strand. He secured a Civil Service position in the Valuation Office of the Land Registry.
Enlisted at Leyton in December 1915 and on 14th February 1916 he was allocated to serve in the 15th Battalion London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles) with the number 5816. He remained in the UK until 7th July 1916 when he left to join the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders. Before departing, on 3rd June 1917 at St John’s Church Leytonstone, he married Dorothy Louise Rand Carver of 2 Queens Road, Leytonstone, which was also given as his address. From details of his grave and medal card, he seems to have transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the 24th Battalion London Regiment, (2/24 London) receiving the new number 7513.
On 3rd October 1916 at Aubigny he received a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and died as a result on 04-10-16 in 42 Casualty Clearing Station. Writing to his family, an Officer noted that he was “exceedingly sorry to lose so good a man.”
Records had suggested his widow was living at 318 Copermeus Street The Hague, but correspondence to that address was returned. His effects were sent in 1917 to his mother in law, Mrs. R Carver at 2 Queens Road, Leytonstone.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Woodford Times