2189 Pte John Sproul, 4th Bn, Yorkshire Regt

Three hundred and sixty five British Army officers and men died on this single day - Valentine's Day - in 1916. 2189 Private John Sproul of the 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action on the 14th February.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was serving with Y Company at the time of his death and that he was 20 years old and the son of Alexander and Helen Sproul, of 36, Aire Street, South Bank, Yorkshire. He was a native of Leith, Scotland and is buried in the Railway Dug-outs Burial Ground 2kms south east of Ypres town centre.

John Sproul's number dates to September 1914 and he enlisted at Stokesley. He first arrived overseas on the 18th April 1915.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

4907 Rfm George Denham Massy, 18th Bn, London Regiment

4907 Rifleman George Denham Massy of the 18th Battalion, The London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) was killed in action on the 15th December 1916. George had originally joined the 6th London Regiment back in 1908, and before that - in all probability - was serving with the 2nd London Volunteer Rifle Corps. His number with the 6th Londons - 205 - indicates that he was one of the initial intake into that battalion, almost certainly joining within the first two weeks of April 1908.

Soldiers Died in The Great War records that George was living at Fulham and enlisted at Ealing. There is no place of birth recorded and I have been unable to find him on English census returns. Given his surname and the fact that he would later join the London Irish Rifles, it seems a possibility that he was born in Ireland and later moved to England, probably for work.

George's 18th Londons number dates to late March or early April 19156 and it would appear that shortly after Britain went to war with Germany in 1914, George was posted to a second or third line battalion of the 6th Londons before being transferred later on to the 18th Londons. He probably went overseas shortly after that transfer - probably within a matter of days - and he lost his life in the great WW1 killing zones around Ypres. He is one of 2033 men buried in the Railway Dug-outs Burial Ground close to that town.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War