TL2020

Fredrick Spriggs

The Education Act of 1870 required provision be made for all children to have the opportunity for an education. Prior to this date few children, other than those from wealthy families, were able to attend any type of school. On the 4th March 1872, the first entry in the Head Teacher’s Log Book was made by Mrs Mary Seaman, the first Head Teacher. On that day, seventy-seven children, ranging in age from three to thirteen, were enrolled. They were divided into two classes - one being taken by Mrs Seaman and the other by her husband Walter, her assistant. They were all taught in one room, the room now used as the dining room in the oldest part of the school. The school was approved by the Government on the 16th May 1872.

This page examines the life of Fredrick Spriggs. Admission Number:813

Fredrick Spriggs attended St Johns from April 25 to March 31 1911

Date of Birth: June 27 1897 . Parents: William :

Lived at Lemsford

Left St John’s due to Working on Farm

Frederick Spriggs

Born 27th June 1897 – Died 11th July 1916

Personal History

Frederick William Spriggs, the youngest of the five sons of William and Elizabeth née Hewson Spriggs was born on the 27th June 1897 in Lemsford and baptised on the 28th November 1897 at St. John's church, Lemsford. He attended Lemsford School from June 1901 to March 1911 when he left to work on the Brocket Estate. Attended St Johns School June 4th 1901 to March 31st 1911.

War Record

2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment

By October 1914 Frederick Spriggs had enlisted at Hertford and joined the 2nd Batallion of the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 14200. The Bishops Hatfield parish magazine reported that he was at the Front in November 1915.

Frederick, aged 19, was killed on the 11th July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme at Trones Wood, a wood near the village of Guillemont, about 6½ miles east of Albert. The wood, which formed part of the German second defence line, needed to be cleared of Germans before the British could advance on Longueval, a heavily fortified town. On the 11th July the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment was part of a pre-dawn attack force which attempted to capture the wood. They suffered many casualties trying to enter the wood which was strongly held and full of trenches and dug-outs. The fighting was fierce within the wood, several units had to withdraw and regroup, it was not finally cleared until the 15th July.


War Memorial

Frederick Spriggs is buried in the Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 XXIX J 5. The cemetery is situated just off the D919 on the Arras to Amiens road, south of the village of Pusieux. The Bishops Hatfield parish magazine reported that a short memorial Service was held on Wednesday September 20 1916 in St. John's Lemsford in memory of these men belonging to this parish and neighbourhood, who have fallen in the war:- Thomas Cole, Herbert Freeman, James Halsey, Frank Mardle, Frederick Spriggs, James Strong, Cecil White and Christopher Wren. Frederick's older brother George Spriggs was killed on the 29th October 1917 during the second battle of Passchendaele.

St Johns School Lemsford Info

Lemsford Local History group have decided to dedicate 2022 to working with St John’s School to celebrate the school’s 150-year anniversary. This website is also dedicated to this special year. On the 4th of March 1872, the first entry in the Head Teacher’s Log Book was made by Mrs Mary Seaman, first Head Teacher. On that day, seventy-seven children, ranging in age from three to thirteen, were enrolled. They were divided into two classes - one being taken by Mrs Seaman and the other by her husband Walter, her assistant. They were all taught in one room, the room now used as the dining room in the oldest part of the school. The school was approved by the Government on the 16th of May 1872. We hope the school, local community, and anyone with an interest in St Johns school will Contribute Articles, memories, and images to this Website. Email info@lemsfordhistory.co.uk