Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Spicer, a farm labourer, born 1868 in Wymeswold, Leicestershire and his wife Alice Basford Spicer (nee Fletcher, married in the 1st quarter of 1892 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1870 in Wymeswold. George William, a schoolboy, was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Wymeswold, his siblings were, Mary Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 1895, John Edward, a schoolboy, born in the 4th quarter of 1896 and Bertie, a schoolboy, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Wymeswold, in March 1901 the family home was in Brook Street, Wymeswold. In April 1911 George was absent from the family home in Brook Street, Wymeswold, residing there was his father a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, Mary, John, a farm labourer, Bertie, a schoolboy and Hilda, born 1901 in Wymeswold, George was employed as a farm cowman and was residing as a servant at Far Street, Wymeswold. His younger brother John Edward died of wounds received in action.
George attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years Service in the United Kingdom on the10th August 1915 in Loughborough. He gave his home address as Far Street, Wymeswold, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Wymeswold, Leicestershire, his age as 22 years and 120 days and his trade or calling as labourer. He gave his father George Spicer, later changed to his mother Alice Spicer of Wymeswold, as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches. His vision and physical development were described as good. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 10th August 1915 in Loughborough. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 4591 on the 10/8/15. Posted to the 2/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 10/8/15. Embodied service commenced on the 10/8/15. Transferred to the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 7/12/15. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 10/12/15. Disembarked on the 11/12/15. Joined the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 9/1/16. Killed in action, in the field on the 24/3/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 10/8/15 – 10/12/15, 123 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 11/12/15 – 24/3/16, 105 days. Total service 228 days. George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by George’s mother Alice Spicer on the 11th July 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?- Edmunds, Clerk in Holy Orders, Wymeswold Vicarage, Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, George Spicer of Far Street, Wymeswold. Mother of soldier, Alice B. Spicer of Far Street, Wymeswold. Full blood brother of soldier, No.103815 Bertie Spicer, age 19 of the Army of the Rhine, Germany. Full blood sisters of soldier, Mary Spicer, age 23 of Far Street, Wymeswold. Hilda Spicer, age 17 of Far Street, Wymeswold. George’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
George was killed in action at 3.00pm when a German “sausage” shell fired by a trench mortar dropped in the trench where he together with Corporal Jack Williamson and two other comrades were sitting, all lost their lives.
The War Diary records: 24 Mar-16 - TRENCHES. Morning quiet. Enemy began using trench mortar at 2.30pm. Arrived at our front line trench on left of “C” Company and right of “A” Company. Considerable damage was done to this piece of trench, one dug out was blown in. Casualties were Sergeant STANIFORTH wounded, one man killed, Corporal WILLIAMSON killed, one man wounded. We did not retaliate. This trench was repaired during the night.
The War Diary records: 28Mar-16 – TALUS DES ZOUAVES (Brigade Reserve). The following officer having been transferred to England is struck off the strength of the Battalion: 2nd Lieutenant G. R. BROOKES “D” Company, also 14 N.C.O.’s and men. Casualties. The following casualties are struck off the strength of the Battalion. Captain R. D. FARMER. 2693 L.C. WILLIAMSON. W. 4491 Pte. SPICER G.W. 4178 Pte. BROWNLOW. E. 4220 Pte. Riley T.
On Friday April 14th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – WYMESWOLD ROLL OF HONOUR. Private George Spicer, aged 20, of the Leicesters, killed in action on March 25th, was the third Wymeswold man to fall in the war. His parents live in the village.