Cpl. George L Spencer 1063022

 

Pte. George Spencer
247^th  Battalion, No.3 Special Service Company
Regimental Number 1063022

George Leonard Spencer was born on April 22^nd, 1895 in Sydney Township, Hastings County. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Spencer.

George was living in Hall’s Glen, Ontario and working as a cheese maker when he enlisted with the 247^th Peterborough Battalion on the 18^th of October, 1916.  He was married to Lena Spencer and had one 2yr old son.  He was nearly 22 years old, stood 5 foot, 4 inches tall and weighed 120 pounds.  He was described as having a fair complexion, blue eyes, and light brown hair.  He was Roman Catholic and had no previous military experience.  Though it is not described in his attestation, later medical notes describe him as missing the first phalanx of his little finger on his right hand.

George remained in Peterborough with the 247^th as they slowly continued the attempt to recruit up to battalion strength throughout the winter of 1916.  By April 1917, with the battalion quota of 1000 men still far from being filled, orders were given to amalgamate the men of the 247^th into the neighboring 235^th Battalion of Durham Northumberland County.  At this time, Spencer was transferred to the No.3 Special Service Company on April 18 1917 and posted to Trenton, Ontario.  This reason for this transfer was likely due to the re-emergence of a hernia which Spencer had experienced as a young child, and would explain why he was posted to a unit generally reserved for men overage or with a physical disability. It was very likely that Spencer was engaged in garrison duties and to guard vulnerable points in that area.  He received promotion to Corporal on September 18^th 1917.

Spencer remained with the Special Service Company in Trenton for the duration of the war.  During that time his service file contains two notations: a citation for seven days detention in January 1918 for an unknown offence, and a request to have himself reverted down to the rank of Private.   Spencer remained in Trenton until the 26^th of November 1918, at which time he left for the Barriefield Camp in Kingston.  He was later discharged as medically unfit on March 7^th 1919.

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of George Edward Spencer." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9189 - 9. Item Number 243920.