Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

Pair: Captain George Spencer, Artists’s Rifles and 20th London Regiment, attached Rifle Brigade, a Cambrai casualty

British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); together with memorial plaque (George Spencer) the medals contained in contemporary glazed bronzed display frame, the plaque contained in a leather display stand, both of these surmounted by bronzed Rifle Brigade cap badges, extremely fine (3) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of of Great War Medals to the Rifle Brigade.

View
Collection

George Spencer was born in 1886 and was educated at Winchester and University College London, where he was a student of the Faculty of Engineering, 1903-05. He became a director of George Spencer, Moulton & Co. A keen golfer, he was a member of the Blackheath, Sunningdale and Surrey Golf Clubs. He enlisted in the Artist’s Rifles, 28th London Regiment, 2 September 1914, rose to the rank of sergeant and in February 1915 was commissioned in the Artist’s. He was employed on training duties in the U.K. until November 1916 when, although transferred to the 20th London Regiment, he joined the 1st Bn. Artist’s Rifles in France. Six days later, on 17 November he was attached to the 11th (S) Bn. Rifle Brigade, in which he commanded a company with acting rank of Captain in January & February 1917. On 17 March 1917 he went sick and from June 1917 was found fit for base duties, serving at Cinder City Camp, Le Havre. From 30 September to 15 November 1917 he commanded 891st Employment Company, Labour Corps. He then rejoined the 11th R.B. on 29 November 1917, the eve of the German counter-attack at Cambrai. The battalion was in the Hindenberg Support Line when the attack came at 7.30 a.m., heralded by a barrage of high explosive, smoke and mustard gas shells. The front line broke but 11th R.B. held firm all morning, repulsing four German attacks although their flanks were in the air. Spencer was wounded in the foot, but remained at duty in the front line. The following day was quieter, but during it Spencer was severely wounded by a shell. Apparently he was still not evacuated as he was wounded once more on 2 December, a day of extremely stiff fighting as the Germans again counter-attacked. Later in the day the battalion was relieved and George Spencer was taken to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station where he Died of Wounds on 4 December 1917. He is buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery. (The only Captain G. Spencer in the 1914-18 Army List & the only George Spencer officer casualty).

Sold with several copy photos and much additional research.