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Cenotaph record

Reginald Henry Spicer

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Reginald Henry AWMM
  • Surname
    Spicer AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWII 610075 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW2 Pre 1943 AWMM 22 Savage Cres., Palmerston N. AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Mrs. E.I.R. Spicer, 22 Savage Cres., Palmerston N. (w) AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 1943 AWMM Married/WWII AWMM
    Emily Isabel Ruth Thomas AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Cross (MC) AWMM
      20 September 1945 AWMM
      The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Spicer, Reginald Henry. (Ref. WO 373/13/610). Military Cross. "As a Platoon Commander, Company 2i/c and Company Commander over the past several months, Maj. Spicer's services have been distinguished by natural qualities of leadership, great skill in organisation and extreme resolution and determination in the face of the enemy. At the beginning of the attack from the River Lamone to the River Senio, South of Route 9, on 14/15 December 1944, Maj. Spicer's company was in a reserve role, but when the call came, he led it in determined assaults against enemy strongpoints with such skill that nearly 50 prisoners were taken, and many killed or wounded. As the attack was pressed on towards the Senio Maj. Spicer deployed his platoons in rapid moves over the ground; more prisoners were taken and positions fronting the Senio captured and consolidated with such speed that the enemy was completely outwitted. Subsequently, in the period around Christmas and in January 1945, when the winter line had been established on the Senio, Maj. Spicer's men were subjected nightly to bombardment from enemy self-propelled weapons. Considerable damage was caused and casualties suffered and the general situation was most uncomfortable. In such conditions, the strength of Maj, Spicers's qualities as a company commander were most convincingly demonstrated. Without thought for his personal safety, he supervised the construction of defences under most dangerous and hazardous conditions to make the lot of his men more secure. Previously, on the River Lamone front north of Route 9, Maj. Spicer's company was confronted with an enemy pocket on the eastern stop bank of the river. The enemy positions were so skillfully constructed that approach over open ground was practically suicidal. Maj. Spicer was unremitting in the determination to wipe out the pocket and by aggressive patrolling and and his seizure of a vital moment, a successful advance was made, prisoners taken and the enemy compelled to retire to the further side of the river. As commander of a platoon of Vickers machine-guns mounted in carriers, Maj. Spicer's services in the fighting south of Florence and north of Rimini in July/August and September/October 1944 respectively were consistently bold and aggressive and consistently of major assistance to the infantry. Then, one of the most singular qualities, the ability to instill confidence and cheerfulness into his men, was displayed in all sorts of conditions; and as a company commander that same quality has proved of immense importance to the morale of his company. His personal example of courage, his indifference to his own safety in the interests of the the safety of his men, and the bold and determined way in which he carries the fight to the enemy have made of his company a formidable fighting force and have always served as an inspiration to the men in the performance of their task." Gallant Acts and Noble Deeds, p. 287 AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Maj R. H. Spicer, MC; Palmerston North; born Christchurch, 20 Apr 1910; salesman; CO 22 Bn 7 Aug-19 Oct 1945. (Source: Henderson, J. 22 Battalion. p.384.).

    Date of Birth as recorded in Births, Deaths and Marriages 20 April 1912. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    1992 AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Henderson, J. (1958). 22 Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      pp.384, 398–399, 418, 419, 430, 435–436, 438, 449. AWMM
    • Kay, R. (1967). Italy. Volume 2. From Cassino to Trieste. Dept. of Internal Affairs, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington, N.Z. AWMM
      pp.475n, 525. AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 12 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1943 to 31st December, 1943). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      p.182 AWMM
    • Beattie, P.J. and Pomeroy, M.J. (2016). Gallant Acts and Noble Deeds: New Zealand army honours and awards for the Second World War. Auckland, N.Z.: Fair Dinkum Publications.; P.J. Beattie and M.J. Pomeroy, 2016. AWMM

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