Cpl 15904 Robert Lillie Spence

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 12th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Serre Rd No 2 Cem, B-hamel
  Panel Ref: V.C.1

Robert Lillie Spence (known as Bob) was born in late 1895 in Liverpool and was baptised in St. Augustine, Everton, on 18^th January 1896. He was the son of John Purves Spence and his wife Alice Elspeth (nee Shand), both from Liverpool, who were married in 1893 at West Derby Register office.  Robert was the second of eight children; his siblings were John, Alice, Ada, Ethel, Leonard, Stanley and Harold.  

By 1901 the family has moved to 32 Toft Street, off Holt Road, Edge Hill, where they remain. His father is described as a printer’s sterotyper. They have four children: John, 7, Robert, 5,  Alice, 3, and Ada, one year old.

In 1911 they now have six children; his father is a stereotyper, in general printing.  Robert is 15, working as a clerk in the sugar trade.  John, 17, is a stereotyper like their father.  Twins Stanley and Harold were born in 1912.  Before he enlisted, Robert was a clerk in the employ of Messrs. Graham, Son and Hay, sugar merchants in Liverpool.

Robert enlisted on 01^st September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool, as Private 15904, No.4 company, 17^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 19 years and 30 days, and his occupation as clerk.  He is described as being 5’ 7 and three quarter inches tall, weighing 138 lbs, with a sallow complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.  He gives his father as his next of kin, and his religion as C of E.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

Robert was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 05^th December 1914 and promoted to Corporal on 02^nd September 1915. 

In December the 17^th Battalion is sent to Englebelmer on the Somme front.  Robert was reprimanded on 21^st February 1916 for ‘neglect of duty as senior NCO of 15 platoon in not falling men in in proper time’.  In the new year the Pals battalions take up position in the south of the Somme line near Carnoy.  After specialist training at Abbeville for the ‘Big Push’ the battalions return to the front lines near Maricourt.  He was granted leave to the UK from 17^th to 23^rd June 1916, returning to his unit in time for the British bombardment in preparation for the coming battle.  Robert survived the first day of the Battle of the Somme, when the 17^th Bn achieved its objectives, but which cost the British Army nearly 20,000 killed.  On 10^th July the battalion is tasked with taking Trones Wood, still held by the Germans.

The murderous fighting that went on inside Trones Wood rendered it impossible to put specific dates on some of the casualties which is why many of the 17^th Battalion losses have been bracketed as killed in action between 10^th – 12th July 1916.The conditions are best described in the following passage from Everard Wyrall’s book The History of The King’s Regiment (Liverpool) Volume II. 

The remembrance of Trones Wood in July 1916 to those who passed through it is of a noisome, horrible place, of a tangled mass of trees and undergrowth which had been tossed and flung about in frightful confusion by the shells of both sides. Of the ghastly dead which lay about in all directions, and of DEATH, lurking in every hole and corner with greedy hands ready to snatch the lives of the unwary. The place was a Death trap, and although the attacks were made with great determination,   the presence of snipers who could not be detected and often fired into the backs of our men made the clearing of the wood impossible.

His family were informed of his death without much delay, as they posted in the Liverpool Daily Post on 20^th July 1916: 

 “July 12, killed in action aged 20 years, Corporal R. L. Spence (Pals), dearly loved second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Spence, of 32 Toft Street, Liverpool.”

In the Liverpool Echo on 24^th July 1916, under the heading

“A St. Cyprian’s Church Member: 

 Corporal R. L. Spence, of the “Pals”, second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Spence of 32 Toft Street, Liverpool, has been killed in action.  he joined the “Pals” on their formation.  At the time he was employed on the office staff of Messrs. Graham, Son and Hay, and was a prominent member of St. Cyprian’s Church, Edge Hill.”

Robert was 20 years old. He was initially buried in place as an “Unknown Soldier”, and later identified by “G.S. uniform, boots, titles”.  His body was exhumed and he was reburied and now rests at Serre Road Cemetery No.2, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, where his gravestone inscription reads,

“DUTY WAS HIS GUIDE EVEN UNTO DEATH”

In June 1916, the road out of Mailly-Maillet to Serre and Puisieux entered No Man's Land about 1,300 metres south-west of Serre. On 1 July 1916, the 31st and 4th Divisions attacked north and south of this road and although parties of the 31st Division reached Serre, the attack failed. The 3rd and 31st Divisions attacked once more on the 13 November, but again without success.

Early in 1917, the Germans fell back to the Hindenburg Line and on 25 February, Serre was occupied by the 22nd Manchesters. The village changed hands once more in March 1918 and remained under German occupation, until they withdrew in August.

In the spring of 1917, the battlefields of the Somme and Ancre were cleared by V Corps and a number of new cemeteries were made, three of which are now named from the Serre Road. Serre Road Cemetery No.2 was begun in May 1917 and by the end of the war it contained approximately 475 graves (Plots I and II, except for Row E, Plot II which was added in 1922 and Row AA, Plot I which was added in 1927), but it was greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the addition of further graves from the surrounding area.

There are now 7,127 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery, mostly dating from 1916. Of these, 4,944 are unidentified.

The cemetery, which was not completed until 1934, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

On the anniversary of his death one year later, in the Liverpool Daily Post of 13^th July 1917:

 “In loving memory of Robert L. Spence (Pals), killed in action July 12, 1916. (One of the best.) – Emmie” (Possibly a sweetheart.)

“In loving remembrance of Corporal R.L. Spence, 17^th K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action July 12, 1916. (though death divides, fond memory ever clings.  Fondly remembered by his Grandma and Aunts). – 65 Albert Edward Road.”

“In loving memory of Robert L. Spence (Bob), Pals, killed in action July 12, 1916. (Ever remembered by his Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins.) – 25 Silverdale Avenue.”

“In loving memory of Corporal R.L. Spence (our Bob), 17^th K.L.R. (Pals) who fell at Trones Wood, July 12, 1916, aged 20 years; also of his bosom friend Will Halsall, killed in action July 1. (Their motto in life was duty.  They nobly did their duty.) 

One year has passed, oh how we miss them.

Friends may think the wound is healed;

But little do they know the sorrow

That lies within our hearts concealed.

(Sadly missed by Father, Mother, Brothers, and Sisters.) – 32 Toft Street.”

Robert earned his three medals, which his father signed for on 5^th June 1920 and 2^nd September 1921.  His parents received Robert’s effects, Memorial Plaque and Scroll, and pension.

The following extract was the taken from www.everyoneremembered.org

Robert Lillie Spence enlisted in The King's Liverpool Regiment on 31st August 1914, in answer to Lord Derby's appeal for voluntary recruits.

He was one of the first thousand men in Liverpool to do so, and his Battalion (the 17th) became the first Pals Battalion.

He trained in the UK, and was shipped out to France at the end of 1915.

During the Battle of the Somme on 6th July 1916, Bob wrote to his Mother and Father:

"I am extremely thankful that I have come through without a scratch, and I do not put it down to luck, but to the Will of God ........ we cannot read the will of He who gives and takes away.  Many other good fellows have gone, and sacrificed all in an honourable death, but it is our duty to carry on, and we are going to do our best, cheerfully, and willingly up to the end.  

No doubt Liverpool is proud of us, as we are of Liverpool, but we have only done, and are doing, our duty.

With fondest love, I wish you all Good-Night, God bless you, Your loving son BOB ...... is still kicking". 

Bob was killed in action six days later on 12th July 1916.

In September 1928, Bob's father (John P. Spence) received a letter from the Imperial War Graves Commission:

"In the course of the work of removing the bodies of soldiers who were buried in isolated or scattered graves to cemeteries where the graves could be cared for and maintained, the body of an Unknown British Soldier of the King's Liverpool Regiment was found in the vicinity of Guillemont and the remains were carefully and reverently reburied in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, Beaumont Hamel, Plot 5, Row C, Grave 1.

When the removal was carried out, a piece of waterproof sheet was found bearing Corporal Spence's regimental particulars, thus proving, without doubt, that the body found is his." 

John P. Spence was then finally able to visit his son's grave. 

In July 2016, Bob's niece and great-niece (daughter and grand-daughter of his youngest brother Harold), visited Bob's grave on the Centenary of his death, and Bob finally received his medals. 

Lisa Clarke

His mother died in 1933 and his father in 1935.

Robert Spence is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 39   

St. Cyprian’s C of E Church, Edge Hill.

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