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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 87

A rare Great War group of five awarded to Serjeant H. S. Spoor, 'N' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, who was awarded the Cross of the Order of St George, 4th Class, 'for gallantry and distinguished service in the Field', one of only two such awards gazetted to the Royal Horse Artillery in 1914-15

Severely wounded by enemy artillery fire at Neuve Chapelle on 11 March 1915, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant 'for services in the Field' and later volunteered for service with the Auxiliary Division, Royal Irish Constabulary

Appointed Section Leader with 'G' (Clare) Company, he later served in 'O' (Dunmanway) Company, being admitted to hospital on two occasions during his service in Ireland

1914 Star, with Bar, (34293 Cpl H. S. SPpoor R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals, (2 Lieut H. S. Spoor.); Delhi Durbar 1911, crudely engraved 'H. Spoor Cpl N Battery Ry. H. A. Delhi'; Russia, Imperial, Cross of the Order of St. George, 4th Class, officially numbered '127 126', good very fine (5)

Cross of the Order of St. George, 4th Class, London Gazette, 25 August 1915: the citation states:

'For gallantry and distinguished service in the Field.'

Harry Samuel Spoor was born at Woodbridge, Suffolk, on 1 April 1886, (but stated 18 April 1886 on his service records), the son of Henry Spoor (1859-1945) and Sophia Estick (1858-1946). Baptised at St John's Church, Woodbridge, on 10 October 1886, his baptism record confirming his date of birth as 1 April, and state his father's occupation as 'Assistant in Brewery'. Recorded in the 1891 Census, residing at St John's Hill, Woodbridge, where his father's occupation is given as 'Brewer'. He is again recorded in the 1901 Census, aged 15 years, residing at New Street, Woodbridge, where his own occupation is given as 'Grocer's Porter'.

Spoor attested for service with the Royal Horse Artillery on the 18 April 1904. Posted to the Royal Horse Artillery, he is recorded in the 1911 Census, aged 25 years, serving as Bombadier with 'N' Battery Royal Horse Artillery, which at the time was on stationed in India. On the outbreak of war, 'N' Battery R.H.A. was stationed at Trimulgherry, Secunderabad, India. Placed under the command of the Secunderabad (Cavalry) Brigade, the Battery embarked aboard the S.S. Ula at Bombay, on 1 September 1914, and arrived at Marseilles on the 26 September. Spoor is confirmed as having entered the France and Flanders theatre of war with his unit, on 27 September 1914.

Shortly after its arrival in France, the Battery was attached to the Meerut Division, Indian Corps, from 12 October-23 December 1914, when it was transferred to the Indian Cavalry Corps.

4th Army Corps and the Indian Corps launched a joint offensive with the objective of capturing the village of Nueve Chapelle on 10 March 1915 and occupied the line Aubers - Leplovich - Ferme - Ligny de Grande. 'N' Battery's task, as described in its War Diary, was (i) to shell the German support trenches north of the village (ii) to cover a frontage of 100 yards on the north-east side of Neuve Chapelle and (iii) to watch with a steady rate of fire an area of ground east of the village a range of 3,000 yards. The battery had fired 686 rounds, by the end of the first day, and moved to a new position 1 mile south and just east of the La Bassee Road.

Orders were received to open fire on the German counter attack from Bois de Biez, at noon on the following day, 11 March 1915, and later to support a planned attack by the Rifle Brigade. During the afternoon, the Battery came under heavy fire from German heavy howitzers and field guns, during which I man was killed and 3 men, including Spoor, were wounded. Evacuated to England, Spoor was posted to 'R' Battery whilst recovering from his wounds, and shortly afterwards awarded the Cross of the Order of Saint George, 4th Class, presumably for his gallant conduct at Nueve Chapelle, the announcement being published in the supplement to the London Gazette dated 25 August 1915. As Battery Sergeant Major in 1916, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant 'for services in the Field', with effect from 29 June 1916, and Lieutenant with effect from 29 December 1917, being recorded as serving with 72nd Division R.A.

Spoor retired from the Army, with gratuity, on 23 May 1919, and shortly afterwards volunteered for service with the Auxiliary Division, Royal Irish Constabulary (ADRIC). The 'Auxiliaries' were recruited by the British Authorities from ex-officers of the British Army during the early months of 1920 to supplement the ranks of the Royal Irish Constabulary. A state of undeclared war existed in some areas of Ireland from January 1919 until July 1921 between guerrilla units of the Irish Republican Army and the forces of the British Crown who were charged with the task of restoring law and order to these areas. Along with the 'Black and Tans', who were recruited from the non-commissioned ranks, the 'Auxiliaries' became infamous for utilizing their experience of war to terrorise the civilian population in those regions where the IRA were particularly troublesome.

Spoor joined ADRIC on 18 October 1918, being given the service number 743. His service details whilst with ADRIC are recorded on the ADRIC website as follows:

'Posted 'G' (Clare) Company as Section Leader, from 18th October 1918 - 9th March 1919; Posted 'O' (Dunmanway) Company as Section Leader, from 9th March 1919 - 9th July 1921; Posted Depot 9th July 1921; Admitted Stevens Hospital from 12th to 25th July 1921; Posted 'J' Company reverting to Temporary Cadet; Admitted Cork Military Hospital from 27th September to 15th October 1921; Discharged on demobilisation of ADRIC on 23rd January 1922.'

There were no major IRA incidents recorded in the days prior to his periods in Hospital, so it is unclear as to whether he was wounded or injured in the line of duty. Spoor's entries in the Army List incorrectly state his date of birth as 18 April 1886, and as a result he officially ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers on 18 April 1936 on reaching the age limit of 50 years (London Gazette dated 17 April 1936 refers).

Spoor had married Daisy Laura Burch at Woodbridge, Suffolk, in 1913, and the couple are recorded in the 1939 Register, residing at 51 St Donatt's Road, Deptford, London, where Spoor's date of birth is correctly recorded as 1 April 1886, and his occupation given as 'Assistant Superintendent Meat Cold Storage'. Harry Samuel Spoor died at Claro, Yorkshire, in January 1966.

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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£320

Sale 23003 Notices
Note, sold without bar for 1914 Star as per photograph