John Leonard Spencer
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Leonard was the son of John and Mary Spencer (née Harrison). Both his parents were born in Cropwell Butler, his father in 1866, the son of John Spencer, a butcher, and his wife Mary, and his mother in 1869. John and Mary Harrison were married at Tithby Holy Trinity in 1893 and had five children who were born in Cropwell Butler: John Leonard b. 1893 bap. Holy Trinity 11 November 1894, Arthur Thomas b. 1900 and George Henry b. 1902 who were also baptised at Holy Trinity, and Hettie Mary b. 1904 and Dorothy Mabel b. 1909. In 1901, John, a journeyman baker, and Mary were living on Village Street, Cropwell Butler with their sons John (6) and Arthur (under 1 year). The family was still living in the village in 1911: John a farm labourer, Mary, John Leonard also a farm labourer, Arthur, George (8), Hettie (6) and Dorothy (1). His mother died in 1935 and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his father, a farm labourer, was living on Main Street, Cropwell Butler, with his unmarried son George, a horseman on a farm. His other three children were married and Arthur, a farm labourer, was also living in the village with his wife and family. John Spencer died in 1951.
2/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). The 2/8th Bn was a second line territorial unit formed in Newark in September 1914. In the early days of the war it undertook garrison duty at home but was sent to Ireland in 1916 on the outbreak of the Easter Rising and saw street fighting in Dublin. The Battalion was drafted to France for service on the Western Front in February 1917 as part of the 178th (2/1st Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Brigade of the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. The Battalion saw action at Le Verguier during the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, March-April 1917. John Leonard was killed on 27 April 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Theipval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 10C 10D & 11A). John qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC: 'Son of John and Mary Spencer, of Cropwell Butler, Nottingham.' Inscription on family (grandparents) headstone, Cropwell Butler cemetery: 'Also John Leonard, loving grandson of the above, killed in action April 27th 1917, in his 23rd year. Till we meet again.' His grandmother Mary Spencer died in 1910 and his grandfather John Spencer in 1913. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: named his parents John and Mary Spencer. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father John was his legatee.
