James Spratt was the son of George and Margaret Spratt. James was born about 1891 in Dundee, Scotland. James was living in Glasgow when he enlisted. Private James Spratt was serving with the 1st/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion (Territorial) of the Highland Light Infantry when he died of wounds on 3rd September 1918. He was 27 years old. The CWGC record Private J Spratt as the son of George and Margaret Spratt of Chapel Street, Cookstown, County Tyrone.
Further Information
James Spratt was the son of George and Margaret Spratt. James was born about 1891 in Dundee, Scotland.
James and the family do not appear on the 1901 or 1911 Irish Census.
James worked for some years in Brown’s Soap Works, Donaghmore
James was living in Glasgow when he enlisted.
Private James Spratt originally had the Service No 3808, with the Highland Light Infantry.
Private James Spratt was serving with the 1st/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion (Territorial) of the Highland Light Infantry when he died of wounds on 3rd September 1918. He was 27 years old.
Private Spratt was the only man from the battalion to die on that day.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st October 1918:
Mr George Spratt, Chapel Street, Cookstown, has received word from the Records Office that his son, Private James Spratt, Highland Light Infantry, has been wounded and missing since 23rd August. Later a P.C. arrived from Private Spratt saying he is a prisoner of war in Germany and wounded. Private Spratt joined up in August 1915, and has seen much heavy fighting since then. In civilian life he worked for some years in Brown’s Soap Works, Donaghmore.
Mons holds a unique place in the history of the First World War, as the first shots of the war were fired near here and likewise the last shots also.
The British Expeditionary Force first encountered the Germans here and the first British soldier to be killed in the ‘Great War’ was Private G Parr of the 4th Middlesex Regiment who was killed 21st August 1914. The last British soldier to be killed in action on 11th November 1918, just moments before the armistice was 12643- Private George Edwin Ellison of 5th Lancers (Royal Irish) Corps of Lancers, Household Cavalry.
Private J Spratt is buried in Mons Communal Cemetery in Belgium.
The CWGC record Private J Spratt as the son of George and Margaret Spratt of Chapel Street, Cookstown, County Tyrone.
There was a J Spratt who attended Tamlaght National School in Coagh. No evidence to link the two has been found.
