Private Leonard Charles Sparrey (241543)
1st Bn, The Worcestershire Regiment, 24th Brigade, 8th Division, B.E.F.
Malvern Commemoration: St Matthias Malvern Link
Burial/Commemoration: Soissons Memorial
Nature of Death: Killed in action France 6/6/1918
Age: 45
Next of Kin: Son of George and Harriete Sparrey of 1 Valley Cottages, Albion Road, Lower Newtown; husband of Elsie Sparrey of 1 Balfour Terrace, Quest Hills, Malvern Link.
Education: Cowleigh Mixed School
Leonard Sparrey, born in Malvern, enlisted under the Derby Scheme at the end of 1915 and was drafted into the 1/8th Worcestershire Regiment [1]. Regimental sources record that he was wounded on the 5th August 1916 and transferred – but on this date nearly all of the unit had been incapacitated by gas, and were recuperating. Those that had not suffered gas poisoning were attached to the 1/7th Worcesters. However on the 23rd September the Malvern News reported that he had been wounded whilst attached to the Lincolnshire Regiment. Several men of the 1/8th went on to serve with the 10th Lincolns, so it is likely Sparrey was attached to this unit. However, when and for how long is not known – for on his recovery he was sent as a draft to the 1st Worcestershire Regiment.
He was posted missing during the last German Offensive of 1918 around Ville-en-Tardenois on the Aisne. The Malvern News reported him missing on the 3rd August 1918.
Article printed from Malvern Remembers: https://www.malvernremembers.org.uk
URL to article: https://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/ww1-profiles/leonard-charles-sparrey
URLs in this post:
[1] 1/8th Worcestershire Regiment: http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/
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