Cyril Spencer
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Robert Spencer and Annie Unwin married in 1880 registered at Retford. The following year, being the 1881 census year, saw Annie living with her parents at Babworth, and 8 month old son named George Charles (or Charlie), whilst Robert Spencer was resident in his widowed mother’s house, possibly helping her run a 15 acre farm at 15 East Street, East Drayton. The couple settled in Babworth, Robert earning his living as a farm horseman. They had two more children, Francis (Frank) born 1883 and Fred born 1887. Around the 1892 time, the family had moved to East Drayton where Lilian was born in 1894, Walter two years later and Cyril in 1898. By 1901, Frank and Charlie had left the family home – Charlie working as a farm horseman in Babworth and Francis (Frank) had moved to Mansfield where he was working as a coal miner and later that year married Edith Mary Vincent Wightman at Mansfield. The marriage was followed up with three children, Francis, George and Lilian, all born in Mansfield. Robert at this time was working as a publican (probably at the Harrow Inn) and a road foreman for the Rural District Council. Cyril, being the youngest at 13 was still at school.
Cyril enlisted on January 1st 1917 at the age of 18 years and 8 months at Retford for the duration of the war. On the same day he made his will out leaving all his possessions to his mother. He joined the Training Reserves and later was transferred to the 4th Battalion ‘A’ Coy, North Staffordshire Regiment. He went to France with the British Expeditionary Force on 6th Oct 1917. After surviving for almost a year to the day, he was wounded in action of which he died on the 4th October 1918. He was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. His personal effects of letters, photos, pipe, wallet etc were returned to his mother from Infantry records in March 1919. Pte Cyril Spencer Retford Times 25th Oct 1918 Mr and Mrs R Spencer of the Harrow Inn, East Drayton have received the sad intelligence that their youngest son, Pte Cyril Spencer, died of gunshot wounds in France on October 4th 1918. He was 20 years of age and joined up in Jan 1917. He went to France in October of the same year with the North Staffs Regt and was wounded about six months ago, but was not sent home. Before enlisting he was employed by Mr J Storr of Morton, Retford. His brother, Captain F Spencer, was killed on September 26th 1917. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Spencer and family in this their second sad bereavement.
CWG additional information:- Son of Robert and Annie Spencer of East Drayton, Retford. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery 24.D.27A His brother Francis Spencer also died in the war. He was killed at Passchendaele on the 26/9/1917. Research by Colin Dannatt.
