Dates:
[1885-1916]
War Service:
Lance Corporal 4177 WILFRED CUBITT SPELMAN died on 13 November 1916, aged 31. He joined the Honourable Artillery Company at Armoury House on 9th August 1915 and served in A (or No 1) Company of the 1st Battalion H. A. C. (Infantry). He went to France with the 14th reinforcing draft on 5th January 1916. he was posted to 1st Battalion on 7th January 1916 and went to France on 8th January 1916. He joined the Battalion in the field on 21st January 1916 and was promoted to Lance Corporal (unpaid) on 6th November 1916. He was reported missing between 13th and 15th November 1916, later presumed killed on or since that date. He was killed during an attack on Beaucourt.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme
Location of Memorial:
He is remembered on the memorial at the Private Banks Cricket and Athletic Club in Catford.
Details:
He was born in East Sheen, Richmond in Surrey in 1885, the son William and Ellen Mary (Nee Cubitt) Spelman of 6,Thirsk Road, Lavender Hill, London. He was one of five children:
• Wilfred Cubitt Spelman (b. 1885)
• Hubert John Spelman (b. 1887, d. 1888)
• Norman Charles Spelman (b. 1888, d. 1905)
• Harold Douglas Spelman (b. 1890)
• Alec William Edric Spelman (b. 1894)
Also lived at 16 Avenue Mansions, Clapham Common.
Educated at Felix College, St. John's Hill, and at Clark's College.
William was an insurance clerk and worked for London County Westminster and Parrs Bank. he was an excellent footballer and cricketer, and played for Parr's Bank team.
Lance-Corporal Wilfred Cubbitt Spelman, H.A.C., was reported missing after the fighting at Beaumont Hamel on November 14, 1916. No hopeful news having reached his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. Spelman, 6 Thirsk-road, Lavender Hill, they have come to the conclusion that he must have passed away. They have received information from their son's comrades which confirms them in their supposition that he was killed instantly during the fighting. He was in command of a section and took his men "over the top" with a shout of "Come along, boys." An officer of the Warwick Regiment has written to the effect that Lance-Corporal Spelman was killed, and Mr. and Mrs. Spelman have heard from another source that he was shot through the head. Corporal Spelman received his education at Felix College, St. John's Hill, and at Clark's College. He entered the service of Parr's Bank, and in August, 1915, when the bank were prepared to release him, joined the army. He was an excellent footballer and cricketer, and played for Parr's Bank team in many engagements, on one occasion visiting Dresden and Prague when the bank team played football matches with representative German teams.
By Ian Spelman
Source:
Ian Spelman via ww1cemeries.com website
Contributed By: Ian Spelman
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