SPENCER James Hilary

Captain, Lancashire Fusiliers
Born January 13th, 1894. Died of Wounds in Germany, July 15th, 1918.
Hilary Spencer was the fourth son of the Reverend A. Spencer, Vicar of St. James, Accrington, Lancashire.  He entered the School House from St. Michael’s College, Tenbury, with a Scholarship in January, 1909, in the Remove and left as Head of the School with a Colquitt Scholarship at B.N.C., Oxford, and a Cattley Leaving Exhibition, which he surrendered to a more needy school-fellow, having also won an Oxford University Squire Scholarship for Divinity.  At school he showed high principle, steady industry and great energy, which carried him to the front in many departments of school life.  He had the gift of humour and geniality, which made many friends, while he took a real interest in the larger problems of life outside.  Many will remember his shrewd and well-phrased speech at the Guildhall at a Social Reform League meeting, while still a Sixth Form Boy.  When he left he was Captain of the Boats, Colour Sergeant in the O.T.C., Captain of the Shooting Eight, School Librarian, and with the help of Mr. Tower he started the scheme for a School Barge.  He was one of five members of the Sixth who went together to the University in 1913, all intending to take Holy Orders.  After a year at Oxford, in which he made his mark in the College, he was one of the first to volunteer in August, 1914, from the University O.T.C., and obtained a commission in his county regiment.  In 1915, he took part in the landing at Suvla Bay in Gallipoli and was partially maimed at the Peninsula.  After five months in the Blue Sister’s Hospital at Malta and afterwards at Fazakerly Hospital he returned home to duty as Instructor at Hull, where he became engaged.  About the same time he paid a long visit to the School House and delivered an excellent lecture to the O.T.C. on trench warfare, based on his experiences in Gallipoli.  In December last after obtaining his Captaincy, he went to the front in France where he was shot in the knee and taken prisoner during the retreat of April.  The conditions of his captivity were distressing and he died at Limburg in the prisoners of war camp on July 15th.  Great sympathy is felt for his mother who lost another son, Lieutenant G. Spencer, D.S.C., R.N.R., at Zeebrugge, while the elder brother is still a prisoner in Germany.  Another life of heart value for Church and nation has been given for the great cause.
W. H. C.

Source for additional information: The Vigornian, November 1918, No.93, Vol. IX.