Lieutenant Charles Bennett Spence
30 June 1888 – 9 May 1915
Royal Flying Corps, 3rd Squadron

Picture 1

Charles Bennett Spence was the son of Dr. James Beveridge Spence and Elizabeth Roebuck Spence, of Burntwood. His father was the Medical Superintendent at St. Matthew’s Hospital (Burntwood Lunatic Asylum).

Charles Died Sunday 9 May 1915 at the age of 26.

Lieutenant Spence is buried close to Chateau L' Abbaye at the CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY in France; the grave/memorial reference is I. B. 12. The inscription on his grave reads

KILLED IN ACTION AGED 26 YEARS 11 MONTHS

NOUS SHADOWS SA MEMOIRE ET SON EXEMPLE

Picture 2

Charles went to Winchester College from Bilton Grange. During his time at Winchester he played rugby for OTH XV, and won the silver medal for gymnastics. On leaving school he studied for a time at Gottingen University and later took his degree at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He joined the Royal Field Artillery in December 1910 and in April 1914 was attached to the fledgling Royal Flying Corps. He was killed when flying a Maurice Farman Shorthorn 1854 (a French reconnaissance and light bomber biplane) of 16 Squadron with 2nd Lieutenant the Honorable William Francis Rodney (formerly of the Rifle Brigade) as his observer. At 7.30 a.m. their aircraft was hit by German anti-aircraft fire near Bethame and began a steep glide that turned into a nosedive, leading to the airframe failing at 2,000 feet. Both occupants were killed instantly. He had been mentioned once in Despatches.

Reference, item and source

1.     Photograph of Lieutenant Charles Bennett Spence © Winchester College

2.     Photograph of Lieutenant Charles Bennett Spence © Imperial War Museum Lives of the First World War https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4200571