Albert Spencer
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Frederick Spencer married Elizabeth Gilbert in 1881 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. Elizabeth was also known to be called Bessie or Betsy. John was a journeyman (or travelling) tailor. By the end of the decade they had 4 children, all boys. They were Edgar, Percy, Frank and Albert. In 1891 they had moved from Sleaford and were living at Manthorpe cum Little Gonerby. 10 years later, the family had moved again, this time outside the county, to 5 Market Street, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, probably due to their father’s work as a journeyman tailor. Percy and Frank were now working, Percy as a railway clerk and Frank as a cabinet maker and French polisher. 1904, Percy married Ethel Bannister at Spilsby and had a son, John Frederick, named after his father. In 1908 at Kings Lynn. John Frederick died aged 56. By 1911, the mother, Betsy, was still living in Kings Lynn at 10 Blackfriars Road with son Edgar, and 3 boarders. Frank was now living at 171, Carlton Road, Worksop as a boarder with the Wilde family who were all in the furniture business and, the youngest, Albert, was working as a grocers assistant, resident as a boarder at 34 Garland Street, Bury St Edmunds. It was from here that Albert enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment
Lance-Corpl Albert Spencer Worksop Guardian 10 September 1915 It is with much regret and with sorrow which will be shared by many of our readers, that we have to record the death in action of Lance-Corpl Albert Spencer, 2801, of the 5th Suffolk Regiment, which occurred on August 12th in the Gallipoli Peninsular. Lance-Corpl Spencer was a brother of Mr Frank Spencer, who for some years has worked for Messrs. Eyre and sons, house furnishers, Chesterfield and Worksop, at their Worksop branch. His mother has lived in Gateford Road, Worksop for some time and still resides there. The deceased soldier was not a native of the town, but paid many visits and made a wide circle of friends. The news of his death will cause deep regret, and we are expressing the feelings of our many readers of these lines when we express our deep sympathy with his mother and relatives. Although it is an hour of bitter trial for them, they will, we are confident, find consolation, and maybe comfort in the fact that poor Albert has not paid the price in vain. His fighting, and the similar efforts of his colleagues, won the day, despite overwhelming odds. And then again, he died “For my England, for my England ” as Rudyard Kipling has said and could not have desired a more glorious death. We have not any particulars of how he died, though the news is unfortunately confirmed by the ‘powers that be’. Nevertheless, we may be very sure that the gallant soldier died as he had lived, cheerful, steady, well conducted and unflinching in the hour of danger. Like his brother Frank, Albert was prominently associated with an operatic society. He was connected with the Bury Society and by the way, we hear that nearly all his singing confieres who enlisted have met with a similar fate. He was a constant attender at the Congregational Church during his many visits to Worksop.
Commemorated on the Helles Memorial. Research by Colin Dannatt
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