Albert Edward Springham was born in 1896 in Rotherhithe, London, the fourth of the seven children of Henry Albert Springham (1864-1916) and Arletta Springham née Wright (1865-1936). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1896 in the St Olave registration district, Southwark, London.
In the 1901 census he is shown as aged 5 years, living in four rooms at 51 Reculver Road, Deptford, London, with his parents and five siblings: Henry Arthur Springham (1887-1972); William John Springham (1890-1945); Arletta Mary Springham (1891-1954); Edith Harriett Springham (1897-1965) and Alfred Robert Springham (1900-1960). His father was described as a paper hanger decorator.
When his father completed the family 1911 census return form he described his son as a 15-year-old hairdresser's assistant lather boy. The family of nine were living in five rooms at 5A Ruddigore Road, New Cross, London, and were listed as: Henry Arthur Springham senior - house painter; his wife Arletta Springham; Henry Arthur Springham junior - a London, Brighton and South Coast Railway carriage cleaner; William John Springham - a fitter's labourer (engineer); Arletta Mary Springham - factory hand; Edith Harriett Springham; Alfred Robert Springham and Alice Maude Springham (b.1902) were all described as at school.
He enlisted in the Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, service number G/3370, and entered France on 24 March 1915. He died from disease, aged 19 years, on 10 October 1915 at the Lewisham Military Hospital, 390 High Street, Lewisham, London and was buried on 16 October 1915 in Grave A.1854 in Brockley Cemetery, 113 Brockley Grove, London, SE4 1DZ. As he has no headstone he is commemorated there on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's screen wall.
On 25 August 1919 his £3-0s-0d war gratuity was sent to his mother. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal. Both the Register of UK Army Effects and the regiment's Medal Rolls show he was serving in the regiment's 2nd Battalion, however is shown as being in the 3rd Battalion on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website who also incorrectly list his age as 20 years.
He is shown as PTE. A. SPRINGHAM on the Lewisham War Memorial located outside the former Lewisham Library, Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 and as PRIVATE A. E. SPRINGHAM on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's screen wall in Brockley Cemetery. He is also commemorated on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website and on the Lewisham War Memorials website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
