Pte 33230 Robert Morton Spence

• Age: 36
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 26th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.K.10

This soldier’s birth was registered as Morton Spence in the June quarter of 1880, the fifth of six children born to Mowbray Spence, a bookkeeper/clerk, and his wife Clementina (nee Fawcett) born June 1847. He was baptised with the name Morton in St. Clement’s, Toxteth Park, on 11th July 1880, his parents’ residence given as 69 Alt Street, and his father’s occupation as clerk. His father, born in Sunderland, and his mother, from Stockton-on-Tees, married in Sockton in 1866.

A Robert Spence was born in 1863 in Stockton (mother née Allison, but no Spence-Allison marriage has been found); and Charles Mowbray in 1867 in Stockton; they then moved to Liverpool, where William was born in 1869, Margaret in 1871, Melbourne in 1874, Morton in 1880, and Edgar in 1882.

In 1881 the family is living at 69 Alt Street, Toxteth Park, with six children: Robert 17, Charles 14, William 11, Margaret 9, Melbourne 7, and Morton is 10 months old.  His father is a clerk. 

In 1891 the family lived at 8 Webb Street, Liverpool and he is shown in the Census as Morton Spence.

His brother Charles died at the age of 25 in 1892, his mother Clementina died in 1893, aged 46 and his father Mowbray in 1899 aged 62.

In 1901 four of their six children - Margaret, 29 years; Melbourne, 27 years,  a cotton broker’s clerk ; Morton, 20 years, a solicitor’s clerk; and Edgar, 18 years, a butcher’s assistant - are still living at 8 Webb Street.

In 1911, Margaret is married and living with her husband, John Blundell, a safemaker, at 15 Dorset Avenue, Wavertree and Edgar, a railway messenger, is living with them. In the same Census, William Spence is married to Eliza and living at 98 Webster Road, Wavertree, with their 4 sons - William Mowbray, Charles Melbourne, Edgar and John Ames Spence. In 1911 Morton is a boarder with John Walter and Anna Maria Lewis, farmers, their son, and a servant, at 48 Rake Lane, Bromborough.  Morton is 31, single, employed as a law clerk. 

He must have been about 34 years when he enlisted, joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 33230. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he enlisted in mid-1915. His service record is not available.

He was killed in action on 26^th June 1916, aged 36 and his grave, II K 10, is in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme.

It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. 

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

A report in the Birkenhead News on 15th July 1916 stated that: 

"Among the fallen heroes of the 2nd "Pals"has to be numbered Private Robert M. Spence. He was an orphan, and resided in Bromborough for many years on account of his health. He lived in the "Rake" at a farmhouse. Mrs.Lewis, 4,The Rake, Bromborough, received offical notice of his death in action. The deceased soldier in pre-war days was a keen follower of all kinds of sport, and admirably filled the position as secretary of the Recreation Bowling Club. He served on several committees in connection with the Sports Association, attended Divine service regularly,and was highly respected by all that knew him. Mr. Spence left behind a splendid record of 20 years service with Gregson and Sparman, Solicitors, Castle-street, Liverpool, for whom he was a cashier, and by his death they have suffered the loss of a very faithful servant". 

His Army effects of £4-1s-3d and a War Gratuity of £3 went to his executors, William E. Gregson and John Quinn.

Probate of his personal estate, in the amount of £623-19s-3d, was granted to William Eugene Gregson, solicitor, and John Quinn, solicitor’s clerk. 

Solicitors notice regarding his Estate in Liverpool Echo 13th October 1916 says he was a Cashier for Gregson and Sharman

(Gores 1914 confirm Gregson and Sharman)

"Mr.Spence left behind a splendid record of 20 years service with Gregson and Sparman, Solicitors, Castle-Street, Liverpool"

Morton is commemorated on the following memorials -

St. Barnabas Church, Bromborough

Cheshire Roll of Honour.

We currently have no further information on Robert Morton Spence, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.