Reginald Charles Spalding

A Corporal with the 3rd Battalion, Reginald died on 12th of September 1917 at the age of 28. 

Reginald was born at Oulton on 29 April 1889, a son of James and Kate E. Spalding. He was baptised at Saint Michael’s Church, Oulton, on 26 May 1889. In 1891 his family lived at Woods Loke, Oulton. Reginald attended Hervery Street School before, on 1 Jun 1896, becoming a pupil at Saint John’s School. At this time his family lived at 49 Clemence Street, and this was still their home in 1909. Later his parents lived at 13 Avondale Road and then 13 Clemence Street before, in 1921 emigrating to Canada and living at 96 Warden Street, Mimico, Ontario.

Reginald was working as a labourer when he enlisted in the 19th Hussars, at Great Yarmouth, on 9 January 1909. He enlisted to serve seven years with the Colours and five with the Reserve. He joined his regiment at Norwich on 8 January. Reginald was absent from his regiment for seven days in June 1910 and deserted in July 1910. He was apprehended and tried by Court Martial and sent to prison for seven weeks, before being discharged. Reginald then moved to Canada, arriving at Saint John, New Brunswick, on 25 November 1910. 

Reginald was working a labourer when he enlisted in the Canadian Army at Valcarrier, Quebec, on 22 September 1914, service number 9250. He joined the 3rd Battalion Canadian Infantry. Reginald’s unit sailed for England on 3 October 1914. His unit arrived at Saint Nazaire on 11 February 1915. Reginald was admitted to 1st Canadian Field Ambulance on 9 November 1915 with a tonsillar abscess. He was granted nine days leave of absence, in the field, from 22 November 1915. 

At Wulveringhem, on 23 February 1916, Reginald received a gunshot wound to his left foot. He was admitted No 8 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, on 24 February, and transferred to England on 1 March. He was admitted to the County of London War Hospital, Epsom, on 2 March, and transferred to Monks Horton Convalescence Hospital on 13 April. He was transferred to the Canadian Convalescence Hospital, Epsom, on 19 April. Reginald was transferred to 12th Reserve Battalion, at Shorncliffe, and taken on strength on 18 May. He was granted leave from 28 to 31 May. 

Reginald arrived in France on 6 June 1916, and joined the 3rd Battalion, in the field, on 8 June 1916. He was promoted Sergeant on 10 October 1916, but was convicted of drunkenness by a Court Martial and, on 9 January 1917, reduced to Corporal. 

Reginald was awarded the Military Medal. This was announced in battalion orders in June 1917 but not published in the London Gazette until 18 July 1917. The citation, which is not reproduced in the London Gazette, reads:

This N.C.O. while in charge of a fighting patrol on the night of April 24/25th 1917, near Willerval, covered all ground to enemy’s wire, on several occasions machine gun fire being opened on his patrol. In spite of this he kept his party intact and brought back much valuable information. Also, on the night of April 25/26th while in charge of an advanced outpost he showed great coolness under enemy shell fire. 

On 7 September 1917 the 3rd Battalion moved from brigade reserve at Cite St. Pierre to the front line in the left section of the Canadian Corps front. 

On 11 September the 3rd Battalion sent out a working party to construct a new trench in no man’s land. This party was machine gunned on two occasions and attacked with trench mortars and retired. A second attempt was made to do the work, but again they were attacked and the enemy fire extended to the Canadian’s lines as it seemed the enemy thought the working party was an attack on their trenches. Only four men were wounded, including Reginald who received shrapnel wounds to his left arm and fracture of his left leg. He was admitted to 1st Canadian Field Ambulance, where he died of wounds on 12 September.