Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Spicer, a farm labourer, born 1868 in Wymeswold, Leicestershire and his wife Alice Basford Spicer (nee Fletcher, married in the 1st quarter of 1892 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1870 in Wymeswold. John Edward, a schoolboy, was born in the 4th quarter of 1896 in Wymeswold, his siblings were, George William, a schoolboy, born in the 2nd quarter of 1893, Mary Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 1895 and Bertie, a schoolboy, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Wymeswold, in March 1901 the family home was in Brook Street, Wymeswold. In April 1911 John was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home in Brook Street, Wymeswold, residing there was his father a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, Mary, Bertie, a schoolboy and Hilda, born 1901 in Wymeswold. John’s elder brother George also fell in action. John first entered the theatre of war on the 12th September 1915 in Egypt. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals.