BORN GREAT YARMOUTH 1899. SON OF GEORGE WILLIAM SPRATLING (1856-1936) & MARY ANN DRAKE (1859-1923), OF 6 PRINCES AVENUE, WEST DOCK STREET, HULL. (ARMY ADDRESS). UNMARRIED. HE HAD THREE BROTHERS AND TWO SISTERS.
HE WAS A DUSTMAN, EMPLOYED BY THE HULL CORPORATION.
HE ENLISTED AT HULL CITY HALL, ON 14/11/1916. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 5.5 INCHES TALL, 124 LBS WEIGHT, 34-36 CHEST SIZE, “GOOD” PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. ARRIVED IN FRANCE, ON 10/08/1917. SERVED WITH THE 1ST EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, “D” COMPANY, LEWIS GUN SECTION. REPORTED MISSING AND KILLED ON 25/04/1918. HE WAS AGED 19. COMMEMORATED ON THE TYNE COT MEMORIAL, BELGIUM TO THE MISSING. HIS FATHER WROTE TO THE ARMY FOR ANY NEWS AND HIS WILL AS HIS WAR PENSION WAS MUCH NEEDED.
HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 14/07/1919. *
