Name
Ernest Joseph Spence
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/30248
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
7th Bn.
'A' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 58 and 59.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Christ Church Memorial, Watford,
Islington Borough Book of Remembrance, London
Pre War
Son of Ernest Robert and Florence Dagmar (nee BARRETT) SPENCE of Watford.
His parents married 21 August 1897 at St Matthew’s, Islington, London. Florence died 1930 in Watford aged 54, and was buried 25 September in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Ernest died 17 September 1944 in Watford aged 70, and was buried 20 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Ernest was born 1 June 1898 in Islington, and attended Alexandra School, Watford, from 27 January 1908 to 25 July 1910. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 2 he lived in Canonbury, London, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 12, he lived in Watford, with his parents and no siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Tonbridge, Kent, and was formerly Private 3053 Yeomanry Cyclists. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and assumed killed in action.
Additional Information
Ernest is also commemorated on his mother’s grave in Watford Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF ERNEST JOSEPH SPENCE, [7TH ROYAL WEST KENTS] OUR [Ernest Robert & Florence Dagmar Spence] GALLANT SON, WHO FELL IN ACTION AT MOY, FRANCE MARCH 21. 1918, AGED 19 YEARS.
"GREATER LOVE HAS NO MAN THAN THIS."
Unfortunately, Ernest’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an In Memoriam for Ernest in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 15 March 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
