SPAVIN G.

GEORGE SPAVIN 1884-1916

33255 Private George Spavin, 13^th Battalion the Durham Light Infantry died of wounds 28 December 1916 and is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.[1] He was 33 years old and is commemorated on the West Auckland War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, West Auckland Memorial Hall.

Family Details

George Spavin was born 1884 at Scampston, near Malton, North Yorkshire[2] the son of William and Mary Spavin. There were at least 5 children: [3]

Thomas bc.1879 at Malton
Jane bc.1881 at Malton
George 1884 at Scampston
Mary bc.1886 at Scampston
William bc.1890 at Scampston

In 1891, the family lived at Scampston, North Yorkshire where 42 year old William worked as a “yardman” [presumably some kind of agricultural labourer].[4] By 1901 17 year old George was a “servant” working as a carter at Manor Farm, Rillington near Malton.[5] By 1911, 27 year old George was a boarder with Walker and Mary Carr, 7 Brewery Cottages, West Auckland where George worked as a drayman.[6] West Auckland Brewery Company was located to the north of the village green behind the Manor House. In June 1911, George married Annie Harriet Fawcett at Willington Parish Church. They had at least 4 children:[7]

Sydney born 17 March 1912
Jennie & Nancy born November 1913
Albert George born 19 July 1916

The family lived at Brewery Cottages, West Auckland. [8]

Military Details

George Spavin attested 10 December 1915 at Bishop Auckland aged 32 years I month [9] and joined the Army Reserve. He was mobilized,[10] underwent a medical examination 2 June 1916 and was considered “fit for general service”. He was 5’3½” tall and weighed 140lbs.[11] His religion was Church of England.[12] 3 June 1916 Private George Spavin was posted to 17^th Battalion the Durham Light Infantry and given the regimental number 32255. 15 September 1916 he was posted to 3/DLI BEF in France then joined 13/DLI in the field 6 October 1916.[13]

The 13^th (Service) Battalion was formed in September 1914 as part of K3 Kitchener’s New Army and came under the orders of 68^th Brigade 23^rd Division. It landed in France in August 1915.[14] The 68^th Brigade comprised the following units:[15]

10^th (Service) Bn., the Northumberland Fusiliers
11^th (Service) Bn., the Northumberland Fusiliers
12^th (Service) Bn., the Durham Light Infantry
13^th (Service) Bn., the Durham Light Infantry
68^th Machine Gun Company joined March 1916
68^th Trench Mortar Battery formed June 1916

In 1916, the Division took part in many engagements during the Battle of the Somme:[16]

1 – 13 July: The Battle of Albert
14 – 17 July: The Battle of Bazentin Ridge
23 July – 3 September: The Battle of Pozieres
15 – 22 September: The Battle of Flers-Courcelette
25 – 28 September: The Battle of Morval
1 – 18 October: The Battle of Le Transloy

Private G. Spavin joined 13/DLI 6 October 1916.

Action at Le Sars, the Battle of Le Transloy: 13/DLI [17]

6 October: 12/DLI & 13/DLI took over the front line just south of Le Sars. 12/DLI was tasked with taking the Tangle, a machine gun nest and the sunken road east of Le Sars. 13/DLI had to clear the rest of the ruins to establish a line beyond. At 1.45pm 12/DLI advanced escorted by a female tank and they overran the Tangle but the sunken road was stoutly defended. 13/DLI kept in touch with 12/DLI by means of a patrol, using shell holes to advance and from which they could fire at the enemy using bombs. A heavy barrage was thrown at the attackers. “B” and “C” Company were in the thick of it. Machine gunners in Le Sars stopped the leading wave of “C” Company at the outskirts of the village and the battle raged through the sunken road and the ruins of the village. By 3.30pm it was reported that there was no sign of the enemy. “A” Company set to on work with defences. The whole of the captured area was heavily shelled thereafter. 13/DLI captured 150 Germans and 30 wounded men were found in the ruins. Captain H.F. Blake was killed in action and there were 57 casualties in the ranks.

7 October: the German bombardment continued all day. A patrol met the enemy on the Bapaume road beyond Le Sars and 15 more 13/DLI men were killed. They were relieved by troops of the 15^th Division at night.

Capt. D.H. Clarke received a bar to his Military Cross, Second Lieutenant E.W. Atkinson received the MC, Serjeant M. Brough was awarded a bar to his Military Medal, Serjeant C.A. Stirling, L/Corporal C. Gowland and 13 other ranks were awarded the MM.

Later research records that between 6 and 8 October 13/DLI lost 1 Officer[18] and 24 Other Ranks, killed in action or died of wounds.[19]

After being relieved 8 October 1916, the 23^rd Division was moved north to the Ypres Salient and detrained at Proven 15 October. The next 4 months the routine of trench warfare continued. Wet weather and frost accompanied this warfare in trenches around Zillebeke Bund. When in reserve 13/DLI occupied the brigade camp at Winnipeg Camp near Ypres.[20] The 13/DLI War Diary has not been researched so the circumstances of Private G. Spavin’s death are unknown. Private G. Spavin was wounded 22 December 1916 and taken to 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station suffering from a gunshot wound to the right leg thigh.[21] He succumbed to his wounds 1.30am 28 December 1916.[22] Three Other Ranks serving with 13/DLI were killed in action 22 December:[23]

32378 Private J.W. Crawford from Sunderland
36557 Private S.H. Jennings from Burnopfield
36562 Private M. Wilkins from Gateshead

All 3 are buried at railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), south east of Ypres.[24] Perhaps they were all hit by shellfire. During the month of December 1916, there were 7 ORs killed in action or died of wounds – a relatively quiet tour for 13/DLI.[25]

Private G. Spavin served 1 year 19 days and was awarded the British War and Victory medals.[26]

Burial

Private George Spavin is buried at grave reference XC.41A Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. His wife had the following epitaph inscribed on his headstone:

Greater Love Hath No Man Than This

Lovingly Remembered By His Wife And Children

During WW1 the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the front but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. The cemetery was first used by the French 15^th Hospital D’Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by CCS of the Commonwealth forces. From April to August 1918, the CCS fell back before the German advance and field ambulances took their places. The cemetery contains 9,901 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.[27]

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] England & Wales 1837-1915 Birth Index Vol.9d p.395 Malton North Yorkshire 1884 Q1

[3] Army Form W.5080 records Herbert Spavin and 3 sisters so there could have been 7 children

[4] 1891 census

[5] 1901 census

[6] 1911 census

[7] Army Form W.5080 records Mary and Beatrice in addition to Sydney and George. Jennie and Nancy were probably known by their second names, Mary and Beatrice

[8] Army Form W.5080 & Descriptive Report on Enlistment

[9] Army Form B.2512

[10] Statement of the Services

[11] Army Form B.178

[12] Army Form B.121 Note: Army Form B.103 records Primitive Methodist

[13] Army Form B.103

[14] http://www.1914-1918.net/dli.htm

[15] http://www.1914-1918.net/23div.htm

[16] http://www.warpath.orbat.com/battles_ff/1916.htmt

[17] “The Durham Forces in the Field 1914-18: the Service Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry” 1919 Capt. W. Miles p.102-104

[18] CWGC records Capt. H.F. Blake Wiltshire Regiment attached to 13/DLI and commemorated by a special memorial in Warlencourt British Cemetery.

[19] Soldiers Died in the Great War