PEDDER, Spencer
| Service Numbers: | 1471, 2285 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 April 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 6th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 6 June 1879 |
| Home Town: | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Officer College and Friends' High School, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, 2nd Canadian CCS, Lijssenthoek, Belgium, 20 September 1917, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Plot XXIII, Row B, Grave No. 4A |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hobart Roll of Honour, North Hobart Friends' School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Apr 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1471, 6th Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Vic. | |
| 2 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 1471, 6th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan McGillivray embarkation_ship_number: A46 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 1471, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Clan McGillivray, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1471, 6th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 8 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1471, 6th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Krithia | |
| 9 May 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 6th Infantry Battalion, Gallipoli. Allocated new SN 2285. | |
| 7 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2285, 6th Infantry Battalion, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli, Lone Pine | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2285, 6th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières | |
| 19 Aug 1916: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Battle for Pozières , Conspicuous gallantry during operations (at Pozieres) when attending and removing the wounded. He organised stretcher bearers to replace casualties, cheering them on when they showed signs of exhaustion and setting a fine example. | |
| 15 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2285, 6th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2285, 6th Infantry Battalion, Menin Road, GSW to back (penetrating). Evacuated to 2nd Canadian CCS at Lijssenthoek, where he died of his wounds later the same day. | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2285, 6th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2285 awm_unit: 6th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-09-20 |
Help us honour Spencer Pedder's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Frederick and Sarah Blanche Pedder, of Collins St., Hobart, Tasmania. Native of Bellerive, Hobart, Tasmania.
Biography contributed by Robert Wight
Referring to the death in France of the former Tasmanian oarsman Spencer Pedder “Outrigger” writes in the “Leader”:
"He was regarded as the finest bow Tasmania ever had though he could give a good account of himself in any seat of a boat. Coming to Melbourne in 1911 he joined the Albert Park club rowing his first race at No 5 in their crew which won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley on 28th October 1911. Like Herb Dickenson he was also of a very unassuming nature and always seemed to have a smile.
He quickly won a high place in the esteem of his fellow members at the Park and oarsmen generally. Although of rather slight build he was a particularly powerful oarsman and one of the stamp who was never beaten until the other man had won though, as a matter of fact, the other man seldom won during his connection with the sport in Victoria. In the early part of the war Spen Pedder was rejected on several occasions much to the amusement of oarsmen amongst whom it was the unanimous opinion if they wanted a man to take their part in a “scrap” of any description Spen Pedder would be their first choice.
However, he more than justified the decision of the doctor who finally accepted him as he went through the Gallipoli campaign without the slightest illness and it was said he usually did twice as much work as any other man. In France he went “over the top” on several occasions and his friends had come to regard him as having a charmed life.
On many occasions he was offered promotion but preferred to do his “bit” in the ranks. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his services in Gallipoli (sic France). To his relatives the deepest sympathy of oarsmen throughout Victoria is extended."
The Weekly Courier 26th October 1917
Source: tasmanianwarcasualties.com
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