Joseph Spencer
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- Military History
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Joseph was born in 1889 in Basford and was the son of Joseph a wood carver and corporation labourer and Elizabeth Spencer née Hutchby of 13/14 Albert Place, Mill Street, Basford, Nottingham. His father Joseph was born in 1859 in Kinoulton, Nottinghamshire and his mother Elizabeth Hutchby was born in 1863 in Nottingham, they were married in 1882 in Basford and went on to have 11 children, sadly three were to die in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, Sarah b1884, Rebecca b1888, Joseph b1889, Kate b1894, George b1896, Annie b1898, Thomas b1903 and Nellie b1905, all the children were born in Basford. In the 1911 census the family are living at 13/14 Albert Place, Mill Street, Basford and are shown as Joseph 52 yrs a corporation labourer, he is living with his wife Elizabeth and their children, Sarah 27 yrs a laundry sorter, Rebecca 23 yrs a laundry ironer, Kate 17 yrs working in the tobacco industry, George 15 yrs a hosiery trimmer, Annie 13 yrs as scholar, Thomas 8 yrs a scholar and Nellie 6 yrs. Also present at the address are Henry Hutchby 50 yrs and his son Albert Hutchby 12 yrs both are described as lodgers. Their son Joseph now 23 yrs has left the family home and joined the Army and is a serving soldier, a private with the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters; the battalion is in barracks in India at the time of the 1911 census.
Private Joseph Spencer was a career soldier. He enlisted in Nottingham and served with the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters. In the 1911 census he is with his battalion in barracks in India. He landed in France on 4th November 1914 and was killed in action at La Bassée, January 31st, 1915. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
'In Memoriam' notice published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 31st January 1916:- “SPENCER. – In loving memory of Private J. Spencer, killed in action at La Bassée, January 31st, 1915. A light is from our household gone, a voice we loved is still, a place is vacant in our home which never can be filled. – From his loving mother, father, sisters, and brothers (one in France).” Above 'In Memoriam' notice courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father Joseph was his legatee. His brother, Pte. George Spencer, 11th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, was killed in action on 1st July 1916. He is buried in Martsart British Cemetery, Somme, France.
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