Pte. J.R. Spence

FIRST NAMES: James Robert

UNIT: 1st Yorkshire Regiment

NUMBER: 9600

STATUS: Died

DATE OF DEATH: 2nd November 1918

CEMETERY OR MEMORIAL: The Delhi Memorial, India

AGE: Unknown

It would appear that James was born in Northallerton but that his mother subsequently re-married and moved to Crook.

According to the official records it would seem that he returned to his native town to enlist in the Yorkshire Regiment, though he was living in Crook at the time. He enlisted in November 1911, at the age of 19 and his occupation was given as a farm labourer. He was 5ft 5ins tall with a fresh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his next of kin was his mother, Jane Ann Hall (formerly Spence) of 111 Southend Villas, Crook, Co. Durham.

He died whilst serving with the 1st Yorkshire Regiment in India. Although he died a few days before The Armistice ended the Great War, it should be remembered that the British Army was still required to police the Empire. The 1st Yorkshires spent the entire war dealing with unrest on the infamous North-West Frontier. Those, like James Spence, who died, did so in the service of their country, just as honourably as those who died in France and Flanders.