Name
Fred Spary
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/11/1920
55
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Engineers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY, KENT
E. 643.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Flamstead memorials
Pre War
Fred was born in Flamstead, Markyate in 1865 to Edwin Spary, wheelwright, and Mary Elizabeth (nee Parkins).
On the 1871 Census the family of parents, Arthur (born 1862), Walter (born 1860), Harry, (born 1862, Fred (born 1863), Frank (born 1867) and Rose (born 1870) were living at London Road, Flamstead.
Fred enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Luton as Sapper 20287 on 16 Mar 1888 stating that he had service with 1st Northamptonshire Volunteers. He was promoted to 2nd Corporal on 1 Dec 1889 and Corporal on 1 Feb 1892. Fred extended his service on 12 Oct 1892, qualifying as Foreman of Works on 11 Oct 1893 he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major (Foreman of Works) on 8 Mar 1894. Fred re-engaged for 21 years of service on 7 Dec 1896.He was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant Major (F of W) on 8 Mar 1900. Fred was discharged at the end of his engagement on 10 Sep 1906 as QMS (F of W) receiving the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, £5 Bounty and £63 in deferred pay. Fred’s Record has little detail of his postings apart from ‘R E Services Staff’. There are indications of service UK 11 Sep 1885 to 1 Dec 1886, Egypt 2 Dec 1886 to 3 Oct 1892, Home 4 Nov 1892 to 22 12 1897, Egypt 20 Feb 1897 to 3 Nov 1904 and Home 4 Jun 1904 to10 Sep 1906.
Fred married Catherine Lee on 25 Oct 1894 in Birr, Offaly, Ireland.
On the 1911 Census the family of Fred, Catherine Austin born21 Jan 1899) Elsie (born 20 Oct 1900, Cairo), Norman (born 16 Feb 1904, Cairo) and Harold (born 3 Jun 1906, Chatham) were living at 57 Vicarage Road Gillingham. There were also, Fred Lee (born 30 Jun 1895, Birr, Ireland) and Joseph (born 18 Oct 1896 Birr, Ireland, died 1 Aug 1897).
Fred's Service Record does not mention postings but only that he served in Royal Engineers Services Staff.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for his service in The Great War. On 30 Jun 1917 he was awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant (no Army Pay or Allowances) in the Royal Engineer Services as an Inspector of Works. Fred survived the Great War.
Additional Information
Arrears of £32 32 13s 11d was paid to his executors.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
