George Sparshott appears on the 1901 census for Hurstpierpoint, Sussex as 11 year old George E Sparshott.  His birth was registered at Cuckfield, Sussex in the March quarter of 1890 as George Ernest Sparshott.

 

In 1901, the family members are recorded as George Sparshott (head, aged 35 and working as a labourer) and his wife, Selina (aged 32).  The couple had seven children: George (aged 11), Alice M (aged nine), Ellen (aged eight), Charlie (aged six), Gilbert (aged four), William (aged two) and Harry (aged one).  There were also three boarders: Seymour Smith (24), Alfred Heasman (32) and William Poole (25).  George E, his mother and his siblings were all born at Hurstpierpoint.  His father was born at Ashington.

 

George appears in the Chailey Parish Magazine for the first time in January 1918 as Sparshott, Driver G, ASC.  That is all the information that the magazine yields and this is repeated up to and including the final roll call of local men in July 1919.  In the peace celebrations that took place in the village in August 1919, George Sparshott is mentioned as coming third in the cigar and needle race for soldiers and sailors.

 

The National Archives’ on-line medal information card index notes George Sparshott’s army number as T4/038634.

 

 

Sources & Acknowledgements:

 

• 1901 Census of England & Wales
• Chailey Parish Magazine
• The National Archives, Kew, London