Name
Anthony George Spurr
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/05/1915
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2924
London Regiment *1
13th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Printers Memorial, Watford, Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Stained Glass Window, Hitchin Boys Grammar School
Pre War
Anthony was born in 1889 in Hitchin and christened on 20 November 1889 in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin, Herts. His parents were George Edmondson and Ethel Mary Spurr and (née Cropper), they were married in 1885.
His father was from Piddletrenthide, Dorset and his wife from Derby. He became involved in a large linen drapers Hitchin when he went into partnership with Mr Perry between 1886 and 1890. The premises were at 14 Market Place, initially it was known as Perry & Spur, but in 1899 it became known as George Spurr Ltd. And the family lived in rooms on the premises.
In 1891 the family were both parents: George (32) and Ethel (31), the census recorded George as a draper, milliner, and dressmaker. Their children were: Hilda Mary (5), Dorothy (3), Barbara (2), Anthony George (1) and Walter Gunnis at 2 months. Also present in the census were nine boarders connected with the business or domestic servants.
In 1901, both parents were still present – George now described as a draper, clothier and employer working from home. Their children included all those listed above plus Percy W (6), Douglas B (5), Richard K (1). Also present were three domestic servants and seems no workers were now boarding.
Anthony was certainly attending the Hitchin Grammar School by the Spring of 1904 and was in the 6th Form, he left in the Winter Term of 1905. All who knew him remembered his alert kindly disposition and strong literary bent and he was a frequent contributor to the Hitchin Grammar School Chronicle.
By 1910 George Spurr had bought number 15, a much larger shop, and his shop became a much larger department store that almost stretched the length of one side of the Market Place.
By 1911 the family had moved out of the shop and were living in Wymondley Road, Hitchin. Both parents were there, George now recorded as a draper and clothier dealer. The census recorded they had been married for 26 years with 10 children, of whom 1 had died. Six of their children were still present including Douglas at 15 working as an auctioneer’s clerk. Two other brothers who also died were absent Walter (20) was and Anthony (21).
Anthony was living in a two bedroom apartment in 51 Market Street, Watford and working journalist on the Watford Observer, a weekly newspaper.
He had enlisted in Watford in a Territorial unit by September 1914.
Officially Anthony was recorded as living in Watford and enlisting in Kensington.
Wartime Service
Anthony was given the Regimental Number 2924 in the 13th (County of London) Battalion (Princess Louise's Kensington Battalion) and went to France on the 11th February 1915. The Battalion had arrived at Le Havre on the 4th November 1914 and, shortly after, joined the 25th Brigade, 8th Division, IV Corps, First Army.
After a bayonet charge on the day of the disastrous attack on Aubers Ridge he was shot by the enemy and killed instantly. It was Sunday the 9th May 1915, the weather calm, bright and sunny. A bombardment of the German trenches began at 5.00am and the infantry attacked at 5.30am. The Kensingtons were on the extreme left in the attack on the German trenches around Rougebanc northwest of Fromelles. Unfortunately, the British bombardment was totally inadequate to cut the wire, as they were using shrapnel instead of high explosive and the number of shells available was hopelessly insufficient. A description written in the style of the times reflects what happened: "It was a day of glorious deeds but unavailing sacrifice. Near Rougebanc the 13th (Kensington) Battalion of the London Regiment succeeded in reaching its objective on the extreme left with a dash which shed fresh lustre on Territorial arms, carrying not only the first, but also the second and third German trenches and then digging themselves in. "You have done splendidly" said the Brigadier in a message to the captured position promising to send reinforcements. Alas! these never reached them; the supports were seen to advance and then to fade away; while the Battalions which should have connected up with the Kensingtons in the first case never got through." Losses that day were 145 Officers and nearly 10,000 men.
Additional Information
After his death £5 5s 3d pay owing was authorised to go to his father on 18 October 1915, then 15s on 3 February 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to him on 13 August 1919.
The local paper reported that Anthony was on his way to the trenches with his battalion when they passed the Cameron Highlanders coming away. Knowing his brother Douglas, was in that regiment he made inquiries and received the sad news that his brother was dead. He fell out of the lines and made a more enquiries of other men in the Camerons and learnt that his brother had been instantaneously killed by a shell on March 10th or 11th. Sadly Anthony was himself killed about two months later.
Anthony was the second son off 3 to be killed . Douglas Bateman spur was killed 10 March 1915 and Walter Gunnis Spurr on 22 August 1916.
Unfortunately, Anthony’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There are articles about Anthony in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 27 March 1915, 22 May 1915, 8 January 1916 and 9 September 1916; also in the Watford Illustrated dated 22 May 1915. Anthony and his younger brother, Douglas B. Spurr, were the first fatal casualties from the Hitchin Grammar School during the war.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Kensington).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
