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.[2]

Henry Purver
Personal information
Full name Henry George Purver
Date of birth (1891-05-03)3 May 1891[1]
Place of birth Isleworth, England[1]
Date of death 31 July 1916(1916-07-31) (aged 25)
Place of death Delville Wood, France
Position(s) Centre forward[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Oxford City
–1915 Brentford 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life

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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.[1] 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.[1][3] Shortly after enlisting, Purver was gassed and underwent a lengthy period of convalescence, during which he married Margaret Clifford in October 1915.[1] He returned to the frontline in April 1916 and was reported missing in action, presumed killed at Delville Wood on 31 July 1916.[1][2] His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.[4]

See also

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Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1911–12[2] Southern League First Division 2 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 2 0 0 0 2 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Henry George Purver" (PDF). Isleworth 390 Project. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Lane, Dave (10 November 2019). "Brentford Football Club – Remembering the Fallen – 2019". Beesotted. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Henry George Purver | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Casualty Details: Henry George Purver". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 21 August 2020.