WALLACE LINGARD SPRIGGS 1899–1959

Born 5th November 1899 in Wisbech, Cambs

Married in 1921 St Stephen’s Church,  Nottingham to Maggie Marper. Children: Margaret born 1922, Roland born 1926 and Christine born 1932.

Died in September 1959, Nottingham district, age 59

1901 Census

Age 1 living in London House, South Bank, Wisbech with father Alfred, a fruit farmer (employer), mother Sarah, brother Alfred 11, and sisters Grace 14 and Theodora 7. Also at the house is his grandmother Sarah Ann Humberstone and his great grandmother Sarah Bigley.

1911 Census

Age 11 living at Oak Hill, Main Road, Radcliffe on Trent with father Alfred (now a widower), jobbing gardener, sister Theodora Elizabeth 17 and grandmother Sarah Ann Humberstone. Wallace’s mother Sarah had died earlier in 1911. He was at school in the village.

Military Service

Wallace’s mother’s maiden name was Humberstone. After his mother died it appears that he may have taken his mother’s maiden name as his middle name (see also marriage register in 1921). Thus he is probably the Wallace Humberstone Spriggs whose name appears on the UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls on ancestry.co.uk:

Rank: Private

Service Number: 41182

Military Unit: 1st Battalion, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), 12th Brigade, 4th Division

Theatre of War: Unconfirmed, likely France and Flanders

Medals Awarded: British War and Victory

Other Information

On the marriage register his name is recorded as Wallace H Spriggs. (see comment above under ‘Military Service’)

Military Service after WWI

On 31st October 1923 Wallace enlisted in the Royal Navy for a period of 12 years. A note on his record states that he could count 2 years 20 days Army service towards his pension and progressive pay.

Rank: Stoker II 31.10.23, Stoker I by 4.8.24

Service Number: K62809

Military Unit: Royal Navy

31.10.23 Signed up for 12 years

Height 5 feet 6¾ inches; chest 38 inches; hair brown; eyes grey; complexion fresh; scar on right shin. Occupation: coal miner

Service Record:

He served on HMS Victory II, HMS Revenge  and Emperor of India  between 1923 and 1930, when he transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve. He served briefly with the navy in the autumn of 1939 and was demobilised with neurasthenia on 20 December 1939, deemed to be invalided permanently and unfit for naval service.

1921 Census

Address: boarder with Mr Bacon, 21, Finsbury Avenue, Sneinton Dale, Nottingham

Employment: brewer’s bottler, Ford and Parr Ltd

Household: Robert and Lily Bacon and Maggie Spriggs, wife, hosiery mender, L O Trivett, hosiery manufacturer

1939 Register

Absent from home. His wife Maggie was living at 118 Port Arthur Road Nottingham.

Other information

1936 appointed Postman in Nottm (British Postal appointment books). NB by this date his name is recorded as Wallace L Spriggs

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Lived in Radcliffe on Trent.