Image: Courtesy of Men of Worth Project, Keighley
Hugh Manning Spencer (1890 – 1917) had his life and promising artistic career cut short by the Great War.
He was born in Keighley to Charles and Eliza Spencer. His father was a a local blacksmith, working in the family business. Hugh attended Keighley Trade and Grammar School and, following in his father’s and grand-father’s footsteps, showed an aptitude for metal crafts. He gained a scholarship to study metalworking at the Royal College of Art (RCA), which he entered in 191l. His uncle, Augustus Spencer, on his father’s side, was the Principal of the RCA at that time.
From the outset his artistic ability and inventiveness were noted by the RCA, particularly when working with iron. In June 1914 he sat for his RCA Design diploma and after graduation worked briefly as a designer with an art metalworking company. But in the autumn 1914 he enlisted to serve in the Great War, stating his occupation as ‘draughtsman’.
From his late teens onward, Hugh had been a volunteer with the 6th Battalion (Territorials), West Riding Regiment. As he was now in temporarily living in London, he joined fellow southerners in the 7th (Service) Battalion, East Kent Regiment (the Buffs). Hugh remained with them for his entire military service.
In June 1915 he married Doris Perkins, whom he had met in London, and one month later later entered France with his regiment. He quickly moved up the ranks to become a Sergeant and was recommended for officer training.
Image: Royal College of Art.
In 1917 he trained and was commissioned as an officer on the 26th June and in August returned to his previous battalion as a Second Lieutenant. Before returning to France, Hugh had a brief period of leave with Doris and their child, a boy, was born in May the following year.
However, Hugh never lived to see his son. On 12 October the First Battle of Passchendaele began with the Buffs fighting alongside ANZAC troops, south-west of Poelcappelle. Hugh was shot and killed on the first day of action.
It is not clear what happened to Hugh’s body at the time of his death, but ‘an unknown soldier’ was later identified as him. He is buried at Poelcappelle British Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium.
(Sources: With thanks to Andy Wade, the Men of Worth Project, Keighley, and the Remembrance Project at the Royal College of Art, London)