SPRUCE, Raymond Frederick
| Service Number: | 1249 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 November 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Raymond Terrace, New South Wales, Australia, 21 January 1888 |
| Home Town: | Irrawang, Port Stephens Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Terrace & Eagleton Public Schools,New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bushman |
| Died: | Mayfield, New South Wales, Australia, 23 June 1955, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW CATHOLIC 2-68. 52. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1249, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 1249, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 1249, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 12 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 1249, 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, 2nd MD |
Help us honour Raymond Frederick Spruce's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Served during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
69 years ago today, on the 24th June 1955, Driver Raymond Frederick Spruce, 3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion (Reg No-1249), bushman from Irrawang, Raymond Terrace, New South Wales and Mayfield, N.S.W., father of four (Alice, Nellie, Jack, Eileen), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 67. CATHOLIC 2-68. 52.
Born at Raymond Terrace, New South Wales on the 21st January 1888 as SPENCE to Herbert S, died 15.2.1927, age 63, and Emily (Emma) M Spruce, died? 3.11.1907, Newcastle, N.S.W., age?; husband of Christina Mary Spruce nee Schambach, married 1909, Newcastle, N.S.W., died 13.6.1969, Newcastle, N.S.W., age 93, sleeping here, Ray enlisted on the 24th November 1915 with the 35th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A24 Benalla on the 1st May 1916.
Admitted to hospital 3.8.1916 (scabies), 5.11.1916 (exhaustion), 12.11.1917 (pleurisy).
Granted furlough in England from 12.1.1918 to 26.1.1918.
Commenced return to Australia 11.5.1919.
Ray arrived home on the 28th June 1919, being discharged on the 12th August 1919.
Mr. Spruce’s name has been inscribed on the Raymond Terrace War Memorial, Raymond Terrace Public School Roll of Honor, Eagleton Public School Roll of Honor and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.
I have placed poppies at Ray’s gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.
Officially commemorated – https://connect.dva.gov.au/.../viewCommemoration.html....
Younger brother William Henry, referred to as Billy, born 16.6.1890, Raymond Terrace, New South Wales, farmer from Anna Bay, N.S.W., enlisted 28.6.1915, 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Reg No-1269, wounded in action - 5.8.1916 (GSW back, slight), RTA 3.9.1919, died 10.3.1963, Hurstville, N.S.W., age 72, not officially commemorated, also served 1st A.I.F.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
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