| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Lance-Corporal Harold Spivey, aged 21, of “D” Company, 5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment was seriously wounded at Passchendaele on 12 Nov 1917. He was immediately repatriated to Grayingwell Military Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, where he remained until 15 May 1918. He was then transferred to the 4th Battalion, “B” Company, held in reserve, until being discharged from military service on 17 Jan 1919 and allowed to return to work at the Beverley shipyard.
Harold enlisted in early Aug 1915 and arrived at the frontline in Belgium in mid-January 1916. In May to Jun 1916 he was hospitalised three times for influenza and scabies but was promoted to Lance-Corporal after the Battle of Arras on 12 May 1917. He was awarded the War and Victory Medals.
Harold was born in Beverley the 19 Jul 1896 and baptised at Beverley Minster the 10 Aug 1896, the son of John spivey, a labourer from Beverley and Barbara Ann Eccles Roantree from Walkington. They married at St Mary’s Church in 1885 and had seven children. The family lived at 5 Taylor’s Yard, between Flemingate and Beckside. Harold is recorded as a “shipyard helper” in the 1911 census.
Harold returned to the shipyard and in 1924 when he married Nancy Kerr formerly Palmer, a widow, at Beverley Minster he was a shipbuilder. The couple lived at 2 Tigar’s Cottages, Grovehill Road. Harold died in 1966.
Harold is commemorated on the Beckside and Flemingate Street Shrine along with his younger brother, Harry Spivey who served with the 10th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment.
Includes information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |