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Private 10004, later Lieutenant Colonel Frederick
Thomas SPICER, MBE, MC
  Dave
Stuckey contacted me about his Great Uncle, Frederick Spicer
and as a result of a combined effort, a great Regimental story
surfaced.
Frederick Thomas Spicer was
born in Essendon near Hatfield, Hertfordshire in 1894, the eldest
of eleven children. His father, Thomas Spicer, was born in Stevenage
in 1890 and his mother Annie was from Walkern, near Stevenage.
Frederick was a farm labourer
before the 18 year old enlisted into the army late spring to
early summer 1912. He became Private 10004 of the Bedfordshire
Regiment and was posted to the 1st Battalion on completion of
his training, which was when the first photograph would have
been taken.
Following his deployment with
the battalion in Ireland, war was declared in 1914 and Frederick
was one of the 1st battalion's 'Old Contemptibles' who landed
in France on the 16th August. In 1914 alone, he was engaged
in the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the retreat to Paris, the
Marne, the Aisne, La Bassee and the First Battle of Ypres. 1915
saw him involved in the Second Battle of Ypres and in the desperate
defence of Hill 60 in April and May, after which time he had
won promotion to Sergeant. In 1916 he was engaged during the
Battle of the Somme when, as a Company Sergeant Major, he won
a Military Cross and was commissioned in the field. His MC citation,
dated 14/11/1916, reads:
"For
conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his men in the attack
with great courage .and determination, himself killing a number
of the enemy. He has on many previous occasions done fine work."
Once officer training had been completed, Second
Lieutenant Spicer, MC joined the 4th battalion in the field
on the 20th May 1917 and appears throughout their diary until
struck off the battalion strength in July 1918. He was present
for the group photograph in September 1917 (shown below) and
fought in the Third Battle of Ypres as well as being heavily
engaged during the German Spring Offensives of 1918.
During the war he was wounded twice and gassed
twice. He was also mentioned in despatches twice and was awarded
the Russian St. George Cross over and above his Military Cross,
1914 Star with clasp and roses, Victory Medal and British War
Medal.
His absolutely fascinating personal war diary
can be seen at the Bedford County Records Office, covering his
time in the 4th battalion in 1917 and 1918.
After the war Frederick's only child was born
in 1919, being Barbara.
He then served in Ireland, where he was awarded
a parchment for distinguished service as well as in the Shanghai
Defence Force in the 1st battalion, India and Palestine. He
was then moved into the 2nd battalion and appears whilst they
were based in Colchester in the 1930s.
In February 1936 went to Egypt in the 2nd battalion
and was recorded as being in command of D Company, 2nd battalion
when they arrived at Jerusalem to help police the Arab rebellion.
December 1936 saw him return to England and during the regiment's
250th anniversary celebrations in 1938, he was photographed
escorting a dignitary who was inspecting his Company whilst
on parade at St. Albans (below).
Major Spicer also served in France from 1939,
throughout the 'Phoney War', until he was invalided home. He
then served as a Brigade Major once recovered but unexpectedly
died of a brain haemorrhage on the 28th November 1941, aged
47 whilst in command of the 6th battalion who were training
at Bury St. Edmunds. Having served 29 years with the regiment
and risen from Private to Lieutenant Colonel, he was given military
funeral with full honours. The Regimental Sergeant Major and
seven senior Warrant Officers who had served with him carried
his coffin and he was buried in the Bury St. Edmunds cemetery,
where he lies today.
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