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Gilbert Ormerod Spence (1879-1925)


Stockton shipbuilder commanded 5th DLI painted pictures of battles and men at rest


Gilbert Ormerod Spence, the son of Henry Grant and Eliza Dorothea Spence, was born in Lorne Terrace, Stockton-on-Tees, on 29 September 1879. In March 1900 he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion Durham Light Infantry, being promoted to lieutenant the following year and was employed as a shipbuilder, probably working for his father. He was promoted to captain in 1902 and to major in April 1908 when the battalion became the 5th Battalion with headquarters in Stockton.

Gilbert became a member of Thornaby Town Council and was elected Mayor in 1912. In 1914 he was promoted to temporary lieutenant-colonel and commanded the 5th battalion until April 1918. He took part in the Second Battle of Ypres, the Hooge gas attack in May 1915, the Battles of the Somme in 1916 and Arras and Flanders in 1917.

He was promoted to colonel in 1918 and whilst fighting bravely during the Battle of Lys, specifically in Estaires, he provided great leadership. During the Allies’ retreat following the great German offensive, the 5th Battalion showed remarkable courage under fire and maintained a defence of bridges just south of the river below the town of Estaires. They did not give up ground without a hard fight and at times counter-attacked against the odds. Spence was shot during this battle, which took him out of the fighting for the remainder of the war. During this period he was twice Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

Throughout the war Gilbert found time to paint over 100 paintings. He depicted what life was like in battle and in rest from a unique first hand perspective and it is poignant that his last watercolour is of the Battle of Estaires as they attempted to hold on. He was also an avid collector of militaria and he acquired some of the best examples of arms and armour in the country. In 1921 he was made a Commander of the Order of the Bath in the New Year’s Honours and was later appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the County. During the industrial dispute in April he was appointed Brigade Commander of the Durham Defence Force and later that year was given command of the Light Infantry Brigade.

On his death in a car accident in Yarm in 1925 he bequeathed his collection of over 3,000 items of arms and militaria and his paintings to Stockton Corporation and these have been placed on display in Preston Park Museum, formerly Preston Hall where he carried out field exercises with his battalion.

Royal Armouries website, page regarding Spence art exhibition:
https://royalarmouries.org/spence-the-art-of-war-2/

Photograph of memorial window, Saint Mary’s Church, Stockton:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bolckow/7260794764/in/album-72157604389761726/

Civil Parish: Stockton on Tees

Birth date: 24-Sep-1879

Death date: 28-Nov-1925

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 2 Lorne Terrace, Stockton-on-Tees (1881 census)
‘Elmwood’, East Hartburn, Stockton on Tees (1901 & 1911 censuses)
‘Far End’, Kirklevington, Yarm, Yorkshire (England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1926)

Education: Oatlands, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Uppingham School, Rutland

Organisation membership: Councillor of Thornaby Town Council & Mayor (1912)
Deputy Lieutenant of Durham

Employment: Richardson Duck and Co. shipbuilders, Thornaby

Family: Father: Henry Grant Spence
Mother: Eliza Dorothea Spence (nee Ormerod)

Military service:

1st Volunteer & 5th Battalions Durham Light Infantry
Colonel

Medal(s): Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches (3)
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Territorial Decoration


Memorial(s): St Mary’s Church, Long Newton
St Thomas’ Church, Stockton-on-Tees

Gender: Male

Contributed by Preston Park Museum | Durham County Record Office | John Edwards

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Comment

Thanks, Ian.

I've added a mention of this in the main body of the page so that the link is live.

All the best

Jo

Contributed by

Jo Vietzke | Durham County Record Office

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Window dedicated to him and the D L I in Stockton Parish Church https://www.flickr.com/photos/bolckow/7260794764/in/album-72157604389761726/

Contributed by

Ian Stubbs

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