No.2801, Lance Corporal, Albert Edward SPENCER
Aged 26
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Born in 1889 (2nd qtr Sleaford 7a:472) son of John Frederick and Betsy SPENCER (née WILLIAMSON)
1891 census...Aged 2, he was at 19 Sidney Street, Manthorpe with Little Gonerley, Grantham, with his father John Frederick SPENCER [38] tailor born Billingbrough; his mother Betsy [39]; brothers Edgar [8], Percy [6] and Frank [5]. All except his father were born in Sleaford. 1901 census...Aged 12, he was at 2 Market Street, King's Lynn with his parents; brothers Percy (railway clerk) and Frank (french polisher). 1911 census...Aged 22, a grocer's assistant, he was boarding at 34 Garland Street, Bury St.Edmunds with George and Mary HAMMOND |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
The 5th Suffolks embarked for Gallipoli on July 30th 1915 from Liverpool on HMT Aquitania. On August 6th they reached the Greek island of Mudros and transferred to the smaller Fauvette which took them into Sulva Bay on 10th August. In the 1st five days they lost 190, killed wounded or missing, in addition to over 150 sick with dysentery. At the time Frederick is listed as killed they were in reserve trenches, only harassed by sniper fire and shrapnel. The daily ration of water for all purposes was only 1/2 pint, increased after three days to 1 pint, so washing was very definitely not considered. 51 of the 5th Suffolks are recorded as having died on 21st August, all are commemorated on the Helles Memorial, having no known graves. The reason there were none listed as killed in the preceding days is that it had not been possible to do a roll call for some days and those killed in the fierce fighting on the 12th to try and take the heights known as Kavak Tepe and Teke Tepe were eventually officially listed as dying on the 21st.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
