SPRECKLEY Guy Lessingham

Additional information on the memorial: Lieut.

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.

Guy Spreckley was born in 1889 and he attended Bromsgrove School from 1902 -1907.  He was a Gordon House Monitor, played for the XV and XI teams and was a Gymnastic Gold Medal.  For some years after School, Spreckley farmed in New Zealand, but in 1914 he was back in England and he joined two other Old Bromsgrovians in dairy farming.  With them he enlisted in one of the Public School Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers in September 1914.  Refusing a commission, he went out with the Fusiliers in October 1915 as Sergeant.  In July 1916 he was gazetted to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps but he had been at the Front only about eleven hours when he was wounded and returned home.  He met his end €œsetting the noblest example of personal bravery to his men€.  He was in command of his company, was wounded early in the action and refused to go back; wounded again he still kept on, but a third missile struck him and he fell dead.

Source: Bromsgrove School at War 1914-19 by Philip Bowen and Bromsgrove School at War 1914-19 by David Cross.

Eldest son, Lieutenant H. Malcolm Spreckley is serving in the navy. Mr. and Mrs. Spreckley have already lost two sons in the war: Lieutenant Ralph Lessingham Spreckley of the Connaught Rangers, the youngest son was killed in action in September 1914. Lieutenant Arthur Freer Spreckley of the 9th Gurkhas was drowned with his wife and child in the torpedoing of the Persia.

Guy Spreckley was reported missing believed killed on 23rd April 1917. A later message states he was killed. He was educated at Bromsgrove School and spent three years farming in New Zealand. He afterwards farmed in Cheshire and on the outbreak of the war joined the Public School Corps with which he served two years. Last year he obtained a commission in the 16th King’s Royal Rifles. His father had a letter from him a few days ago when he was all right.

Source for additional information: Worcester Herald 30th September 1916 (report of wounding), Worcester Herald 5th May 1917 (including photo). Newspapers researched by Adrian Carter.

The following report appears in the Bromsgrove Weekly Messenger, 5th May 1917:
Lieut. Guy Lessingham Spreckley of Worcester, King’s Royal Rifles.  Mr H.W. Spreckley of Worcester has heard that a third son has been killed, on 28th April.  Guy Spreckley was educated at Bromsgrove and spent three years farming in New Zealand.  On the outbreak of war he joined the Public School Corps.  Last year he obtained commission in the King’s Royal Rifles.  Mr Speckley’s eldest son, Lt. H. Malcolm Spreckley is serving in the navy. Lt. Ralph Lesingham Spreckley of the Connaught Rangers died in September 1914.  Lt. Arthur Freer Spreckley, 9th Ghurkas, was drowned with his wife and child in the torpedoing of the Persia.

Further information on Guy Spreckley can be found in the book €˜In Continuing & Grateful Memory, The Menin Gate, page 261.

A photograph of Lieutenant G. Lessingham Spreckley of Worcester can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 5th May 1917, available at Worcestershire Archives.

The following information has been researched by Geoff Hill:
1911 Census
Unable to locate Guy Spreckley on the 1911 census. His family were resident at Cove Cottage, Northwick, Worcester, Herbert William (father), Brewery Director, mother, brother Arthur, 2 servants and 1 visitor.

Guy Spreckley initially enlisted in September 1914 in one of the Public Schools Battalions, of which there were four, of The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). His Medal Roll Index Card records him in November 1915 as a Sergeant in the Royal Fusiliers, service no PS/3205. Subsequently he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on the 7th July 1916.
Guy Spreckley was reported missing believed killed on 23rd April 1917. One report notes that Guy Lessingham Spreckley of the 23rd Battalion King’s Royal Army Corps (attached to the 7th Battalion) was killed in action at Fontaine on the 23rd April 1917 while in charge of a bombing party. (De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour).

Guy Spreckley has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.