Barry Greenbank has provided the following:
Harry John Spencer was born in 1873. He was the son of George Edward Spencer, a commercial traveller, and his wife Mary Louisa, both of whom were born in Kennington, London. Harry John was baptised at St. Andrew's Church in Newcastle on 21st October 1881.
The 1881 Census shows the family living at 3 Victoria Street, Elswick. As well as his father George, aged 44, and mother Mary, also aged 44, there was brother Percy G., aged 16, also born in Kennington, who was an apprentice marine engineer. His sister Ellen B.L., aged 14, was born in Camberwell, London. Brother Edward C, aged 12, was born in Newington, London. The rest of the children were born in Newcastle, Sister Bella M, aged 11, Harry J himself, aged 8, Alice B, aged 6, brother George E, aged 4, brother Frederick G, aged 1. There was a step-sister, Ellen Barclay, aged 22, who had been born in Mile End, London. There was also a servant.
The 1891 Census shows half the family living at Fulling Mill, Hexham. His brother Edward, aged 22, was a colonial produce agent. His sister Ellen was aged 24, Bella was aged 21, Harry J, aged 18, was an apprentice locomotive engineer; Frederick, now aged 11.
In the same 1891 Census, Father George E., aged 51, was a tea and coffee agent living at 3 Victoria Street, Newcastle; Mary was aged 53; Alice was now 16; George was aged 14. A nephew, Harold Armstrong, aged 5, who had been born in Newcastle, was also in the house, and there was a servant.
The 1899/1900 to 1904 Ward's Directories show father George to be a tea agent working from 9 Grainger Street, Newcastle, with his residence at 3 Victoria Street.
In the 1901 Census, the family home was in Hazelhurst, Hexham. Mother Mary was now a widow, and Harry J, aged 27, was a tea agent. The 1906-1914 Ward's Directories confirm that he is a tea agent at 62 Clayton Street, Hexham, and living in Hexham.
They were still in Hexham at the time of the 1911 Census. Mary was now aged 74. Harry John, aged 38, was still a tea agent, as was his brother George E, now aged 35. His sister Alice Elizabeth Hutchinson, aged 36, had married. There were two nephews, George Hutchinson, aged 5, born in Luton, and Francis Hutchinson, aged 3, born in Darlington.
After his death, the probate of his estate of Hazelhurst, Hexham, and the premises at 63 Clayton Street, Newcastle, were left to Helen Barbara Spencer (i.e. Ellen, now married and called Henderson), with a value f £1,118 10s 7d.
The Newcastle Daily Journal 22/11/1916 reads:
Capt. H.J. Spencer, D.L.I.
"Supplementing the announcement of the death from wounds accidentally received, of Capt. Harry J. Spencer, D.L.I., of Newcastle and Hexham, we may add that he spent his boyhood at the Royal Grammar School, and then served his apprenticeship as engineer fitter with Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie and Co., afterwards going into their drawing office and later, for a time, going to Elswick works. Subsequently he joined his father in the business of tea and coffee merchant and on Mr. G.E. Spencer's death carried on the business with the help of his younger brother George, now in King Edward's Horse. Harry was an all-round sportsman. He stroked several winning crews for the Tyne Rowing Club. He was one of the promoters of the old Summerhill F.C. of which he captained the team for some seasons and was later captain of Percy Park R.F.C. He occasionally played for Tynedale. He was a vice-president of the Northumberland Rugby Union and twice, with others, took a team across the Channel to play in France. He was for several years a referee at Rugby matches. Capt. Spencer was also a member of the Hexham and Corbridge Golf Club. At the outbreak of the present war, he joined the Citizens Training Corps and soon became drill instructor. On the Commercial Battalions of the N.F. being formed, he joined and soon became sergeant. Taking a commission in the D.L.I. he trained at Sunderland and Heworth and went to the front in June 1915. There he was promoted lieutenant and was attached to the Machine Gun Corps March or April 1916. After two narrow escapes he was shot by a sniper through the top of his thigh on June 1st of this year, but in early September was again at the front. Soon after his return he was promoted captain and placed in charge of a trench mortar battery. His death has occurred just six weeks after that of his nephew, Private Harold Armstrong, Gosforth in the Royal Fusiliers.
Harry John Spencer is remembered in Jesmond on J1.04, J1.19 page 50, in Corbridge on C52.05, in Hexham on H51.03, H51.06, H51.26. H51.35 and H51.51 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 318
