The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Trooper (Shoeing-Smith) John Spencer

Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: John Samuel Spencer

Ancestor's date of birth: 04/1875

Ancestor's date of death: 1946

Cause of Death: Illness

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Farrier who had served 11 months in the Victorian Mounted Rifles.

Service Number: 609

Colony or State of enlistment: VIC, Place of Enlistment: Geelong

Unit: Second Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse - Victorian Unit

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR (Shoeing-Smith), Date Effective: 15/01/1902

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War service.

Murray Page: 315

Contingent: First Australian

Ship: St Andrew, Date of Sailing: 12/02/1902

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Transvaal and SA 1902 clasps.

Personal Characteristics: Height 175 cm, of fair complexion with blue eyes and brown hair.

Reasons to go and fight: To serve with eldest brother, Thomas SPENCER (387) previously served in the 4th Imperial Contingent, John joined him when Thomas re-enlisted on 14 January 1902 as Farrier-Sergeant (No:682) with 2 Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse.

Details of service in war: They departed on 12 February 1902 on the transport 'St Andrew' arriving in Durban on 10 March. On 6 April, the battalion started for Klerksdorp and arrived on the 10 April. They were brigaded there under Lieutenant Colonel De Lisle, and were known as 'De Lisle's Australian Brigade'. The battlion was engaged in the war until peace was declared. Prior to leaving, the horses, equipment, saddlery ,rifles and all transport were handed over at Elandsfontein. The battalion fianlly departed South Africa on 6th July on the transport 'Norfolk" and arrived in Albany 25 July 1902, Adelaide on 30th and Melbourne on 2 August.

Service and life after the Boer War: My father, John Samuel Spencer returned to South Africa and set up a Coach-Building business with his brother, Tom who did not return to live in Australia after the war.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Elsie May Dunne, West Rosebud VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: daughter

 


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