SPTS?

[Suziesmith37]

Simple query (I hope)!

I am doing some research on my Great Grandfather William Henry Thomas who died at Louvain in WW1 on 28.07.1916.

Could anyone please tell me what the initials SPTS stand for in front of his service number i.e. SPTS/3143 

Many Thanks

Su

[harribobs]

sportsman 

[Wendi]

Hi Su and a Warm Welcome to Rootschat 

harribobs to expand 

SPTS refers to the 23rd & 24th Battalions of The Royal Fusilers and indicates that they were the Sportsman's Battalions

Wendi 

[harribobs]

"24th (Service) Battalion (2nd Sportsmen's Battalion):

Formed in London on 20 November 1914 by E.Cunliffe-Owen.
26 June 1915 : attached to 99th Brigade, 33rd Division.
13 December 1915 : transferred to 5th Brigade, 2nd Division."

[harribobs]

William Henry Thomas

born Padstow
enlisted Redruth

Killed in Action 28 Jul 1916 at the battle of the Somme, commemorated on the Theipval Memorial

[Suziesmith37]

To you all many thanks!

[Suziesmith37]

To Harribobs

How did you find out re enlistment etc?  Been trying to Find a DOB for him I dont suppose there is one lurking in that treasury of research anywhere?

Su 

[harribobs]

that information is from Soldiers Died in the Great War

i assume you have his CWGC info?

Name:     THOMAS, WILLIAM HENRY
Initials:    W H
Nationality:    United Kingdom
Rank:    Private
Regiment/Service:    Royal Fusiliers
Unit Text:    "C" Coy. 24th Bn.
Age:    23
Date of Death:    28/07/1916
Service No:    SPTS/3143
Additional information:    Son of Mrs. C. Truman, of Barry's Lane, Padstow, Cornwall; husband of Ethel Thomas, of 9, Hyr Bellevue, Redruth, Cornwall.
Casualty Type:    Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:    Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A.
Memorial:    THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

[Wendi]

There are a couple of William Henry Thomas' births registered in St. Columb (the registration district for Padstow) until 1894.  One in the Qtr to March and one in the Qtr to June.  It may be worth contacting the now registration district to ask to verify parent, from what I can see the records are now held in Bodmin

Wendi