Arthur Spray
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur Spray was born in 1884 at Nottingham and was the son of John a lace manufacturer and Fanny Spray née Tuffnell of 1 Albany Road New Basford Nottingham,His father John was born in 1853 at Nottingham, his mother Fanny Jane Tuffnell was born in 1852 at London, they were married in 1877 at Basford and went on to have 5 children sadly 1 died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, John Alfred b1879, Mabel b1882, Arthur b1884 and Henry b1886 all were born in Nottingham. Arthur married his wife Daisy Louise Hopewell in Nottingham in 1909, they lived at 49 Cranmer St., Nottingham. In the 1911 census he and his wife are living at 83 Percival Road, Nottingham and are shown as Arthur Spray 26 yrs a bank clerk, he is living with his wife Daisy Louise 29 yrs. In the same 1911 census his parents are living at 1 Albany Road, New Basford and shown as John Spray 58 yrs a lace manufacturer he is living with his wife Fanny Jane 29 yrs, also living with them is a female domestic servant.
Major Arthur Spray, M.C. served with 5th Battalion Tank Corps, he was killed in action on 5th May 1918. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. (grave ref WWVIII.H.20)His Military Cross citation reads: For meritorious service during the period 22nd September 1917 to 24th February 1918. This officer has carried out the duties of Second-in-Command of a Company with exceptional ability, never sparing himself to obtain comfort for his men and efficiency in the Company. He commanded two Sections of Tanks on 1st December 1917 in the counter-attack on Quentin Ridge showing good judgement. This officer has shown the highest devotion to duty throughout this period.
War obituary, All Saints Church News, June 1918: 'Arthur Spray, 6 Mount Hooton, Major Tank Corps, killed in action May 5th 1918. Received a commission in Army Cyclists Corps in 1915, transferred first to Machine Gun Corps and then to Tank Corps, was an officer in the St Andrew’s Company of the Boys Brigade.'A report of the award of the MC appeared in All Saints Church News, July 1918.Article in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 13th May 1918 :- “KILLED.“MAJOR ARTHUR SPRAY, Tank Corps, who was killed in action on May 5th, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Spray, of 1, Albany-road, New Basford, Nottingham. For some years prior to the outbreak of war he was identified with the Territorial force, and three years ago was given a commission in the Army Cyclist Corps. He subsequently transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, and then to the Tank Corps. His promotion has been very rapid, and he obtained his majority quite recently. In civil life Major Spray was on the staff of the Nottingham and Notts. Bank, and was on active work in the Boys' Brigade connected with St. Andrew's Church.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
