Name
Cecil Wilfred Spicer
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/11/1916
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Lincolnshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 1 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary The Virgin Church Memorial Plaque, Stanstead St Margaret’s,
Hoddesdon Congregational Church Memorial, (now in) United Reformed Church, Hoddesdon
Pre War
Born May 14th 1879, one of nine children, and in 1881was living at Highlands, Putney Heath with his parents Herbert and Martha. In the 1891 census the family was living in Hambledon Surrey. In the 1911 census he does not appear as he was living in Canada, but his family were living at Cranbourne, St Margarets. In 1899 at the outbreak of the Boer War as he was in India he joined the Indian Mounted Infantry Corps. Also known as Lumsden’s Horse, a volunteer unit. They provided their own equipment and some horses, but most animals were given by wealthy Indian rulers. They arrived in South Africa at the end of 1899 and fought there until 1901. During this time Cecil took part in over 80 engagements.
Wartime Service
Joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 14th December 1914 (with his brother Maurice) He was posted to 32nd Infantry Battalion, but due to his military experience he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in January 1916 in the 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. He was later transferred to the Lincolnshire Regiment and was wounded in action early in 1916 but on recovery he was posted back to his unit. On 2nd October 1916 he was leading his men in an attack on Transloy Ridge when he was wounded again, he continued leading his men until he was fatally wounded.
Additional Information
The Spicer brothers are also commemorated on a headstone in Hoddesdon Cemetery, currently we do not have a transcription of the words.
Acknowledgments
Terry Collins
