Name
John Thomas Spurr
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/07/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
55806
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
29th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (HEATH LANE) CEMETERY
XB. 49.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead
Pre War
John Thomas Spurr was born in Hemel Hempstead in 1888, the son of George and Sarah Ann Spurr, and one of nine children. although three died in infancy. He was baptised on 10 February 1888 at St Paul's Church, Hemel Hempstead,
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 11 Cherry Bounce, Hemel Hempstead. where his father was working as a Farm Labourer. They remained at Cherry Bounce in 1901 but had moved to No. 16. His father was then a general labourer.
In 1893 John started school at Queen Street School, Hemel Hempstead and left in 1906 to work as a Mill Hand at G B Kent & Sons brush factory in Apsley.
At the time of the 1911 Census, although remaining in Cherry Bounce, the family had moved again to No. 9 at which time his father was working as a Farm Labourer and John was working as a Mill Hand at Kents Brushes. At the time of his enlistment, John had left Kents and was working as a Stoker somewhere in Hemel Hempstead.
The family had moved to 86 High Street, Hemel Hempstead by the end of the war.
Wartime Service
John enlisted in Watford on 27 March 1917 and joined the Middlesex Regiment (Reg. No. 55806) being posted to the 5th Labour Company (Reg No. 153305) for basic training.
When he was medically examined on enlistment he was recorded as having poor physical development and foot problems, but was passed fit for military service. He contracted measles after three months in the army and was admitted to hospital where he spent 28 days.
A year later he fell from a lorry and was admitted to Lakenham Military Hospital, Norwich. He was initially diagnosed as suffering from acute peritonitis brought on by the severity of the injuries following the fall, but after four days in hospital he was reassessed and diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and died from the illness on 17 July 1918, aged 30. He is buried in Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £4 and pay owing of £1 1s 3d. Brother to Albert who was killed in action at the Battle of Poelcapelle on 9 October 1917 and George who served with the Royal Fusiliers & Labour Corps and died on 2 November 1917.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk., www.hemelheroes.com.
