Sproat | Henry
Biography
Henry Sproat was killed in action on 14 November 1944. He was a Private in the 1st Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers (Service No. 14201340), aged just 23. He was initially buried at Cemetery A. vd Wijst in Overloon and re-interred on 13 May 1947 in grave II. B. 9 in the Overloon CWG Cemetery. The inscription on his grave reads “Blessed be the Lord that gave, blessed be the Lord that taketh away”.
Family background
Henry was the son of Thomas Sproat and Laura Ellen Snell who had married in Sunderland in 1918.
Thomas was the son of Henry Sproat and Martha Dixon who had married in 1883. He was born in 1888 in Ryehope, County Durham. Henry had been born in 1860/1 in South Shields and Martha in Ryehope in 1864/5. They had at least 14 children, but four died aged 7 or younger. The children born before 1898 were born in Ryehope and those after that date in Grangetown around that time. Ryehope is on the north east coast on the southern edge of Sunderland while Grangetown is just slightly to the north of Ryehope.
In 1901 Henry and Martha were living at 10, Regent Terrace, Grangetown. With them were their seven surviving children born by then, including Thomas. Henry was working as a Colliery Stoker. By 1911, Henry and Martha were living at 37 Sea View, Grangetown. With them were ten of their children, including Thomas. Henry was working as a Brakesman underground at a colliery. Thomas was working as a Coal Mine “Putter” as was his 17 year old brother. Two of his sisters were working as domestic servants and one was working on a farm.
However, Martha Sproat died in 1917 aged 54, leaving Henry with four children under 15.
In 1918 Henry married a widow, Ann Maria Snell (nee Vine), in Sunderland.
Ann Maria Vine had married James Henry Snell in Sunderland in 1893. Ann was born in 1872/3 in West Stanley, County Durham and James in 1869 in Cornwall. They seem to have had at least seven children between 1894 and 1914, though two died in infancy. All were born in Ryehope. The eldest of the children was Laura Ellen born 1895.
In 1901 they were living at 8, Sea View, Ryhope. James was working as a Coal Miner (Hewer). Living with them were their two children born by then. By 1911 James and Ann were living at 89 Queen Street, Ryehope Colliery. James was in the same occupation. With then were their four surviving children born by then. However, James H Snell died in 1915 in Sunderland aged just 46.
In 1918, only a few months after Henry Sproat married Ann Maria Snell, Henry’s son Thomas married Ann’s daughter Laura. They went on to have three children as follows, all in Sunderland: Reuban 22/1/1920, Henry 5/7/1921 and Thomas 24/9/1928.
In June 1921, Thomas and Laura Sproat were living at 11, Stockton Terrace, Grangetown along with their first child in the household of Henry and Ann Sproat. There also were two of Henry’s youngest children from his first marriage and three of Ann’s children from her first marriage. Henry was working as a Boiler Minder at Hendon Paper Works Co. Thomas was working as a Miner (Hewer) at Ryehope Coal Coy. Ltd. His brother was working as a Miner (Driver) at Ryehope Coal Coy. Ltd. Ann’s son, Reuben, was working as a Labourer at Hendon Paper Mills.
By September 1939, Thomas and Laura were living in their own home at 114 Westheath Avenue, Sunderland. With them were their three sons and also Thomas’ father, Henry, who was now a widower as his wife had died in 1930. Thomas was working as a Waggon Hand at a Coal Mine. His eldest son, Reuben, was working as an assistant beater/furnisher at Hendon Paper Mills. Henry himself was working as an apprentice bricklayer. Thomas’ father was shown as a retired Boiler Minder at Hendon Paper Mills. Thomas’ birth date was given as 24/6/1890 (although it is thought he was born in 1888) and Laura’s as 2/7/1895.
Military career
It isn’t known when Henry Sproat enlisted, but given his age, he would not have served with the KOSB when they took part in the Battle of France and were evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940. The 1st Battalion of the KOSB then took on a defensive role, patrolling in Sussex.
With the allied invasion of Europe in 1944, the 1st battalion KOSB was there at the forefront, returning to France on D-Day, 6th June, landing at ‘Queen’ Beach. They fought through Normandy and around Caen until the town capitulated, and then advanced north through Belgium and the Netherlands.
The Battalion entered the Netherlands from Belgium on 21 September at Budel, where the troops were given a great welcome by the inhabitants. They moved on to Liessel on 24 September where they undertook patrols of the area east of the Deurne Canal. On 28 September the Battalion took up positions further north covering a cross roads at Milheeze, then on 1 October they moved further north again to St Hubert where they were again very well received by the inhabitants. They remained here until 12 October carrying out patrols but also undergoing training and having time to relax a little.
On 12 October they moved to an area just west of St Anthonis. On this day the 8th Brigade attacked towards Overloon and by 1700 hours the 1st Suffolks had captured the town and had taken up a position just to the South of it. On the 13 to 15 October the Battalion took part with other Battalions in clearing woods to the west and south of Overloon. During this action 3 men were killed and 12 were wounded. The following day the Battalion continued south through more woods, but that afternoon they were ordered to take over the positions of the 4th KSLI east of Overloon in the Smakt area. During the take over one man was killed and 3 wounded by Nebelwerfers (Moaning Minnies).
They remained in this position until 4 November. From here, they could patrol the area west of the railway line and observe movements of Germans on the east side and target them. They were often heavily shelled and mortared but also made good use of the Artillery to retaliate. Mines on the railway crossing points prevented attempts to cross the railway. On one occasion, on 22 October, when a platoon did cross to see if the enemy had withdrawn from the houses in Smakt, they were surprised by enemy machine guns concealed in the houses. One officer and 19 other ranks were presumed killed or taken prisoner with only 5 being able to escape. In this period 33 men were wounded, 10 were killed and 21 were missing.
On 4 November the Battalion handed over to the 2 Royal Ulster Rifles and 2 Lincolns and moved to just outside St Anthonis. Here the routine was 48 hours rest and sleep, and the remaining 72 hours spent in cleaning weapons, ammunition and kit and checking stores and equipment. Some enjoyed 48 hours in Brussels, and most could attend the cinema in Mill.
They remained near St Anthonis until 9 November when they moved back to the Overloon area. On 14 November they moved into positions west of the railway line in the area of Smakt which were held by the 2 Lincolns. The take over began before first light when they took over exposed forward positions and standing patrols thought to be under enemy observation. The take over was completed by 1415 hrs. This was the day on which both Henry Sproat and John McGregor Drummond were killed. The circumstances of the latter’s death is known but not that of Henry Sproat.
They were both initially buried near houses today at Schaartven along with 8 other men from their battalion and 11 others from other battalions. All were reburied in Overloon on May 13, 1947.
Henry’s father, Thomas Sproat, died in 1947 in Sunderland, just three years after his son.
The following item appeared in the Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette of 15/11/1948:
“SPROAT (Westheath Av) – In loving memory of Pte. Harry Sproat K.O.S.B., aged 23 years, killed in action, Holland, Nov. 14, 1944. Buried Overloon British Cemetery; dearly loved son of Laura Ellen and the late Thomas Sproat. Too dearly loved ever to be forgotten by his loving mam, brothers Reuben, Tom, sister-in-law Iris, nephew Angus, aunts, uncles, cousins.”
Henry Sproat is commemorated at St Aidan’s Church, Grangetown.
His elder brother, Reuben Sproat, married Jessie I Macdonald in 1946 in Sunderland. They had 5 children as follows, all in Sunderland: Angus 1947, Sylvia 1949, Alison 1951, Malcolm 1955 and Iris 1957.
His younger brother, Thomas Sproat, married Lily B Green in 1952 in Durham Eastern. They had two children as follows in Sunderland: Ian 1953, Stuart 1958.
Laura Ellen Sproat died in 1974 in Sunderland. Thomas died in 1983 and Reuben in 1989, both in Sunderland.
