SPENCER, Francis Eadson
| Service Number: | 191 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 January 1916, Enlisted at West Maitland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Derbyshire, England, 30 January 1898 |
| Home Town: | Singleton, Northumberland, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | RailwayCall Boy |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 1 March 1917, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres IV F 22 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Glenorie WWI Honour Roll, Glenorie War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 191, 34th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at West Maitland | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 191, 34th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 2 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 191, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Sydney |
Help us honour Francis Eadson Spencer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Francis Eadson SPENCER (Service Number 191) was born on 30th January 1898 at Wirksworth, Derbyshire, England. He began working for the NSW Railways as a call boy at Hamilton Locomotive Depot on 25th August 1914. He was still in this role when he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces on 7th January 1916, when he was still 17-years-old. He signed his enlistment papers at West Maitland on 21st January. He gave as his next of kin his father, Samuel Francis Spencer, of Middle Dural via Hornsby.
He was allotted to the 34th Battalion. He embarked HMAT ‘Honorata’ at Sydney on 2nd May 1916 and reached Plymouth on 23rd June. He had changed transports to the ‘Aragon’ part way on his journey, most likely in Egypt. Shortly after arrival in England he was in disciplinary trouble and charged with conduct to the prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline – being under the influence of liquor,. He was sentenced to seven days confined to barracks.
He did not proceed overseas to France until 21st November,
He was killed in action on 1st March 1917. He was buried at the Cité Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentières, France.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
Click images to start slideshow.