11/11/2022
Percy Spencer
5/01/1896 - KIA 8/09/1916
Royal field Artillery
enlisted:12/08/1914
A Bty, 46th (XLVI) Brigade, 14th (Light) Division
Rank: Gunner (trade Driver)
Buried: Montauban Quarry Cemetery, Somme
Summary of service in belgium:
before the war, Percy worked in a lace factory in Derbyshire along side his 2 brothers, Herbert and Vernon. Upon joining the ranks in 1914, All 3 served in A battery of the 46th brigade royal artillery.
On the 19th may 1915 they were deployed to Belgium. As part of the 14th light division supported intense fighting at la clyette, Hooge and later Brielen.
They spent most of February 1916 moving through cold weather and intense storms from Brielen down to Arras in France where they would relieve a French artillery brigade.
The Somme:
For the next few months their task was to fire on German positions located on the edge of Arras at Achicourt and Beaurains. They would work very closely with the infantry who would report the enemy positions. Their last action in Arras on July first 1916 was to fire on German trench mortars and cut off lorries along the Tilloy road which were moving reinforcements.
In Early August they Marched towards Albert, billeting at Dernancourt. From here they would be relieving the 255Bde at recently captured Fricourt. They would observe the intense night time bombardments on Mametz by the Germans.
On the 29th of august, HQ moves to Montauban, the guns deployed just outside so they could fire on a zone just NW of the infamous Delville wood. The Germans returned fire with 11inch howitzers, targeting the HQ for the next week. The 46th would spend this time responding to SOS calls from the infantry. Percy's brother Vernon was injured on the 2nd presumably by shrapnel and sent back to Hove, England was recovery.
5-9-16 It was During this period that Percy would be Awarded the Military medal for bravery when carrying important information through to the infantry during a very heavy German barrage.
8-9-16 after usual shelling over the past few days in the caterpillar valley area, the past 24 hours were relatively quiet. British forces would use the advantage and attack high wood at 6pm. B Bty fired in support throughout the night whilst the Germans retaliated with artillery fire. Percy is described as unloading ammunition in the newspaper report when an airburst shell kills him. 1 man mentioned as KIA in the Brigade war diary.
Now only Brother Herbert remained at the front - his two brothers injured and dead. The fighting remained intense over the month, there was constant enemy aircraft activity above and the Germans would fire Gas NE of Montauban. On the 15th September 1916, He would support the British advance at Flers-Courcelette which was the first use of tanks in history. The 3rd Brother, Bombardier Herbert Spencer Would remain with the Battery until the end of the war.
🎨Commission🎨
Percy Spencer
5/01/1896 - KIA 8/09/1916
Royal field Artillery
enlisted:12/08/1914
A Bty, 46th (XLVI) Brigade, 14th (Light) Division
Rank: Gunner (trade Driver)
Buried: Montauban Quarry Cemetery, Somme
Summary of service in belgium:
before the war, Percy worked in a lace factory in Derbyshire along side his 2 brothers, Herbert and Vernon. Upon joining the ranks in 1914, All 3 served in A battery of the 46th brigade royal artillery.
On the 19th may 1915 they were deployed to Belgium. As part of the 14th light division supported intense fighting at la clyette, Hooge and later Brielen.
They spent most of February 1916 moving through cold weather and intense storms from Brielen down to Arras in France where they would relieve a French artillery brigade.
The Somme:
For the next few months their task was to fire on German positions located on the edge of Arras at Achicourt and Beaurains. They would work very closely with the infantry who would report the enemy positions. Their last action in Arras on July first 1916 was to fire on German trench mortars and cut off lorries along the Tilloy road which were moving reinforcements.
In Early August they Marched towards Albert, billeting at Dernancourt. From here they would be relieving the 255Bde at recently captured Fricourt. They would observe the intense night time bombardments on Mametz by the Germans.
On the 29th of august, HQ moves to Montauban, the guns deployed just outside so they could fire on a zone just NW of the infamous Delville wood. The Germans returned fire with 11inch howitzers, targeting the HQ for the next week. The 46th would spend this time responding to SOS calls from the infantry. Percy's brother Vernon was injured on the 2nd presumably by shrapnel and sent back to Hove, England was recovery.
5-9-16 It was During this period that Percy would be Awarded the Military medal for bravery when carrying important information through to the infantry during a very heavy German barrage.
8-9-16 after usual shelling over the past few days in the caterpillar valley area, the past 24 hours were relatively quiet. British forces would use the advantage and attack high wood at 6pm. B Bty fired in support throughout the night whilst the Germans retaliated with artillery fire. Percy is described as unloading ammunition in the newspaper report when an airburst shell kills him. 1 man mentioned as KIA in the Brigade war diary.
Now only Brother Herbert remained at the front - his two brothers injured and dead. The fighting remained intense over the month, there was constant enemy aircraft activity above and the Germans would fire Gas NE of Montauban. On the 15th September 1916, He would support the British advance at Flers-Courcelette which was the first use of tanks in history. The 3rd Brother, Bombardier Herbert Spencer Would remain with the Battery until the end of the war.
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