Henry Purver Explained

Henry Purver
Fullname:Henry George Purver
Birth Date:3 May 1891
Birth Place:Isleworth, England
Death Place:Delville Wood, France
Position:Centre forward
Clubs1:Oxford City
Years2:–1915
Clubs2:Brentford
Caps2:2
Goals2:0

Henry George Purver (3 May 1891 – 31 July 1916) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward in the Southern Football League for Brentford.[1]

Personal life

As of 1911, Purver worked as a newspaper reader, and by the time of the First World War, he worked as a reporter for The Times.[2] In July 1915, eleven months after the British entry into World War I, he enlisted in Hounslow as a private in the 24th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers.[3] Shortly after enlisting, Purver was gassed and underwent a lengthy period of convalescence, during which he married Margaret Clifford in October 1915. He returned to the frontline in April 1916 and was reported missing in action, presumed killed at Delville Wood on 31 July 1916. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

See also

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford1911–12Southern League First Division200020
Career total200020

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lane . Dave . 10 November 2019 . Brentford Football Club – Remembering the Fallen – 2019 . 21 August 2020 . Beesotted.
  2. Web site: Henry George Purver . 21 August 2020 . Isleworth 390 Project.
  3. Web site: Henry George Purver Service Record . 21 August 2020 . Football and the First World War.