Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Booklifted, and the Germans opened fire, and he was hit before he could get under cover, and died a few minutes later. He was very popular with his comrades and will be sadly missed." =SPITTLES, THOMAS ROBERT=, Stoker, 1st Class, No. K. 726, 3rd _s._ of Francis Edward Spittles, of South Hayling, by his wife, Elizabeth Bessie, dau. of Robert Applin; joined the Royal Navy about May, 1907, and was lost on H.M.S. Lynx, 9 Aug. 1915, when that ship was sunk by a mine in the North Sea. He _m._ at Portsmouth, Alice Georgina May (Rose Cottage, South Mundham), dau. of George Horne. [Illustration: =Thomas Robert Spittles.=] =SPOONER, ALEXANDER=, Leading Stoker, K. 114, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914. =SPOONER, CHARLES ALBERT VICTOR=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26754, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914. =SPOONER, WILLIAM CHARLES=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./16147, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914. =SPORTON, GEORGE HERBERT=, A.B. (Coastguard), 206749, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =SPRINGALL, WILLIAM EGLETON=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5437), 178793, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =SPRUNT, ALEXANDER DALZELL=, 2nd Lieut., 4th Battn. Bedfordshire Regt., attd. 2nd Battn. South Staffordshire Regt., 2nd _s._ of John Dalziel Sprunt, of 3, East India Avenue, London, E.C., and Montgomerie, Berkhampsted, by his wife, Jane, dau. of John Naismith; _b._ Hampstead, London, 7 Jan. 1891; educ. Berkhampsted School, and New College, Oxford, where he graduated with honours in July, 1914, and was nominated Assistant Professor of Natural History at Glasgow University, obtaining his degree the week that war was declared. Having served for about 10 years in the Officers Training Corps, he and his brother (also killed in action) were offered commissions. He accepted and was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 4th Bedfordshire Regt., 15 Aug. 1914, being ordered to join his Regt. at once at Dovercourt. Later he was detailed to take out a draft to the Base at Havre, and from there took up a draft of the Guards to the trenches, where he was attd. to the 2nd South Staffordshires, with whom he remained till he was mortally wounded, bring shot down about 15 yards from the enemy's lines. He died in hospital at Lillers, France, 17 March, 1915, of wounds received in action on the 10th, near Neuve Chapelle. His company had been chosen to lead the attack, and he was shot down about 15 yards from the enemy's lines, where he seems to have lain from morning till night, when he was rescued and finally taken to Lillers. He was buried in the cemetery there; _unm._ [Illustration: =Alexander Dalzell Sprunt.=] =SPRUNT, EDWARD LAWRENCE=, Private, No. 1510, 1st Battn. Honourable Artillery Coy. (Stretcher-bearer Section), 3rd _s._ of John Dalziel Sprunt, of 3 East India Avenue, London, E.C., and Montgomerie, Berkhampsted, by his wife, Jane, dau. of John Naismith; _b._ Hampstead, London, 28 Aug. 1892; educ. Berkhampsted School, and Jesus College, Oxford, at which latter he held an open exhibition. Having served about nine years in the O.T.C., he was offered a commission on the outbreak of war, but being eager to go to the Front as soon as possible, and thinking he would probably be sent for months to a regimental depôt to train recruits (as his elder brother was), he enlisted as a Private in the Honourable Artillery Coy., and went to the Front with them and served through the winter of 1914-15. Later was again offered a commission and the War Office instructed his Col. to send him home that he might take it up. After getting his discharge he went back to the Col. and said he had heard there was to be a battle next day, and as he did not wish to leave on the eve of it, he asked permission to remain and see his comrades through it. The Col. replied that as he had put it so gallantly he could not refuse his request, and so he might remain. That evening the Battn. went up to the trenches and was under fire about 36 hours, including the fierce fight of 16 June, 1915, losing about half its numbers. On 17 June, about 2 a.m., near Chateau Hooge, Belgium, he was helping to carry a wounded comrade on a stretcher, and had got within about 15 yards of the dressing station, when a shell came over and exploded underneath the stretcher, killing him and two others, and wounding the remaining two stretcher-bearers. He was buried on the battlefield, near the Ypres-Menin Road; _unm._ His commanding officer wrote: "Your son had the opportunity of not going up (to the trenches) and of returning home, but refused to leave his comrades at such a time, and so showed a magnificent spirit--worthy of a man in this Regt. He discharged his duties with great valour under great danger. The circumstances were such as to lead me to specially recommend him for gallant conduct, and the enclosed card has been received from the General. I have pleasure in sending it to you, while regretting very much the circumstances which have been greatly appreciated by his comrades." The card is of the first class, being printed in gilt letters, the ordinary card being in black letters. It reads: "Third Division, British Expeditionary Force, 1510, Private E. L. Sprunt, Hon. Artillery Coy. Your commanding officer and brigade commander have informed me that you distinguished yourself by your conduct in the field on 16 June, 1915. I have read their report with much pleasure, and have brought it to the notice of higher authority." Later the Assistant Military Secretary wrote that he had been mentioned in a despatch from F.M. Sir John French "for gallant and distinguished service in the field." "I am to express to you the King's high appreciation of these services, and to add that His Majesty trusts that their public acknowledgment may be of some consolation in your bereavement." [Illustration: =Edward Lawrence Sprunt.=] =SPRY, ERNEST JOHN=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2224), 181820, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =SPURDEN, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 7194, 1st Battn. Royal West Kent Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 17 Nov. 1914; _m._ =SQUIBB, FRED=, Private, G. 909, 1st Battn. Royal West Surrey Regt., _s._ of Frederick Squibb, of West Clandon, Surrey; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died 5 Sept. 1915, of wounds received in action. =SQUIRE, ALAN RICHARD=, Sergt., No. 10/782, Wellington Infantry Battn., eldest _s._ of Richard Jas. Squire, of Hawera, Taranaki, New Zealand, by his wife, Charlotte Louisa, dau. of the late Josiah Claridge, Carpenter; _b._ Hawera, 12 Sept. 1892; educ. Hawera, N.Z.; was a Painter and Signwriter; volunteered on the outbreak of war and joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 7 Aug. 1914; left for Egypt with the main body as a gunner; |