333 www.on.legion.ca SPENCER, John Richard John Richard Spencer was born on March 28, 1887, in the district of Battersea, London England. The fifth of eight children born into a working-class family. His father also named John Spencer worked as a ‘gas fitter’ and his mother Caroline Spencer worked as an ‘Ironer.’ At the age of 20, John immigrated to Canada and settled in Welland, Ontario. John Richard Spencer had already been a member of theWelland 44Active Militia prior to the outbreak of World War I. He enlisted for active service in the Army (Regular Force) on October 16, 1915, at the age of 28 years old. Private John Richard Spencer would spend 24 months stationed in France, fighting in the trenches. On July 18, 1918, he was hospitalized with influenza but made a full recovery and was sent back to his military unit. The next battle he fought in, The Second Battle of Arras, John sustained life threatening injuries. The medical report states his wounds; gun shot; right thigh, right buttock, left leg, right arm. John recovered and was reunited with his wife Beatrice and children: John Jr., Henry, Norval and Arthur in 1919. The family settled in a new town, Galt, Ontario. John worked as caretaker for the City of Galt Parks for 38 years. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion, Galt Branch 121. John and his wife Beatrice had three more children, Alice, Thomas and George. Five of his sons would continue his military tradition and fight in World War II. John passed away on January 24, 1973. SPENCER, John William Born on September 25, 1910, in Welland, Ontario, the oldest child of Beatrice and John Richard Spencer. John Jr.’s father had fought in World War I for the 20th Infantry Battalion. On April 26, 1943, 32-year-old John Jr. joined up for active service at the Wolseley Barracks, #1 District Depot, in London, Ontario. Four of his brothers were already in the Canadian military by this time and he was the last in his family to join. John Jr. had been a reservist for the Non-Permanent Active Militia for the Highland Light Infantry of Canada prior to serving. On November 3, 1943, John Jr. and his Battalion were sent to Debert, Nova Scotia following basic training. Prior to being sent to Nova Scotia, he had injured his knee in a training exercise and the injury flared up right before his unit was to be sent overseas. His battalion went on to fight in the D-Day Invasion. After being cleared of no wrongdoing at a military trial, John Jr. was stationed at Camp Borden, became Corporal and acted as a trainer for the Canadian Armoured Corps Training Establishment, Gunnery School. He was released on April 11, 1945. Following the war, John Jr. returned home to his wife Jean and their children: Rona, Shiela, Joan, Robert ‘Bob’ and Brian ‘Bud.’ He worked for the City of Galt parks with his father and brother. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Galt Branch 121. John Jr. Spencer passed away on March 24, 1988, at the age of 78. We Will Remember Them Ontario Command
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