Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 21784 James Spencer

Age: 20
From: Liverpool
Regiment: 4TH KINGS
Died on Monday 26th February 1917
Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8C

James Spencer was born in Liverpool in 1896, the son of Fred Spencer and his wife Susannah (née Tasker). His father, from Derbyshire, and his mother, born in Liverpool, married in 1892 at West Derby Register Office and had ten children. James had an older brother Samuel, and younger siblings Fred, Florence, John, Garnett, Gertrude, George, Edith, and Ernest. He was baptised on 28th June 1896 in St. Mary’s Church, Walton.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 14 Cockerell Street, Kirkdale, with four children. His father is aged 31, a stoker on a steamship, born Middleton, Derbyshire, mother Susan is 27, James is 5, Fred is 3, and Florrie 1. Relatives Robert and Mary Ramsay is also present.

A daughter, Gertrude, was born in 1904 but died at five weeks.

By the time of the 1911 Census the family have moved and are living at 34 Gladstone Road, Walton, Liverpool. His father, aged 43, is a ship’s stoker (marine service), his mother is aged 37. They advised that they have been married for 18 years, and have had 7 children, 6 of whom have survived. All six of the surviving children are declared in the household; Samuel is 16, a general labourer in a rubber works, James is 14, a baker’s shop errand boy, Fred, 13, and Florence, 11, are at school, John is 8 and Garnett 4.

Later in 1911, another child George was born, but sadly died at three weeks, and the family added two more children, Edith in 1913, and Ernest in 1915.

James enlisted in Liverpool on the 13th November 1914, as Private 21784, joining the 19th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 19 years and 5 months (in fact he was only 18) and his occupation as clerk. He was described as being 5’ 4” tall, weighing 116 lbs, 34” chest, with a fresh complexion and brown hair and eyes. He stated his religion as Church of England and next of kin as his father, Fred Spencer, at 34 Gladstone Road.

The 19th Battalion moved to newly built hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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.

His service papers show that on 19th August 1915 he was posted to Cyclist Coy, 30th Division, for one month before being transferred back to the 19th.

On 16th June 1916 he was admitted to 97th Field Ambulance, sick, then onward to No.5 Casualty Clearing Station, then to 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen, and transferred to the U.K. on Hospital Ship “Western Australia” on 21st June 1916. He was admitted to No.6 Surrey County Hospital in Guildford with nephritis and discharged on 28th July 1916.

While in the U.K. whilst recuperating, on 05th October 1916 he was posted to the 3rd (Garrison) Bn.

On 15th January 1917 while at Cosheston (Pembrokeshire, Wales), for being absent from tattoo, James was deprived of three days’ pay and confined to barracks for 14 days.

On 23rd January 1917 he was posted to Infantry Base Depot and embarked for France the next day 24th January 1917, to 24th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples upon arrival on 25th January. He joined the 4th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment in the field on 21st February 1917.

Just five days later, James was killed in action on 26th February 1917 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Express on the 23rd March 1917;

“Pte. James Spencer, of the K.L.R. (Pals), was killed on Feb. 26th in his 21st year. He was an old boy of St. Athanasius School, Kirkdale. He joined the Army in November, 1914, and went to France for the second time on Jan. 22nd. He resided with his parents at 34, Gladstone-road, Walton.”

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Express on 23rd March 1917;

“Pte. James Spencer, of the K.L.R. (Pals), was killed on Feb. 26th in his 21st year. He was an old boy of St. Athanasius School, Kirkdale. He joined the Army in November, 1914, and went to France for the second time on Jan. 22nd. He resided with his parents at 34, Gladstone-road, Walton.”

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported in the Liverpool Express on 23rd March 1917:

“Pte. James Spencer, of the K.L.R. (Pals), was killed on Feb. 26th in his 21st year. He was an old boy of St. Athanasius School, Kirkdale. He joined the Army in November, 1914, and went to France for the second time on Jan. 22nd. He resided with his parents at 34, Gladstone-road, Walton.”

James earned his three medals.

His documents were received in the pension office from the paymaster a year later, in February 1918. The pension card shows that a pension of 6/- a week was awarded from February 1918, but also notes, “Claimant(?) refuses to sign L.C.”. His mother received his Army effects, Army Pay(two payments of 2s 8d and 11s 4d), and a War Gratuity of £10.

His older brother Sam enlisted in the 5th K.L.R., arrived in France on 21st February 1915, achieved the rank of Sergeant, and was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. He suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm and was discharged on 11th February 1919 with a Silver War Badge and a 20% disability pension.

His younger brother Fred enlisted on 16th May 1916, when he was 18 years old. He went to France as soon as he turned 19, on 01st March 1917. He served with the East Lancs Regiment, Lancashire Fusiliers, and R.A.M.C. He was awarded the Military Medal in 1918 and was discharged to the Reserve in December 1919.

His family paid tribute to James in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 01 March 1919;

ROLL OF HONOUR.

SPENCER—In loving memory of Pte James Spencer, K.L.R., aged 20 years, who was killed in France, Feb 26, 1917. When alone in sorrow, and bitter tears flow,

There stealeth a dream of sweet long ago;

Unknown to the world he stands by my side,

And whispers: Dear mother, death cannot divide.

- Sadly missed by father, mother, sisters, and brothers, 34 Gladstone Road, Walton.

On the 1921 Census at Gladstone road his father is away at sea, mother Susannah is aged 47, Samuel is 26, a dock labourer, Fred, 23, a labourer, Florence, 22, confectionery worker, Garnett 15, office boy, Edith 7 and Ernest 5.

His mother died in 1932, aged 58.

In 1939 his father was still in Gladstone Road, with daughter Edith. He died in 1944, aged 74.

James is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance situated inside the Town Hall on Panel 40.

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