Francis Robert SPENCER

04 June 1915

LETTERS FROM ADDINGHAM MEN

Private F.R. Spencer, in a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Spencer, Bolton Road, Addingham, says:– “I don’t think the war will last long, at least they don’t seem to think so out here. I hope so, for it is ‘Hell’s delight’. We must beat them, and we shall.”

In a letter to a friend he says:– I have been talking to a friend who was with Pont (meaning Lance Corporal W. Emmott) and who saw him killed. He had been asleep in the trench, and was just stretching his arms out when he was hit by a sniper.”

20 August 1915

PRIVATE SPENCER OF ADDINGHAM WOUNDED

Mr. and Mrs. John Spencer, of Bolton Road, Addingham, have received word that their eldest son, Frank, has been wounded. The news came in a letter from a friend to a young man in Ilkley, who was asked to inform Spencer’s parents.

Private Spencer joined Kitchener’s Army soon after the war began and has been in France over two months. The writer of the letter, along with Spencer, were stood on a parapet of a trench at the time, when Spencer exclaimed, “I am hit,” and immediately dropped. On examination it was found that a bullet had struck his right arm, breaking it, and passing through his chest.

27 August 1915

DEATH OF PRIVATE FRANK SPENCER OF ADDINGHAM

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Private Frank Spencer from injuries received, as reported in last week’s issue. He died in hospital on the following day.

03 September 1915

THE LATE PRIVATE FRANK SPENCER OF ADDINGHAM

Mr. and Mrs. John Spencer of Bolton Road, Addingham, have received the following letter from Private Tim McCarthy, in respect of the death of their son, Private Frank Spencer, 2nd Battalion (Duke of Wellington’s) West Riding Regiment, who succumbed to wounds received in action:– “It is with deep regret that I am writing this letter to you. I am sorry to tell you the wound Frank received – I told mother to tell you about – has proved fatal. He died on the 12th of August. I can assure you that Frank had a peaceful end, and he was laid to rest. I hope and trust that you will bear it well, for you know that he gave his life for a just and honourable cause. Frank was well liked among all the men, and I will send you his prayer-book and a few letters he had in a few days. I quite realise it is hard to bear, but it is God’s will. I am quite sure he will be happy from this world of sorrow and trials.”

McCarthy, who is an Ilkley young man, was with Spencer when he received his wound. Six Addingham men have now given their lives for their King and country. Frank was a playing member of the football team, and he is the second member of the team to play his last great game, the previous one being the late Lance-Corporal Emmott, who was the captain. Other playing members serving are John Henry Brown (secretary), W. Gale (treasurer and vice-captain), W. Brown, G. Gale, and F. Watts. All are in the Wharfedale Howitzers. J. Kettlewell and Harry Wade are with Kitchener’s Army. A. Holmes, W. Ettenfield and T. Wade are serving in the Leeds Engineers.

10 September 1915

THE LATE PRIVATE SPENCER OF ADDINGHAM

Lance-Corporal J.W. Fisher, of the 9th Battalion (Duke of Wellington’s) West Riding Regiment, serving in France, in a letter on behalf of the men of the 9th Battalion, to Mr. and Mrs. J. Spencer of Bolton Road, Addingham, sympathising with them in the loss of their son, says:– “It is with the deepest regret that the men of Addingham out here learned of the death of your son, Frank, and we offer you our deepest sympathy in this hour of trial and bereavement. Really life here is so uncertain that the news of someone’s death comes as a matter of course, so many occurring every day, but when it comes to one we have known nearly all our life it makes one study… He has done his duty and died fighting for freedom, love, and comfort of those living in England.”

17 September 1915

AFTERNOON TEA WITH ADDINGHAM MEN

Gunner Willie Brown writes:– “I was pleased to receive your parcel; it is good of the people to remember us. I am going out to tea this afternoon to the 11th Battery. J. Whitaker and J. Oldfield (two Addingham lads) have given me the invitation. They have been to a village near by for something nice, and we are going to have a real ‘bust up’. They have a gramophone, so we shall be all right. I have seen several letters in the papers that you have received from Addingham chaps, and I was sorry to hear about Frank Spencer getting killed. I am wondering how Addingham is going to go on for footballers after the war is over if many more get killed. We have lost two of the best. We were saying last night how nice it would be if we were going to a late night dance in the Low School. We shall have a lot to make up for when we come back… There are no white feathers here or I might have sent one for the ----- I don’t know how they can fashion to walk about."

17 September 1915

ADDINGHAM SOLDIERS’ LETTERS

Mr.Flint has received the following letters in acknowledgement of parcels sent out:–

Bugler G. Strickland writes:– “Thanks for the parcel of cigarettes, which have arrived today. It is very hard lines about poor old Walter and Frank. When football is resumed on the Craven Heifer ground their faces will be sadly missed. I wonder who will be next of the old team to go… Thank the subscribers at Addingham for their kindness and thoughtfulness.”

24 December 1915

CRAVEN’S ROLL OF HONOUR – ADDINGHAM

Pte. Frank Spencer, Kitchener’s Army, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Spencer of Bolton Road, Addingham, died from wounds received in August.

14 April 1916

TO THE MEMORY OF ADDINGHAM COMRADES

The following lines have been written by Corpl. Sylvester Selby, R.E., of the British Expeditionary Force, France.

“To the memory of our dear comrades from Addingham who fought so valiantly, and died so nobly in the sacred cause of freedom, justice, and liberty.”

We shall meet our loved ones gone some sweet day bye and bye.
Be ye not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more sorrow, neither death.”

LOVED ONES GONE

Have they gone for ever, from us,
Shall we never see them more,
Never catch the gleam of sunshine
As they did in days of yore?

Why have they been taken from us
In the fullness of their youth,
When all earth seemed full of gladness
To young hearts all full of life?

Dragged from home, and friends, and loved ones,
In far distant lands to fight
For the glory of old England,
And for honour, and for right!

On the burning plains of Egypt,
On the muddy fields of France,
On the watery bogs of Flanders,
British boys have done their part.

Done it nobly, never murmuring,
In the cause of freedom’s right,
Battles, of most bloody nature.
They have fought with gallant hearts.

Men of England! Men of Empire!
Rise in this our common cause!
Come, and smite this haughty tyrant,
That he may no more defile
Heaven’s good gifts and mankind’s God.

As we march along the country
And the devastation see,
Ruined churches, shattered houses,
Graves, with little crosses fixed.

Make us cry “O God, in Heaven,
Let us of Thy vengeance see;
Give us strength that we may carry
Justice right to victory.

Men of England! Men of Empire!
Come and help us in the strife;
Help to win a glorious victory
For the weak and for the right.

Onward, ever always onward,
Till the common task is done,
Till to those who have so suffered
In the cause of freedom’s right
Have been surely liberated
From the thraldom of his might,
Till for brothers, gone before us,
He has paid a fearful toll.

Shall we ever more behold them
In that told-of spirit land?
Where they say there is no sorrow,
Neither death shall be no more?

Let us each be all the stronger
In the hope of such great gain,
Let us carry on our labour,
Sure we’ll meet our friends again.

Corporal Sylvester Selby, R.E.
France, April 8th, 1916.