DE VERE, Spencer
| Service Number: | 3352 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 October 1916, Roma, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Barcaldine, Queensland, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Roma, Maranoa, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway clerk |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Belgium, 8 August 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Messines Ridge British Cemetery Plot 1, Row C, Grave 22. Headstone inscription reads: Abide with me |
| Tree Plaque: |
Roma Heroes Avenue
|
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Roma Cenotaph, Town of Roma and Shire of Bungil WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3352, Roma, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3352, 4th Pioneer Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Nov 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3352, 4th Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 8 Aug 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3352, 4th Pioneer Battalion, Third Ypres |
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Son of Horace Arthur De Vere and Esther Lucia (Eaton) De Vere
"Great local sympathy has been felt for the bereaved relatives since the sad news became circulated that Sapper Spencer De Vere had been killed in action in France. Sapper De Vere was a local volunteer who enlisted last November, and prior to that time had been in Roma for about three years, employed in the Railway Department. A little over two years ago he was married to the eldest daughter of Mr. George Adcock, Roma. He sailed from Brisbane in November last, and had only been on the Western Front about six weeks, when the report was received that he had been killed on August 8. Deep sympathy is extended to his young widow and child." - from the Western Star and Roma Advertiser 25 Aug 1917 (nla.gov.au)
"Our Volunteer Forces.
The following is from the last letter received from Pt. Spencer De Vere, who was killed in action on August 8:- Somewhere in Belgium, July 21, 1917.-
My dear Wife and Mother: This is rather inconvenient having to write two letters in one, but we only have one envelope issued to us a week, so I have to economise: I am on a very busy part of the front, though now a bit slack. We carried a big offensive here very successfully, and now things are a little easy. I have been here a fortnight, and have been very lucky, just; missing shells by a miracle. The first night I was out, the fellow along side of me was knocked to pieces, and I never got a scratch. I stopped with him till the stretcher-bearers came up, and Fritz was throwing shells about every where, knocking four others close handy, and never a fragment coming near me. This is a terrible letter, but it is the best one can do. We were camped about two miles behind the front lines and Fritz blew us out last Sunday ; not before he got some of us. Cyril Kruck, from Roma, had his hand blown off a few days ago. I believe we are going to be shifted again. Whenever there is hard fighting, the Australians get their share. A new offensive is starting on some other front. You should see my little dug-out, it is funny, the walls will be falling in on me one of these days. Every time Fritz throws a shell, the sides rock in and out. I saw my cousin, Sam Rudgley, from Sydney; he had his two legs blown off while I was speaking to him. I must say good-bye, good luck. I will soon be back for Xmas." - from the Western Star and Roma Advertiser 10 Nov 1917 (nla.gov.au)
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