Gunner Alfred Spreckley, 21695
- Batt -
- Unit - Royal Field Artillery
- Section - 134th Battery
- Date of Birth - 1894
- Died - 23/03/1918
- Age - 23
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ContributeSource: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland. He was the son of Edward Spreckley, a farmer, born 1854 in Freeby, Leicestershire and his wife Alice Spreckley (nee Maltby, married in the 4th quarter of 1883 in the Spilsby, Lincolnshire district), born 1859 in Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, and who died in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district, aged 38 years. Alfred’s father married Betsy Drewery in the 2nd quarter of 1900 in the Brighton Sussex district, and who was born in 1863 in North Somercotes, Lincolnshire. Alfred was born in the 4th quarter of 1894 in Burton Lazars, Leicestershire his siblings were, Richard, born 1885, Tom, born 1890, Walter, born 1892 and Robert, born 1893, all his siblings were born in Burton Lazars, also residing with the family was Alfred’s widowed paternal grandmother, Jane Spreckley (nee Watchorn), born 1821 in Edmondthorpe, Leicestershire, and two his step aunts, Gertrude Drewery, born 1876 and Kate Hey, Drewery, born 1879, the latter two aunts were both born in North Somercotes, in March 1901 the family home was at Gas Tree Hill Lodge, Burton Lazars. In April 1911 Alfred was employed as a chemist and was residing in the family home at Burton Lazars, together with his father a farmer, his step mother and siblings, Richard, a farm worker and Tom a farm worker, also residing with the family was his paternal uncle Richard Spreckley, a farm worker, born 1857 in Freeby and his two step aunts, Gertrude Drewery and Lily Drewery, born 1887 in North Somercotes.
On Friday April 5th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – DEATH OF BOMBARDIER A. SPRECKLEY. – On Tuesday morning a telegram was received notifying the death from wounds of Bombardier Alfred Spreckley, Royal Field Artillery, youngest son of the late Mr. Edward Spreckley, Burton Lazars. Deceased who was 22 years of age, voluntarily joined up shortly after the declaration of war, and had been at the front considerably over two years. At the time of his enlistment deceased had served three and half years of his apprenticeship at the Melton branch of Messrs. Boots Ltd., cash chemists, and was well known and very popular in the town.
Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project. Image of family gravestone provided by S Kallaste, 29/03/23.
- Conflict - World War I
- Burial Place - V F 30, Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun
- Unit - Royal Field Artillery
- Cause of death - DIED OF WOUNDS
- Burial Commemoration - Duisans British Cem., Etrun, France
- Born - Burton Lazars, Leicestershire
- Enlisted - Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
- Place of Residence - Burton Lazars, Leicestershire, England
- Memorial - ST. JAMES' CHURCH, BURTON LAZARS, LEICS