Name
(A) George Frederick Spriggs
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/10/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
53738
Canadian Infantry
18th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Books), Hitchin
Pre War
We believe that George Frederick is Frederick George in Hitchin records and appears as ‘A.F.’ on the Hitchin War Memorial and ‘G.F.’ at the National Defence Headquarters of Canada, because of these discrepancies it is difficult to be certain, but we believe what follows is likely to be true.
The Canadian records give the birth date of George Frederick Spriggs as 4 October 1895 in Hitchin with a brother named Ernest. The birth of Frederick George Spriggs was registered in Hitchin in 1895, and he was christened on 3 January 1896 in Holy Savior Church, Hitchin, when his mother was registered as Harriet Mary Spriggs – no father is listed.
In 1901, on 31st March, the records of those living in the Hitchin Union Workhouse, Union Road, Hitchin, reveal Frederick (6), Ernest (9) – both recorded as born in Hitchin, and Harriet Mary Spriggs(32) - formerly a domestic cook born (1868) in Deene, Thorpe, Northamptonshire. All were listed as paupers.
Frederick/George went to St Saviour’s and the British Schools in Hitchin and Ernest to the British School and then St Mary’s School – both Hitchin.
It is possible that her parents were Alfred and Emma Spriggs as they and a daughter Harriet were living in Biggleswade (1891) and Sandy in 1901, when Harriet (22) was working as a domestic servant.
What happened next is uncertain, but a Frederick Spriggs left England on 9 March 1911, aboard the White Star Line ship, SS Dominion bound for Halifax, Canada. He was 15 and listed as a scholar.
It is possible that Harriet had died, we have not found any record to confirm this, but she is not listed in George Frederick’s Canadian service record, although a brother Ernest, in New Zealand is.
There are three Hertfordshire Express newspaper articles, published after George’s death which confirm some or the above. One suggests that their father had been an employee of the Great Northern Railway, but fails to name him of confirm any marriage, but clearly if he and Harriet were married the above suggestion for her parents cannot be correct.
Ernest, writing about George and himself, wrote: “We were both Hitchin boys, being born in Nightingale Rd . . . . . We left the Old Town when quite young, having no mother or father, and had to battle in the world for ourselves. My brother preceded to Canada, where he enlisted at the outbreak of war.” The article confirms that Ernest had gone to New Zealand. He also requested that George’s name be put up on the Hitchin Roll of Honour.
After going to Canada and before George enlisted he had worked on a farm for three years and then on the Canadian Pacific Railway as an operator.
His attestation papers provide the following information. He enlisted on the 3rd November 1914 and his next of kin was recorded as Albert Alton of Belfast, Ontario and he had been serving in the Canadian Militia. He was 5’ 7” with a fair ruddy complexion, had blue eyes and light brown hair Originally his next of kin was given as Alton Albert, Belfast, Ireland and then Ontario.
Wartime Service
George became Private 33738 and served in the 18th Bn. of the Canadian Infantry.
He sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on 18 April 1915, aboard the SS Grampian landing in England on 24 April 1915. For some reason he forfeited 1 days’ pay on 8 April and again on the 7 June 1915.
He left the UK from Folkestone on 14 September 1915, landing in Boulogne the following day.
The date of his death coincides with a Canadian advance north of Courcelette and east of Thiepval in the Somme Sector. At 3.15pm on the 1st October 1916 the 18th Battalion in the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Canadian Division attacked Regina Trench east of the Miraumont Road from Courcelette. At about that time he had been serving as a signaller and had been recommended for a commission but was killed in action.
He has no known grave but is remembered on the Vimy Memorial to the Missing, Pas de Calais in France.
Additional Information
His brother Ernest was named in George’s Will (dated 3 July 1916) c/o G.P.O. Wellington, New Zealand given as his next of kin in forms completed after George’s death and living in Wellington New Zealand and if not found James Buxey, Highwood Hill, Mill Hill, London.
In 1918 Ernest was in Hitchin staying with a Mrs Stratton of 44, Dacre Road, Hitchin, which is when he wrote to the Hertfordshire Express about his brother. About himself he wrote that he was serving sailor on HM New Zealand Transport and had been shipwrecked twice, once on Christmas Day 1916 on a passenger boat bound for England from New Zealand and again more recently.
George’s medals, plaque and scroll were all sent to his brother Ernest in New Zealand.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
