Spriggs Brothers

[7:29am]

Hi

I have been very fortunate to acquire the medals for the following soldiers both brothers. Would it be too much to ask for the forum to whirl its truely magic wand and do its stuff on these two boys born in Leicester.

Much appreciated

Jim

Name: SPRIGGS, WALTER MATTHEW

Initials: W M

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Corporal

Regiment/Service: Leicestershire Regiment

Unit Text: 8th Bn.

Age: 23

Date of Death: 22/03/1918

Service No: 13170

Additional information: Son of Albert and Eliza Spriggs, of Main St., Leire, Rugby.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 29 and 30.

Memorial: POZIERES MEMORIAL

Name: SPRIGGS, ALFRED WILLIAM

Initials: A W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Fusiliers

Unit Text: 9th Bn.

Date of Death: 03/05/1917

Service No: 55345

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 3.

Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

[eviltaxman]

Jim,

I'll help get you started... here's the MIC for each man

Les

[ralphjd]

Soldiers Died has Walter born Bruntingthorpe enlisted Ashby-D L Z resident Lutterworth. Alfred born Bruntingthorpe enlisted Coventry and resided Coventry formerly 157697 Army Service Corps. Ralph.

[Adam Llewellyn]

Hi Jim,

Walter would have enlisted on or around the 05.09.1914.

Regards. Llew.

[7:29am]

Thanks guys.

MY understanding is that the 110th Tigers which inlcuded the 8th btn was holding ground around the village of Epehy when the germans opened their offensive. Can anything more specific about position of the 8th around these days?

His brother in the 9th Royal Fusilers formed part of the 12 division and was probably involved in the actions of 3rd-4th may at Arras. Where would the 9th RF have been during the attacks?

Cheers

Jim

[7:29am]

Just bringing this one to the front again..any 9th Royal Fusilers fans out that could help with the whereabouts at the bdegiimning of may 1917?

Cheers

Jim

[tharkin56]

i'm redoing the roll fo coventry, dont suppose the medals came with a photo by any chance they werent mentioned in the papers locally well not that i have come across yet

[grantowi]

Jim,

Here's the Chaps in 1901 with parents and an older brother - Albert - Cant see him in TNA, nor a death pre 1914.

SPRIGGS, Albert Head Married M 36 1865 Wheelwright Stoke Staffordshire

SPRIGGS, Eliza Wife Married F 31 1870 Bruntingthorpe Leicestershire W

SPRIGGS, Albert Roy Son Single M 8 1893 Peatling Leicestershire

SPRIGGS, Walter M Son Single M 7 1894 Bruntingthorpe Leicestershire

SPRIGGS, Alfred W Son Single M 3 1898 Bruntingthorpe Leicestershire

SPRIGGS, Cecil W Son Single M (UN DAYS ER 1 MOS) Leire Leicestershire

Grant

[tharkin56]

if the files too big to upload i have send you my personal e mail let me know

[stiletto_33853]

Jim,

the 9th RF were in the 18th Division, 36th Infantry Brigade.

2/5/17

Orders received the Brigade was to attack in the morning in conjunction with 37th Bde on right and in conjunction with the Corps on our left.

9th RF were on the right, 8th RF on the left, 7th Sussex in support, 11th Middlesex in reserve.

Battalion moved off at midnight to take up assaulting positions.

3/5/17

Battalion in position by 2.45am in Bayonet Trench and Rifle Trench (South of Roeux on south of Scarpe)

Zero hour was 3.45am. Objectives of Battalion - Portion of Rifle Trench between our right and left of 37th Brigade, still held by the enemy; Scabbard Trench; Brown Line along the ridge in front.

2 Plattons of "A", 2 Platoons of "B" with 2 Platoons of "D" as moppers attacked as first wave and reached Scabbard Trench (with the 8th RF on our left) from Pelves Lane to Harness Lane.

First wave (less moppers) with remaining platoons of "A" "B" and "D" Coys as 2nd wave went on to attack the Brown Line where they established themselves. Enemy was re-inforced & came up Pelves Lane into Scabbard Trench.

8th RF and ourselves were bombed out but we held the C.T. (New Trench) running from Scabbard to Rifle Trench. In the meantime "C" Coy engaged the enemy still in Rifle Trench with bombs & Lewis guns. After a hard fight he was driven out & communication with 37th Bde was established.

At 12 noon our artillery placed a barrage on Scabbard Trench for 10 minutes, 2 Coys of the 7th Sussex then attacked & captured it.

On account of the enemy regaining Scabbard Trench our people who had gone on to the Brown Line were cut off and some of them taken prisoners. In the evening they rejoined the Battalion & informed us that they had been marching on the road to Douai when they were caught under our own machine gun fire. The enemy rapidly dispersed and our people were enabled to escape.

At 9.45pm under cover of artillery fire, strong patrols were pushed out towards the Brown Line, they came under heavy machine gun & rifle fire. At midnight the brigade on our right not having advanced & the Corps on our left not having obtained Roeux & the high ground around, our flanks in the Brown Line were in the air & the General ordered a withdrawal to Scabbard Trench with strong points in front as an outpost line.

Hope this helps.

Andy

[7:29am]

if the files too big to upload i have send you my personal e mail let me know

Hi Tharkin,

No there weren´t photos sorry. They were from Liege in Rugby and as you can see here from Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire. I haven´t got that far yet but if i track them down will send you copies.

Cheers

Jim

[7:29am]

Jim,

the 9th RF were in the 18th Division, 36th Infantry Brigade.

2/5/17

Orders received the Brigade was to attack in the morning in conjunction with 37th Bde on right and in conjunction with the Corps on our left.

9th RF were on the right, 8th RF on the left, 7th Sussex in support, 11th Middlesex in reserve.

Battalion moved off at midnight to take up assaulting positions.

3/5/17

Battalion in position by 2.45am in Bayonet Trench and Rifle Trench (South of Roeux on south of Scarpe)

Zero hour was 3.45am. Objectives of Battalion - Portion of Rifle Trench between our right and left of 37th Brigade, still held by the enemy; Scabbard Trench; Brown Line along the ridge in front.

2 Plattons of "A", 2 Platoons of "B" with 2 Platoons of "D" as moppers attacked as first wave and reached Scabbard Trench (with the 8th RF on our left) from Pelves Lane to Harness Lane.

First wave (less moppers) with remaining platoons of "A" "B" and "D" Coys as 2nd wave went on to attack the Brown Line where they established themselves. Enemy was re-inforced & came up Pelves Lane into Scabbard Trench.

8th RF and ourselves were bombed out but we held the C.T. (New Trench) running from Scabbard to Rifle Trench. In the meantime "C" Coy engaged the enemy still in Rifle Trench with bombs & Lewis guns. After a hard fight he was driven out & communication with 37th Bde was established.

At 12 noon our artillery placed a barrage on Scabbard Trench for 10 minutes, 2 Coys of the 7th Sussex then attacked & captured it.

On account of the enemy regaining Scabbard Trench our people who had gone on to the Brown Line were cut off and some of them taken prisoners. In the evening they rejoined the Battalion & informed us that they had been marching on the road to Douai when they were caught under our own machine gun fire. The enemy rapidly dispersed and our people were enabled to escape.

At 9.45pm under cover of artillery fire, strong patrols were pushed out towards the Brown Line, they came under heavy machine gun & rifle fire. At midnight the brigade on our right not having advanced & the Corps on our left not having obtained Roeux & the high ground around, our flanks in the Brown Line were in the air & the General ordered a withdrawal to Scabbard Trench with strong points in front as an outpost line.

Hope this helps.

Andy

That is awesome, i have the medals at my side and they appear to be shining a little brighter now. Thanks very much indeed.

Cheers

Jim

[7:29am]

Jim,

Here's the Chaps in 1901 with parents and an older brother - Albert - Cant see him in TNA, nor a death pre 1914.

SPRIGGS, Albert Head Married M 36 1865 Wheelwright Stoke Staffordshire

SPRIGGS, Eliza Wife Married F 31 1870 Bruntingthorpe Leicestershire W

SPRIGGS, Albert Roy Son Single M 8 1893 Peatling Leicestershire

SPRIGGS, Walter M Son Single M 7 1894 Bruntingthorpe Leicestershire

SPRIGGS, Alfred W Son Single M 3 1898 Bruntingthorpe Leicestershire

SPRIGGS, Cecil W Son Single M (UN DAYS ER 1 MOS) Leire Leicestershire

Grant

Thankyou very much. I have checked the war graves seems the None of the other family members were casualties. Could someone please check ancestry for the MIC of Albert please. It seems that the Spriggs name is quite localised to this part of the world.

Cheers

Jim

[grantowi]

Jim,

I HAVE checked the national archives (TNA) for a MIC for Albert, there isn't one, nor can I see a death for him prior to 1914, which suggests that he didnt enlist and saw the war out, Might be better asking for a look up in the 1911 census to see what sort of occupation he was in

Grant

[7:29am]

Very kind of you Grantowi

[Guest Leire1921]

Hello,

I stumbled across this conversation today. I live in Leire and we are producing a memorial book containing details of the 7 men on the village memorial. 2 of them were the Spriggs brothers. I was fascinated to read that you have their medals. Did Walter get the 1914 or the 1914-15 star?

We have a photograph of the brothers in uniform with their mother. In the churchyard there is a single headstone, recently renewed, which records the 2 brothers and the mother, presumably marking Eliza's grave. I realise it is 5 years since you posted but hope that you still have the medals.

[7:29am]

Hello Leire1921.

Yes i still have the medals and am just getting them re framed. Would love to get in contact with you.

Jim

[tharkin56]

I would appreciate a photo also they are in my book Coventry Roll of the Fallen very brief bio