Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred Spencer, a railway wagon repairer, born in the January quarter of 1857 in Whetstone, Leicestershire (son of James Spencer, 1834-1919 and Emma Cox, 1835-1919) and his wife Emma Spencer (nee Bruin, married in the April quarter of 1885 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born in the July quarter of 1854 in Blaby, Leicestershire (daughter of James Bruin, 1825 and Ann Bowns, 1825). Alfred James was born in the April quarter of 1889 in Blaby, he had one sibling, Florence Annie, a schoolgirl, born on the 27th June 1887 in Blaby, in April 1891 the family home was at Sycamore Street, East Side, Blaby. In March 1901 Alfred was residing in the family home at Sycamore Street, Blaby, together with his father, a gas engine fitter, his mother and sibling, Florence, a stocking machinist. In April 1911 Alfred was employed as a boot and shoe trade machinist and was residing in the family home at Sycamore Street, Blaby, together with his father, a railway wagon repairer, his mother and sibling, Florence a boot and shoe trade machinist. On the 21st July 1915, James married Louisa Freeman in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, Louisa was born on the 27th July 1890 in Wigston, Leicestershire (daughter of Richard Freeman, 1863 and Harriet Farrar, 1864). In the October quarter of 1927, in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, Alfred’s widow married Harry Bircumshaw, a ladies and gents master outfitter, born on the 1st April 1903, in Leicester, in 1939 they were residing at 107, Little Glen Road, Leicester.
Alfred enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 10th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 28043. He gave his place of birth as Blaby, Leicestershire and age as 26 years 8 months. His marital status was given as married and his trade or calling as hosiery hand. He gave his present address as Sycamore Street, Blaby, Leicestershire.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 14th April 1916 and recorded his apparent age as 26 years 240 days, that he was 5-feet 4½ inches in height, weighed 116 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31¼ and 3¼ inches. He gave his religion as Wesleyan.
He gave his next of kin as his wife, Louisa Freeman Spencer, Sycamore Street, Blaby, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. In Leicester. 10/12/15.
Transferred. To Army Reserve. Pte. 10/12/15.
Mobilised. 14/4/16.
Posted. To 12th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 14/4/16.
Posted. To 12th Infantry Brigade Depot, France. 27/7/16.
Embarked. 27/7/16.
Disembarked. 28/7/16.
Joined. 12th Infantry Brigade Depot. 28/7/16.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 28/7/16.
Posted. To 6th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 27/8/16.
Joined. 6th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. In the Field. 29/8/16.
Killed in action. In the Field. 11/6/17.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 10/12/15 – 26/7/16. 230 days.
France. 27/7/16 – 11/6/17. 320 days.
Total Service. 1 year 185 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On the 4th January 1918, Alfred’s widow Louisa was awarded a weekly Army Pension of thirteen shillings and nine pence, to commence on the 7th January 1918.
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 for today records. CROISILLES. Battalion moved up to the front line and took over a frontage extending from PLUM TRENCH (inclusive) to the SENSEE RIVER (exclusive). Dispositions were as follows: - (A) Battalion HQ at T.18.b.8.1. (B) A Company held HUMBER TRENCH and BURG TRENCH from PLUM LANE (inclusive). (C) B Company held HUMBER TRENCH and BURG TRENCH from SAP TRENCH (exclusive) to LUMP LANE (exclusive). (D) C Company held LUMP LANE from BURG TRENCH to TUNNEL TRENCH at U.7.b.50.25. (E) D Company held River Posts at U.7.b.3.7, U.7.b.1.6 and U.7.a.9.5.
On Saturday June 30th 1917, The Leicester Mail published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” - (A photograph accompanied the article). Private A. J. Spencer, of Blaby, attached to the Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on June 11th. His wife lives at Station Road, South Wigston.