The South African Sproules

 By Mathew Sproule

My 2x great-grandfather, Alexander Harpur Robinson Sproule (1876-1951), son of Alexander H.R. Sproule (1846-1921) and Matilda Sproule (1850-1918) was born in Peterborough, Canada and eventually moved to South Africa where he married his wife, Elma Irene Kidwell (1886-1952) in Jamestown, South Africa where she was born.

Together they had 3 children, my great-grandfather, James Dennis Sproule (1909-1964), Roy Kidwell Sproule (1911-1960), who were both born in Cape Town. Alexander Harpur Robinson Sproule served in the military during the first world war, and he was stationed at Lion’s head in Cape Town. They returned to Fintona, County Tyrone and lived there until 1920. Their youngest son, Brian Patrick Charles Sproule (1918-1984) was born in Fintona.  They then settled permanently in South Africa, running a farm, called Hemlock, that was given to Alexander for services in the war in the early 1920’s.

My great-grandfather and his siblings all served during World War II and in 1934 my great-grandfather married my great-grandmother, Anne Dorothy Koch (1909-1993) and had 3 children together, Brian Donovan (1935-2000), Rodney Dennis (1940) and Vaughan Desmond (Des) (1941-2016).

Brian Donavan married Gail Marion Ferrell (1940-2007) and had 4 children. Rodney married Beatrice Marie Forster (1939) and had 3 children and Des married Mercia Elizabeth Wilson (1947-2016).

Alexander Harpur Sproule with his wife Elma, James Dennis Sproule, my great Grandfather, and Roy Kidwell Sproule abt. 1916

Alexander Harpur Sproule with wife Elma and R to L, Brian Patrick Charles, James and Roy Kidwell. Mpumalanga, South Africa

Our Sproule Family Crest

Family Photograph at Denamona 15 Nov 1916. It is the wedding of my 2x great-grandfathers sister Irene to Tredgar Sidney-Smith. The couple sitting next to the bride is my 3x great-grandparents Alexander H.R Sproule and Matilda Sproule.

Notes:

• Alexander Harupur Robinson Sproule b. 6 Oct 1876, d. 28 Feb 1951
• Son of Alexander Harupur Robinson Sproule, b. 3 Apr 1846, d. 12 Nov 1921
• Son of Joseph Sproule of Peterboro, b. 9 Apr 1818 in Curraghamulkin, died 1 Nov 1902 Peterboro, Ontario, Canada
• Son of Thomas Sproule of Curraghamulkin
• Son of John 'Jack Roe' Sproule of Curraghamulkin
• Son of Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin
• Son of Cornet Andrew Spreull