Jack Spencer
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Jack was the son of Edwin Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Spencer (nee Hunt or Hurt). His father Edwin Thomas was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in 1862 (A/M/J Loughborough) and his mother in Sutton-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, in about 1860. Edwin and Mary were married in 1882 (O/N/D Nottingham) and had five children: Edwin Thomas b. 18 December 1883 (1884 J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 20 March 1896 Nottingham St Patrick (Anglican), William Lewis b. 18 February 1885 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 22 March 1896 St Patrick, Edith Mary (May) b. 17 March 1891 (A/M/J Nottingham) bap. 13 July 1891 Nottingham St Ann, address Rushworth Terrace, Jack b. 1895 (O/N/D Nottingham) and Harold b. 18 July 1901 (J/A/S Nottingham) bap. 1 September 1901 St Patrick. Three of the baptismal records give their father's first name as 'Edward'. There is a baptismal record for a Jack Spencer at St John Nottingham on 16 October 1895 parents Edmund (sic) Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Spencer of 3 Albert Place; this is within the period of the registration of birth (1895 O/N/D). However, there is also a record of the baptism of a John Spencer b. 13 August 1895, bap. 20 March 1896 Nottingham St Patrick, parents Edward (sic) Thomas and Mary Elizabeth nee Hunt. There is, though, no corresponding birth registration for a John Spencer in 1895 (J/A/S). In 1891 his parents were living at Rushworth Terrace, Nottingham, with their three children Edwin (7), William (6) and Edith (u/1yr). Edwin snr. was a framework knitter. By 1901 they were living at 17 Lewis Square, Nottingham. Edwin (38) was now a lace maker. Edwin (17) was a lace clipper, William (16) a box maker while Edith (10) and Jack (5) were at school. The family had moved again by 1911 when they were at 13 Salisbury Square, Beck Street, Nottingham. Mary (50), a charwoman, was still married but head of household. Only four of her five children were in the home on the night of the census: Edwin (27) iron founder casting, Edith (20) a lace ripper (at home), Jack (15) an apprentice (printing) and Harold (9). William had married Edith Maltby in 1910 (J/A/S Nottingham) and in 1911 they were living at 3 Richmond Street, Nottingham. Edwin snr. has not yet been traced on the 1911 census but was included in notices of his sons' deaths in 1916 and 1917. At the time of Jack's death in 1916 the family home was at 13 Nelson Terrace, Hutchinson Street, St Ann's Well Road, Nottingham. His brother William Lewis served in the 11th Bn. Prince of Wales' Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment (14580 Private) and was killed in action on 4 October 1916, leaving a widow and one son. (See record on the ROH.) His father, Edwin Thomas, died in 1934 (A/M/J Nottingham).
Jack died of wounds received in action and is buried in the Le Touret Military Cemetery Richebourg-L'Avoue. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Not a morning dawns nor a night returns but what we think of thee' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’ 11 July 1916: ‘Spencer Died of wounds, June 21st, 1916, Private J Spencer, Sherwood Foresters, aged 19 years. A noble life, a noble death. His welcome smile, his dear sweet face, never on earth can be replaced. From his heart-broken mother, father, sister, and brothers.’ Nottingham Evening Post, 13 July 1916, photograph with caption: Pte J Spencer, Sherwood Foresters, died of wounds, Nelson Terrace, Hutchinson St., Nottingham Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 21 June 1917: ‘Spencer. In loving memory of our dear son, Jack Spencer, who died of wounds June 21st, 1916. Days and nights still hold their sadness, tears in silence often flow, thinking dear son, of how we lost you, just one year ago. From his sorrowing mother, father, brothers, and only sister.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother Mary Elizabeth was his sole legatee Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 18 April 1934: ‘Spencer. On April 16th, Edwin Thomas, passed away at the City Infirmary. At rest. Son and daughter, Harold and Edith. Funeral Carlton, Thursday, 1.45pm.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
No Photos