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Name : Henry Charles (Harry) Spencer. Son of William Arthur Spencer and Emily Jane Spencer (née Scammell), of 2, Malbro Villas, Western Rd., Shanklin; husband of Rose Winifred Spencer, of "Oberon", Hatherton Rd., Shanklin, Isle of Wight. Born 1888 Shanklin. Married 1914, Rose Winifred Wickenden. |
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Census Information :
1891 : William and Emily Spencer, with their children including Henry aged 2, are at Landguard Road, Shanklin. William Spencer is a Carpenter. 1901 : William and Emily Spencer, with their children including Henry aged 12, are at 3 Penbrooke , Brook Road, Shanklin. William Spencer is a Carpenter. 1911 : William and Emily Spencer, with their children including Henry aged 22, are at 3 Penbrook Villa, Brook Road, Shanklin. William Spencer is a Carpenter and Joiner; Henry Spencer is a Whitesmith. |
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Service details : Sapper 49210 Henry Charles Spencer, 88th Field Coy., Royal Engineers. | |
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Died : 25 January 1917 aged 28 Commemorated at : Basra Memorial, Mesopotamia (now Iraq). CWGC record ... |
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Commemorated on these Memorials :
Shanklin War Memorial St Blasius' Church, Shanklin, Roll of Honour (Spencer, H.G.) St Saviour's Church, Shanklin, War Memorial County War Memorial, Carisbrooke Castle Harry Spencer is named in the IW Football Association Roll of Honour |
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Documents and Newspaper cuttings :
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, February 16, 1917 Page 5 Well-Known Ventnor Footballer killed in Action. AN APPRECIATION Followers of Ventnor Football will hear with deep regret of the death in action of Harry Spencer, of Shanklin, the well-known and talented player, who started his career as a footballer with Shanklin St. Saviour's and Ventnor, where he showed great promise, but failed to get a regular place in the Ventnor XI owing to the then brilliant form being shown by Hart, (*) who alas has also passed to the great unknown. Spencer, however, was quickly signed on by Sandown for their Hants League team, eventually joining Cowes and being their regular Hants League goalkeeper, and there is no doubt but that he would have made an even bigger reputation in higher class football had not this terrible conflict, in which he bore such an honourable part, broken out. On the outbreak of war he at once joined up in the Royal Engineers, and was badly wounded in the shoulder at Hooge, in France, in July, 1915, spending some time in hospital in this country and then being sent to the Persian Gulf where he has now made the great sacrifice, dying as he had lived in playing his part on the field of battle as he had so often done on the playing fields; for a better sportsman never took part in the game. Apart from his ability as a goalkeeper, he could play in any position on the field, and several times assisted Ventnor in the 1913-14 season at left half back, a position which he filled with credit, being a rare worker and breaker up of combination. Sport will be all the poorer for his loss, as in addition to his prowess as a player he was one of the most popular of men for his sterling character endearing him to all he came into contact with. Great sympathy will be extended to his young widow in her sad loss for he was married only a short time before he joined up. (*) Douglas Allen HART was the only son of Mr and Mrs W A HART, of South View, Madeira Road, Ventnor. His death was reported in the Isle of Wight Mercury of 13 November 1914. He was described as a sportsman in the highest sense of the term, and did good service for the Ventnor Football Club for several seasons as goalkeeper. About five years previously he had left Ventnor to take up a responsible position in Watford where he had taken over the management of a wine and spirit store. He was aged 31 years. (Advertisements in the Isle of Wight Mercury show that his father, W A HART, was a wine and spirit importer of 34 High Street, Ventnor.) FreeBMD confirms a death for Douglas A HART, aged 31 in the Watford Registration District, in the December quarter of 1914. |
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Acknowledgments :
Janet Griffin for additional newspaper research |
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Page status :
Page last updated : 30 May 2012 (added information regarding Douglas Hart) |
Memorials & Monuments
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