Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Spriggs, a labourer, born 1852 in Benefield, Northamptonshire and his wife Mary Ann Spriggs (nee Hector, married in the 4th quarter of 1875 in the Thrapston, Northamptonshire district), born 1852 in Brigstock, Northamptonshire. George Spriggs was born in the 4th quarter of 1887 in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, his siblings were, John William, born 1877 in Benefield, Northamptonshire, Emma, born 1881, James, born 1883 and Jane, born 1885, the latter three siblings were all born in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Auriga Terrace, Northampton Road, Little Bowden, Northamptonshire. In March 1901 George was employed as a butcher and was residing in the family home at 9, Granville Street, Little Bowden, Northamptonshire, together with his father an urban council scavenger, his mother and siblings, John, an auctioneer’s porter, Emma, a corset trade worker, James, a wood trade bender, and Jane, a corset trade worker. In April 1911 George was absent from the family home at 3, Wellington Yard, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a council carter, his mother and siblings, John, a general labourer and James, a builder’s labourer, George was serving with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India.
The War Diary records: 26 Oct-14 - Battalion had relieved the West Yorkshire Regiment on the 21st October at the Chemical Factory at Rue du Bois. Retired without loss behind new position at 2.00am, and returned to billets at Bois Grennier at 5.00am, shelled out of billets at 7.30am and went to new billets at Grise Pot where we remained for the night, sending “A” Company to Touquet in local reserve, remainder of Battalion in Divisional Reserve. Casualties Lieutenant Colonel J. R. Croke slightly wounded at Bois Grennier.
On Friday November 20th 1914 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – Mr. J. Spriggs, of 22, Bath-street, Market Harborough, has received information that his son, Private George Spriggs, of the 1st Leicester’s, has been killed in action in France.
On Saturday November 21st 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “FOUR MEN FROM MARKET HARBOROUGH.” – Mr. J. Spriggs, of 22, Bath Street, Market Harborough, has received information that his son, Private Geo. Spriggs, of the 1st Leicester’s, has been killed in action in France. A Market Harborough postman, Mr. J. Grainger is believed to have been on H.M.S. Good Hope sunk off Chile. His wife and two little children live at Bath Street, Market Harborough. Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Stokes, of Drayton, Market Harborough, have lost both their sons. One of them, Arthur, was on the Good Hope, and the other Edgar, of the 1st Northampton’s, has been killed near Ypres by a bullet wound through the chest.