Name
Douglas Bateman Spurr
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/03/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2116
Cameron Highlanders
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 41-42
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Stained Glass Window, Hitchin Boys Grammar School
Pre War
His father, Mr George Edmondson Spurr, was a well-known draper in Hitchin and a Governor of Hitchin Grammar School. The family home was at ‘Dowlands’, Wymondley Road, Hitchin. His mother was Ethel Mary Spurr and he was the fourth son of his parents.
He was born on the 2nd March 1896 and attended the Hitchin Grammar School Kindergarten. He stayed at the school for the period 1904-1910. He was well known to masters and school-fellows alike for his unvarying cheerfulness of disposition and his enthusiasm for all that was best in work and play. On leaving school he became an auctioneer with Messrs George Jackson of Hitchin.
He was the youngest of four brothers "who were so prompt and eager in responding to their country's call" and he was the first ex-Grammar School boy to be killed during the Great War.
Wartime Service
By the 19th September 1914 Douglas had already enlisted in Hitchin to become Private No. 2116 in the l/4th Battalion, which was in the 24th Brigade of the 8th Division of IV Corps in the 1st Army. He was billeted in Bedford before going to France and he arrived at Le Havre in France on the 19th February 1915 with the rest of the Battalion. A shell killed him.
The incident which led to his death occurred at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle when an attack by the 23rd and 25th Brigades captured the village by 11.00am on the 10th March 1915. At 1.00pm the 24th Brigade was ordered to advance towards Aubers and sustained repeated and very strong counter-attacks from the Germans causing very heavy casualties. The British casualties for the day were over 12,000 men.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panels 41 or 42 of the Le Touret Memorial to the Missing in France.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
