John Burnett Posted 24 August , 2006 Share Posted 24 August , 2006 Spence, Gilbert C D Captain, Highland Light Infantry 2nd Battalion. Age 22. Date of death 01/10/1918. Buried in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, France Grateful for information on 1) When Gilbert became Captain 2) Events surounding his death 3) He was awarded the MC. Information on why. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 24 August , 2006 Share Posted 24 August , 2006 London Gazette 11-5-1915 War Office, 11th May, 1915. The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military College, to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 12th May 1915:— The Highland'Light Infantry. . Gilbert Chisholm Dreyer Spence. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= London Gazette 25-8-1916 High. L.I. 2nd Lt. G. C. D. Spence to be Lt. 23rd July 1916 http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= London Gazette 16-11-1917 High. L.I. The undermentioned Lts. to be Capts. : G. C. D. Spence. 12th Aug. 1917. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= London Gazette 2-12-1918 Awarded the Military Cross Capt. Gilbert Chisholm Dreyer Spence, 2nd Bn., H.L.I. For conspicuous gallantry and able leadership while commanding the support company in an attack. Seeing the .two leading companies held up by machine-gun fire, he made use of the ground in such a skilful manner that he was able to lead his company through them and establish himself on high ground that was of vital importance to the rest of the brigade. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auimfo Posted 25 August , 2006 Share Posted 25 August , 2006 Excerpt from "The 2nd Battalion HLI in the Great War" by Major A.D. Telfer-Smollett. The Battle of the St. Quentin Canal ........Orders received late in the afternoon of 1st October, ordered the 52nd Division on the left, to attack at 5.45pm and the 2nd Division to attack at 6.30pm. The Battalion was to attack in co-operation with the 24th Royal Fusiliers. It was decided that C company, half of A company and half of B company should gain the objectives, which were twofold, while the remaining half of B company should be in support and D company in reserve. Much of the enemy's barrage against the 52nd Division attack came down on the Battalion's front, and considerably hampered the assembly of companies. Captain G.C.D. Spence, while giving final orders to his half company, was killed, 2nd Lieutenant Hamilton was wounded and the four section commanders either killed or wounded. It was therefore necessary to employ the remaining half of A company instead of the half B company in taking the second objective. I hope this helps, Tim L. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Burnett Posted 25 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 25 August , 2006 Thanks for assistance, much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now