Sgt 16486 Harry Spencer

• Age: 30
• From: Derby
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 25th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Huts Cem, Dickebusch
  Panel Ref: IV.B.1

Harry Spencer was born on the 18th May 1887 at Derby the son of Frederick Spencer and his wife Ann (née Morley) who were married on the 07th April 1875 at St Peter's Church, Derby. Frederick was a shoemaker of Bradshaw Street, his father, George, was a labourer, whilst Ann had the same address, her father, William, was a farmer.

Harry was baptised with his younger brother Harold on the 08th October 1891 at St Luke's Church, Derby, their father a shoemaker of 44 Freehold Street. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 44 Freehold Street, Derby. His father, Frederick, is aged 40, and is a shoemaker, born in Barrow-on-Trent, his mother, Ann, is aged 36, born Boylstone. The elder children are at school, George is aged 13, Sam is aged 9, Trevor is aged 8, Fred is aged 7, with Harry aged 3 and Harold aged 1. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are still living at 44 Freehold Street, Derby. His father, Frederick, is aged 50 and employed as a boot-maker and his mother, Ann, is aged 46 with no occupation listed. They have six children living with them at the time of the Census; George is aged 23, and is a boot shop assistant, Sam is aged 19 and is an apprentice Smith in an engineering works, Trevor is aged 18, and is a fitter of malleable iron castings, Fred is aged 17 and is a baker’s apprentice, Harry is aged 13 and is a GPO telegraph messenger and Harold is aged 11.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 74 Belgrave Street, Derby. His father Frederick is aged 60, born in Barrow on Trent in 1851 and is a foreman shoemaker whilst his mother Ann is aged 56, born 1855 in Boylston. They have been married for thirty six years and have had ten children of which two had died, Those listed on the Census are Harry aged 23, born 1888 occupation chemist assistant, Harold aged 21, born 1890 a French polisher and also at the address is Samuel Spencer aged 64, born 1847 occupation marine dealer from Barrow on Trent.

It is not known when Harry moved to Liverpool.

He enlisted on 02nd September 1914, at St George's Hall in Liverpool, aged 27 years and 115 days, he gave his occupation as a Chemist and had been an apprentice in Derby which expired in 1906. He was descirbed as being five feet five and half inches tall, weighed 113lbs, with a 35” chest, with a sallow complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and next of kin his father, Frederick, of 74 Belgrave Street, Derby. This was later changed to his wife Eliza at 30 Devonshire Road, Birkenhead. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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.

On 10th March 1915, Harry married Eliza Groom at Christ Church, Claughton. Harry was a 28 year old soldier of 72 Slater Street, his father, Frederick, was a shoemaker, whilst Eliza was aged 30, of the same address, her father, Walter, was an engine driver. Eliza was born 1885 and baptised on 05th April 1885 in St John’s Church, Birkenhead. 

On 07th November 1915 Harry embarked for France with his battalion.

He was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Sergeant No 16486 when he died of wounds on the 25th August 1917 in 96 Field Ambulance, aged 30, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The Battalion War Diary records:  August 22^nd, in trenches. The battalion took over the front line system left sector, relieving the 46^th Australian Infantry Battn, No. 2 Coy on the left, No.4 on the right, No.1 in support, and No.3 in reserve. Casualties recorded on August 25^th: 4 Killed, 7 Wounded, 1 Died of Wounds. 

Harry was the man recorded as died of wounds, the wounds were received on the same day as he died alongside his comrades listed in the 18th Battalion Diary as:

Private 16289 George Brough, Private 24765 William Burrows,  Corporal 16466 Thomas Clayton Lindsay and Private 52437 William Ridgway

This cemetery takes its name from a line of huts strung along the road from Dickebusch (now Dikkebus) to Brandhoek, which were used by field ambulances during the 1917 Allied offensive on this front. Plots I to X and XII to XIV were filled between July and November 1917. Plots XV and XI followed. Nearly two-thirds of the burials are of gunners as many artillery positions existed nearby.

The cemetery was closed in April 1918 when the German advance (the Battle of the Lys) brought the front line very close. The advance was finally halted on the eastern side of the village, following fierce fighting at Dickebusch Lake, on 8 May.

There are now 1,094 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

We currently have no further information on Harry Spencer, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.