Gibraltar's first WW2 casualty
Memorial of leading Seaman John Spencer, R.N.
[Gibraltar North Front Cemetery]
For additional information click on 'Comments' below.
posted by ritsonvaljos at 9:08 pm
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
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Additional information
Leading Signalman John Spencer, R.N.
Leading Signalman John Spencer is the earliest 'official' WW2 casualty interred in the Gibraltar North Front Cemetery. His grave is shown in the phtograph above. He died on 4 October 1939 while attached to "HMS Victory I", a shore based training establishment.
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CWGC citation
This is the Commonwealth War Graves Commission citation for Leading Signalman John Spencer, R.N. (HMS Victory):
Name: SPENCER, JOHN
Rank: Leading Signalman
Service No: P/JX 125471
Date of Death: 04/10/1939
Age: 29
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy, H.M.S. Victory.
Grave Reference: Plot 2. Row A. Grave 21.
Cemetery: GIBRALTAR (NORTH FRONT) CEMETERY
[John Spencer's 'Next of Kin' details of his hometown are not given].
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Lord Nelson's Prayer
On the morning of 21 October 1805, with the combined Spanish and French fleet within sight off Trafalgar, Lord Horatio Nelson was commanding the British fleet from an earlier, better known, HMS Victory. With the inevitable battle about to begin, Lord Nelson said the following prayer:
“May the Great God, whom I worship, grant to my country and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory: and may no misconduct, in anyone, tarnish it: and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British Fleet.
For myself, individually, I commit my life to Him who made me and may His blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my country faithfully. To Him, I resign myself and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend.
AMEN AMEN AMEN”
Each October, Gibraltar still commemorates Trafalgar Day with an ecumenical commemorative service at the Trafalgar Cemetery. Two of the officers who fought in the Battle of Trafalgar and later died of their wounds are interred there.
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Dedicated to:
Leading Seaman John Spencer, R.N.
R.I.P.
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