Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Grace Spencer (father unknown), Aubrey Watts Spencer, was born in Yongala, South Australia on the 5th of October 1896. He lived on 18 Oxenbould Street Parkside. Aubrey was an electrician who enlisted at Adelaide on the 4th of August 1915. His service number was 3282 and he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Battalion and later moved to the 32nd Infantry Battalion.  He was 5 feet and 8 inches tall (172 cm), which was a bit more than the average height at the time of 5’ 6”. He was in the junior cadets when he was younger and that aided in his enlistment. 

His records show that he was 18 years and 11 months when he enlisted, he stood at 5’ 8”, weighed 127 pounds (58 kg), had a chest measurement of 31.33 inches (80 cm), and was of fair complexion with blue eyes and fair hair.

On the 18th of December 1915 and the 3rd of January 1916, he was punished twice for being absent without leave. Records say he has a “fair” character on one form and a “good” character on a different form, so this was unexpected for him.

He embarked on the January 12th, 1916. He was part of the 7th Reinforcements in the 27th Infantry Battalion. There is no information about the battles he fought in, but he had a victory medal. This meant he did fight in one or more battles that his battalion did win.

Aubrey Watts Spencer suffered from gastritis in Egypt when he was stationed at Ferry Post, Ismailia. He was transferred to the Australian Casualty Clearing Station from the 9th to the 10th of May 1916.

He later was transferred to the 32nd Infantry Battalion on the 24th of June 1916. He was unable to fight in any battles, as he got sick 6 days later. There was also no information on any battles he could have fought in.

He then later contracted pleural effusion, a lung disease, when he was in Ismailia (exact location unknown). He embarked from Suez on the 30th of June 1916. He arrived in Australia on the 24th of July 1916, and he was discharged. The reason given was Pleurisy and Effusion. He went back to Sydney from Suez.

He enlisted again on the 4th of August 1916. He spent 14 days in the army until he was discharged again. His papers say that he was sent back due to medical mutilation from misconduct. It was most likely that he was amputated, and it would have been either his leg or arm. Limb amputations were very common during WW1, with over 41,000 men having their arm or leg amputated. He had spent 1 year and 16 days in the army, and he was 19 years and 11 months old when he left the army, however, I believe that it is unlikely that he returned to fight in the war.

It is unknown what happened between the 30th of June 1916 to the 18th of August 1916. It is most likely that he got better, and then enlisted again. He then most likely had an accident and it caused one of his limbs to be amputated.  

There are no records of Aubrey Watts Spencer’s life after he returned to Australia. However, there is information about his gravestone’s location. He was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia. His date of death is not recorded. His bravery did not go unrecognised though. He is on the Unley Town Hall WW1 Honor Board. His sacrifice and bravery to this nation will never be forgotten, and he will forever live in my memory.

Reference list

| The Australian War Memorial n.d., www.awm.gov.au.

| The Australian War Memorial n.d., www.awm.gov.au.

| The Australian War Memorial n.d., www.awm.gov.au.

| The Australian War Memorial 2 n.d., www.awm.gov.au.

27th Infantry Battalion n.d., vwma.org.au.

27th Infantry Battalion VWMA n.d., vwma.org.au, viewed 5 December 2022, <https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/2#:~:text=The%2027th%20Battalion%20was%20the>.

32nd Australian Infantry Battalion n.d., Fromelles, viewed 5 December 2022, <https://fromelles.info/units/32nd-australian-infantry-battalion/>.

32nd Infantry Battalion n.d., vwma.org.au, viewed 5 December 2022, <https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/4#>.

Aubrey Watts (Snow) SPENCER n.d., vwma.org.au, viewed 5 December 2022, <https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/321035>.

Egypt, 1915-16 n.d., www.awm.gov.au, viewed 5 December 2022, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84453>.

Military bugle presented to 7th Reinforcements, 27 Battalion AIF by the Cheer Up Society: Corporal J H Sampson, 27 Battalion AIF n.d., www.awm.gov.au, viewed 5 December 2022, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C114469>.

SPENCER Aubrey Watts: Service Number - 3282: Place of Birth - Yongala SA: Place of Enlistment - Adelaide SA: Next of Kin - (Mother) SPENCER Grace 1914, National Archives of Australia, viewed 5 December 2022, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8090119&S=21&R=0>.