Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick Buckel Spence, a house painter journeyman, born on the 12th April 1857 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire (son of Joseph Spence, 1822-1883 and Sarah Elliott, 1823-1899) and his wife Elizabeth Jane Spence (nee Voss, married on the 25th December 1876 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna), born in the January quarter of 1856 in Wigston Magna and baptised on the 7th September 1856 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna (daughter of Benjamin Voss, 1819 and Sarah Jane Needham, 1831-1930). Ralph Edwin, was born in the July quarter of 1893 in Wigston Magna and was baptised on the 17th September 1893 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, his siblings were, Laura Annie, a hosiery trade shirt welter, born on the 16th April 1879 and baptised on the 1st June 1879 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, Alice Maud, a hosiery trade linker, born on the 26th April 1885 and baptised on the 7th June 1885 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, Miriam Jessie, a hosiery factory errand girl, born on the 1st September 1887 and baptised on the 6th November 1887 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, Oswald Frederick, born on the 2nd May 1890 and baptised on the 6th July 1890 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna and Nora Edith, born on the 3rd November 1897 and baptised on the 15th February 1899 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Maga, all his siblings were born in Wigston Magna, also residing with the family was Ralph’s widowed maternal grandmother, Sarah Jane Voss, a laundress, born 1831 in Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire, in March 1901 the family home was at 9, Burgess Street, Wigston Magna. In April 1911 Ralph was employed as an iron foundry moulder, and was residing in the family home at Burgess Street, Wigston Magna, together with his father, a furniture maker’s French polisher and painter, his mother and siblings, Miriam, a hosiery trade machinist, Oswald, a hosiery trade machine operator, Nora, a hosiery trade linker and Clifford Douglas, born on the 3rd March 1902 in Wigston Magna and baptised on the 2nd November 1904 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, also residing with the family was Ralph’s widowed maternal grandmother, Sarah Jane Voss. Ralph also had the following siblings, Albert Edward, born in the April quarter of 1877 in Wigston Magna and baptised on the 6th May 1877 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna and who died in the January quarter of 1878 in Wigston Magna, Ethel Elizabeth, born in the October quarter of 1881 in Wigston Magna and baptised on the 23rd November 1881 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna and who died aged 1 year, in the April quarter of 1883 in Wigston Magna.
Ralph enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force Reserve on the 24th March 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 4227. He gave his present address as 50, Burgess Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Leicester on the 24th March 1915 and recorded his birthplace as Wigston, declared age as 21 years 8 days, that he was 5-feet 5 inches in height, weighed 116 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 34 inches.
His medical inspection record gave his full name as Ralph Edwin Spence, his apparent age as 21 years 8 months, his height as 5-foot 5 inches, his chest measurement as 31½ inches to 34 inches, his vison as D6/D6 and his physical development as good.
He was considered fit for the territorial Force on the 24th march 1915 in Leicester.
He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Frederick Butle Spence, mother, Mrs. E. Spence, 50, Burgess Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Leicester. 24/3/15.
Posted. To 2/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 24/3/15.
Embodied service commenced. 24/3/15.
Transferred. To 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 15/5/15.
Embarked. From Southampton. 19/8/15.
Disembarked. At Rouen. 20/8/15.
Missing in action. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Body found by Officer Commanding 1st Bn. Scots Guards.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 24/3/15 – 19/8/15. 149 days.
France. 20/8/15 – 13/10/15. 55 days.
Total Service. 204 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On the 3rd November 1916, Ralph’s mother Elizabeth, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of five shillings, to commence on the 7th November 1917.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-15 - At 9.00 am Battalion marched to SAILLY LABOURSE. Dinners and teas were cooked here. Rations for 134 men issued. At 5.15 pm Battalion marched to VERMELLES where stores were taken up. At 11.00 pm Battalion arrived in trenches.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Saturday, November 20th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Pte. R. SPENCER, of the Leicester’s, is reported missing since October 13th. His family residing at 50, Burgess-street, Wigston Magna, would be glad to hear anything concerning him.
On Monday, November 22nd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. – LEICESTERS: FALLEN AND MISSING - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. R. SPENCE, 4th Leicester’s, missing since Oct. 13th. His home was at 50, Burgess-street, Wigston Magna.
On Friday December 3rd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page five, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – DEATHS. – SPENCE. – Killed in action, on the 13th October, 4227 Pte. R. Spence, 1/4th Leicester Regiment second son of Mr. and Mrs. Spence, 50, Burgess-street, Wigston Magna, age 21 years.
On Saturday, December 4th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. – Leicestershire and the War. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private R. SPENCE [4227], 1/4th Leicester Regiment, previously reported missing, is now officially reported killed on October 13th, in the charge on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Before the war he was a core maker at the Milton Iron Works, Leicester. He is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Spence, 50, Burgess-street, Wigston Magna, who have another son wounded.
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