Name
George Arthur Spencer
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/05/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/7027
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PONT-DU-HEM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE
V. B. 23.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
He was born in Hitchin and was living there when he enlisted in Hertford. His home address was 23, St. Andrew's Rd, Hitchin.
Wartime Service
George received the Regimental Number 4/7027. He volunteered in August 1914 and went to France a short while later. He was engaged in the Retreat from Mons, at Loos and at Ypres where he was wounded. He was killed in action serving with the 2nd Battalion although he seems to have served in various Battalions of the Regiment.
The Battalion had moved into trenches known as the ‘Indian Village’ sector at the Battle of Festubert and an attack began at dawn on the German trenches. The assault had to begin from a communications trench which meant crossing 50 yards of completely open country resulting in many men being killed or wounded. High explosive, shrapnel and machine-gun fire were responsible for most of the casualties.
He was buried in Plot 5, Row B, Grave 23 in Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue Nord in France.
Additional Information
His headstone states that he was killed on the 8th May.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
