Sergeant Sperring Of The Scots Greys.

Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Johannesburg", "Diamond Hill" & "Belfast".
King's South Africa Medal with clasps "South Africa 1901" & "South Africa 1902".
3843 Serjt. W. Sperring, 2nd Dragoons.

William Jones Sperring, a 20-year-old labourer from Somerset, attested for the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) at Aldershot on 14th August 1893. His Attestation Papers describe him as almost 6' 3" in height with brown hair, hazel eyes and a sallow complexion. His religion was given as Church of England. William's first six years in the army were all home service during which he received his 1st Good Conduct pay (14/8/93), appointment as Lance Corporal (27/1/98), promotion to Corporal (1/4/99), and appointment as Lance Sergeant (8/11/99).

Following the outbreak of war with the Boers, William Sperring served with the Regiment in South Africa from February 1900. The clasps on his Queen's South Africa Medal are evidence that he saw action in the fighting to capture Johannesburg in May and the Battles of Diamond Hill in June and Belfast in August. By the end of the year, the Regiment had lost 7 officers (4 died, 3 wounded) and 78 NCOs and men (35 died, 43 wounded). The majority of deaths were due to disease rather than enemy action.

On 18th April 1901, William Sperring was severely wounded in the abdomen when the Greys engaged the enemy at Weltevreden. According to "The History of the Second Dragoons 'Royal Scots Greys'" by Edward Almack

18th. - The regiment marched from Reit Vlei. Enemy were located by left flank guard about 7.30a.m. in strong position, and who opened with guns and rifle fire. B Squadron under Major R. H. Adams took a commanding position, on which enemy retired.

The Greys bivouacked at Weltevreden and the next day marched to Roodeval, under sniper fire the whole day. William Sperring was promoted to Sergeant on 25th September 1901 and at some point in December, probably because of the seriousness of his wound, he was sent back to England where he would stay until October 1902. On 23rd September of that year, he re-engaged to complete 21 years with the colours. Following this, he returned to South Africa to rejoin the Regiment, thus earning entitlement to the King's South Africa Medal. During this time William became ill with enteric fever and spent 116 days in hospitals at Wynberg and Simonstown. He remained in South Africa till June 1904 and had thus served a total of three and a half years there.
Back in England, William married Minnie Smart in the parish church at Kingsthorpe on Christmas Eve 1905. The couple had twin girls, Jessie Elizabeth and Gwendoline Rose, who were born on 20th June 1907, but sadly the latter appears to have died in infancy. A year later on 10th November 1908, a son, William John James, was born.
On the outbreak of the First World War, Sergeant William Sperring was posted to the 5th Reserve Cavalry Regiment on 16th August 1914. He saw home service with the 1st Dragoons until being finally discharged from the army at York on 13th August 1915 due to his age. He had served for a total of 22 years and his conduct was described as "exemplary". His only award for his service in the First World War was a Silver War Badge for "Services Rendered".
In later life, William Sperring and his wife Minnie ran the "The Sheaf & Sickle" public house in Long Lawford, near Rugby. William died some time in 1934 when he was aged about 60.