Ernest Spencer
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest Spencer was Worksop born on 28th Nov 1893. He was 1 of 10, eventually born to James and Sarah Eliza Spencer who were living at 66 Marecroft, Worksop at the time. About 1900 the family moved to Whitwell in Derbyshire, residing at 16 Colliery Row, where the father, James, and Ernest’s elder brothers, were working in the local pit. Before he was 17 years old, Ernest was working as a pit pony driver, working underground. He moved to 48 Asquith Rd., Bentley, Doncaster prior to him enlisting for the Great War. His parents also moved back to Worksop living at 67, Clarence Road.
Ernest enlisted on the 30 August 1914, initially as 15896 Private King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, on 7th Sept, joining Drake Battalion on the 9th. He was hospitalised on 5/10/15 with a bad bout of influenza but rejoined Drake 9th Jan 1916. He is reported to have had gunshot wounds to his left leg in November 1916 and was invalided to the UK on the 20th. On the 4th July 1917 he was drafted for the British Expeditionary Force, joining the Howe Battalion. He was killed as a direct result of enemy action on 26th Oct 1917. Petty Officer E. Spencer Worksop Guardian 16 November 1917 Mr. and Mrs. James Spencer, of 67, Clarence Road, Worksop, received the official news on Wednesday of the death in action of their seventh son, Petty Officer Ernest Spencer, of the Royal Naval Division. The news simply confirms that which had been received some days ago from the Rev. Jas. W. Cardel, C.F., who is on service with Spencer’s Battalion, and who wrote:- “I beg to offer my deepest sympathy to you and yours in your great loss. Your son was in an attack on October 26th, and as he was crouching behind a tree he was hit in the eye by a bullet and died at once. This was about noon. I know that your sorrow must be unspeakably great, and therefore commend you and yours to the help of your Heavenly Father, Who will supply all your needs if you only have faith in him. May God bless, condole, and sanctify yours” Petty Officer Spencer enlisted in the first month of the war, and he would have attained his 24th birthday this month. He took part in the Dardanelles Expedition, and later was in France and was wounded in November last year. He volunteered for active service again and on that occasion was promoted Petty-Officer. Prior to enlisting the deceased was employed at Bentley Colliery, and previously he had worked at Manton. He was a member of an old Worksop family, and was well known and respected in the town.
CWG additional information:- Son of James and Sarah Eliza Spencer, of 67, Clarence Rd., Worksop, Notts. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Research by Colin Dannatt
