Name
Charles Herbert (Bert) Spurge
29 April 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/05/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3892
London Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles)
1st/15th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial,
United Reformed Church Memorial, Bishop's Stortford
Pre War
Charles Herbert Spurge was born on the 29 April 1887 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire to Charles and Ellen Spurge. He was their eldest son. On the 1901 Census he was living with his family at The Firs, Warwick Road, Bishop's Stortford, when his father was a Drapers Manager.
By the 1911 Census he was working for a large drapers (probably James Shoolbred and Company) as a Drapers' Assistant and living in lodgings at 159 to 160 Tottenham Court Road with more than 50 other employees of the same company.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Somerset House in London and served with the Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles (London Regiment).
In a letter written to his parents by a comrade he was reported missing after an attack on the Germans. A further letter from an officer confirmed his death on the battlefield and informed them his papers, including a letter written by his sister, would be forwarded home. As he is commemorated on the Arras memorial, this indicates that at some point his body was lost.
Additional Information
Three of his brothers were also serving in the army. His father Charles was awarded a war gratuity of £3 as well as pay owing of £4 1s 9d. Probate was granted to his father in London on 18 July 1917 with effects of £226 8s 11d.
His brother Thomas William (also named on the Town Memorial and United Reformed Church memorial in Bishop's Stortford), died later the same year.
There is a memorial to the Prince of Wales Own Civil Service Rifles 15th Battalion in London at Somerset House on The Strand. No names are inscribed on the column, however a scroll containing the names of those who died was placed within the column.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
