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Remembered Today:

Sgt William Sproule Bolton (Royal Fusiliers)


Ajaxer

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Wisden Cricketers Almanack for 1920 has the following obituary:

BOLTON, SERGT. WILLIAM SPROULE (Royal Fusiliers) died in February, aged 34. He was in the Harrow Eleven in 1902 and two following years, being second in batting in 1902 with 21.16 and first in 1904 with 31.55. In his three matches v. Eton he scored 152 runs with an average of 30.40, his best innings being 64 in 1904, contributed to a total of 109, the next highest effort for the side being only 11.

According to the Harrow School War Memorials Vol VI he died in London on February 7, 1919, of septic pneumonia 'contracted while on duty, having served since the second day of the War'.

He is not on CWGC.

A brother, Lt Edward Trevor Sproule (Suffolk Regt), who also went to Harrow and with whom he was in partnership as a solicitor, was killed on April 10, 1918, aged 34.

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Afternoon

death notice in the Times of 10th Feb 1919 shows cause of death influenza followed by septic pneumonic which is not quite the same as what the Harrow School War Memorial shows

the only way to prove this one is obtain his DC which will show the exact cause of death. At present I can find no service or pension docs in regard of this chap

Chris

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THE LONDON GAZETTE, 25 SEPTEMBER, 1914

The appointment to Second Lieutenancies

of the undermentioned which appeared in the

Gazette as stated is cancelled : —

William. Sproule Bolton. Gazette of 25th August,'1914.

Does this mean he didn't make it as an officer?

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THE LONDON GAZETTE, 25 SEPTEMBER, 1914

The appointment to Second Lieutenancies

of the undermentioned which appeared in the

Gazette as stated is cancelled : —

William. Sproule Bolton. Gazette of 25th August,'1914.

Does this mean he didn't make it as an officer?

Looks like it

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Now the question is was he still in service at the time of his death

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Can you let us know what else you have on him

Chris

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Sorry do you want to do something about this man?

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What can we do without any service documents?

I found him because I have been going through all the Wisden obits and checking against CWGC.

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I think that due to the way the probate notice is worded in a way that points to him still being in service

The MIC shows a deceased date on it which normally goes with an in service death

Am asking some questions which will point the way forward

Cheers

Chris

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Right we may be able to progress this case without service docs. However the DC will be required so are you prepared to purchase this?

Cheers

Chris

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If you could keep me up to speed on this one please

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  • 3 weeks later...

DC now received and it looks as though he does not qualify.

Occupation: Solicitor Ex Sergeant Royal Fusiliers

Cause of death: Pneumonia 6 days, Influenza 8 days.

Registered by his mother, Charlotte Mary Bolton, 'present at the death'.

(As stated in my initial post, another son, Lt Edward Trevor Bolton, Suffolk Regiment, was killed in France on April 10, 1918.)

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Sorry about that, but that is a risk we take in all of these cases where there is not a service record

Chris

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  • 10 years later...

Anyone know where he was buried? He is commemorated, along with his brother, on his father's grave in St Mary's Churchyard, Gt Sankey, Warrington. His grandmother, Wilhelmina is also buried in the grave. He is not recorded in the church register as having been buried there. The inscription on the stone says they both died in their 35th year, one in 1916 and one in 1917 - both dates wrong.image.jpeg.d5b15eac60dad611446d19172583f9ee.jpeg

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