Mary Elizabeth Spanton
The beloved wife of
Arthur Humphrey Spanton
Who died January 11th 1912.
Aged 54 years
“Jesu Lover of my soul
Let me to thy bosom fly”
Also, Geoffrey, their fifth son,
Killed in action at Gaza
Nov 2nd 1917
“Thy will be done”
And of the above
Arthur Humphrey Spanton
Who died September 23rd 1932
Aged 69 years
“Until the day break”
Name: SPANTON, GEOFFREY HERBERT
Rank: Private
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 02/11/1917
Service No: 240616
Additional information: Son of A. H. Spanton, of Baker St., Stalham, Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panels 12 to 15. Memorial: JERUSALEM MEMORIAL
3rd Battle of Gaza November 1917
A key element of the British plan was a genuine attack at Gaza. The artillery bombardment of Gaza started on 27 October, four days before the attack at Beersheba. That attack was made on 31 October (battle of Beersheba). While two of the infantry divisions attacked the strong south-west defences of the town, the cavalry attacked from the east, seizing the town after a dramatic cavalry charge by the Australian Light Horse.
The plan now required an attack at Gaza, while the forces at Beersheba prepared for their next attack. It was hoped that the follow-up attack could happen on either 3 or 4 November. According the attack at Gaza was launched on the night of 1/2 November. A two stage attack succeeded in pushing back the Turkish lines west of Gaze, but at the cost of 2,700 casualties (350 dead, 340 missing and 2,000 wounded). The Turks were forced to move a reserve division into the defences around Gaza.
Despite this success, the Turks did launch a counterattack, ten miles to the north of Beersheba, at Tel el Khuweilfeh, a dominating hill that also commanded a water supply. Fighting continued here from 2 November until the Turks were forced to pull back by the general retreat further west. This fighting, and a water shortage at Beersheba, delayed the second phase of the attack until 6 November. It also restricted the routes available for the cavalry when they came to make their attempts to cut off the Turkish retreat
www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_gazaIII.html
The 1901 Census lists:-
Arthur Spanton born 1863 Stalham. Resident Stalham, Profession Plumber
Geoffrey Spanton born 1898
There are a number of other Spanton’s born in Stalham, with at least two looking like they might be brothers of Arthur - Robert born 1865 who is also a Plumber, and Fredrick born 1867 who is a Thrashing Machine Owner and Tailor - therefore from the limited information on line it is difficult to tell who’s children are who’s.
It looks like Mary was born 1861 at Lammas.
Cemetery adjacent to St Mary the Virgin Church, Stalham
No Picture on Norlink