Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick Spence, a journeyman blacksmith, born 1880 in Melbourne, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Ann Spence (nee Walter, married in the 4th quarter of 1899 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1879 in Boston, Lincolnshire. William Charles was born on the 22nd November 1899 in Knossington, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Braunston Road, Knossington. In April 1911 William was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Knossington, together with his father, a blacksmith, his mother and siblings, Albert, born 1904, Kathleen, born 1907 and Walter, born 1909, all his siblings were born in Knossington.
William enlisted into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve to serve for the duration of hostilities on the 9th September 1918. He gave his date and place of birth as the 22nd November 1899 in Leicestershire. His reckonable service to commence on 16/9/18 and he was allocated the service number Bristol Z/81508 in Bristol, Gloucestershire. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8½ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of 35 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had 2 vaccination marks on his left arm. He gave his trade or calling as farm labourer. His record of service began when he joined HMS Victory VI as an Ordinary Seaman on the 16/9/18 – 10/10/18. William’s character was recorded as very good and his ability as satisfactory. William died of broncho pneumonia and cardiac failure.