Search results Next record Previous record English Māori George Archibald Douglas Spence Born 8 February 1901 PDF Key details Service numberWWII 3422 AWMM Also known as Armed force / branchArmy AWMM Last rank WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM Enquire Lay a poppy Presentation of Military Cross to Rev G A C Spence by General Freyberg at NZ Armoured Brigade parade … Copyright undetermined - untraced rights owner AWMM View gallery Hide sources Show empty fields Identity About Contribute › Title ForenamesGeorge Archibald Douglas AWMM SurnameSpence AWMM Ingoa Also known as Service numberWWII 3422 AWMM GenderMale AWMM Iwi Hapū Waka Rohe ReligionPresbyterian, Christian AWMM Images and documents Images Contribute › Documents Contribute › Civilian life About birth Contribute › Birth8 February 1901 AWMM Date of birth8 February 1901 Public - Mike - Researcher - 10 September 2015 - Birth Records Place of birthFeilding, New Zealand Public - Mike - Researcher - 10 September 2015 - Birth Records Birth notes Address before enlistmentWW2 Unknown AWMM 11 Taketai Street, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Post war occupation Next of kin on embarkationWW2 Mrs J.M. Spence (wife) 11 Taketai Street, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Relationship statusUnknown AWMM Married AWMM Janet May Spence nee Geddes AWMM Service Wars and conflicts Contribute › WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM CampaignMiddle East AWMM Italy AWMM 1941 AWMM World War 2/wars AWMM Crete AWMM Greece AWMM Libya AWMM Armed force / branchArmy AWMM Service numberWWII 3422 AWMM Military serviceSecond New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM 20 Infantry Battalion AWMM Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers Military decorations Contribute › Medals and AwardsMilitary Cross (MC) AWMM 9 September 1942 AWMM The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Spence, George Archibald Douglas. (Ref. WO 373/20/245). Military Cross."This Officer gave an inspiring example of indifference to danger and fatigue, and of devotion of duty throughout operations in Greece, Crete, and Libya. In his capacity as padre, he at no time spared himself in assisting with wounded and burying dead, and in visiting and bringing comforts to troops in the line. He was always to be found where the men of his Battalion were engaged in action." Beattie and Pomeroy, p. 286 AWMM Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) (Military) AWMM London Gazette 13th December 1945 "For consistently good service over a period of five and a half years. Rev. Spence came overseas with the first body of New Zealand troops in 1940 and has had unbroken service since. He very early distinguished himself as an outstanding regimental chaplain with all the requirements of personality that made his influence most marked. He was appointed Senior Chaplain 2NZEF in April 1944, and in a somewhat different sphere has shown exceptional ability in administration and in controlling chaplains of all denominations." Beattie and Pomeroy, p. 285 AWMM Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - Military Division (OBE mil)Military CrossMention in DespatchesEfficiency Decoration Public - Mike - Researcher - 10 September 2015 - Military files Training and Enlistment Contribute › Military training Branch Trade Proficiency EnlistmentWW2 Unknown AWMM Clerk in Holy Orders/Civilian AWMM Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Occupation before enlistment Age on enlistment Embarkations Contribute › Embarkation detailsWW2 Captain/Military AWMM New Zealand Artillery, 4 Field Regiment AWMM 2NZEF: 1st Echelon AWMM Prisoner of war Contribute › Capture details Days interned Liberation date Liberation Repatriation POW liberation details POW serial number Medical history Contribute › Medical notes Last known rank Contribute › Last rank Biographical information Biographical information Contribute › Rev. G. A. D. Spence, OBE, MC, m.i.d.; born Feilding, 8 Feb 1901; Presbyterian Minister, Wellington; SCF 2 NZEF, Apr 1944-Oct 1945; wounded 17 Jul 1942. (Source: McKinney, J.B. Medical Units of 2 NZEF in Middle East and Italy. p.37.)'Padre Spence: Padre G. A. D. Spence followed Padre McKenzie as Senior Chaplain in Italy. He had served with the 20th Battalion in Greece, Crete, Libya, and Egypt, had proved himself one of the most successful and respected unit chaplains, and had won the Military Cross for bravery and devotion to duty in these campaigns. In his new position he found the Chaplains' Department well established and enjoying the very best co-operation from the Army authorities. He was not called upon to pioneer in Departmental organisation but to keep a well-designed machine functioning smoothly, and this he did very well. He visited the Division regularly and also found time to see something of the many scattered outposts in Italy, besides making a short trip to Base Camp at Maadi. His humility and mild appearance belied his conscientious pursuit of duty and his high administrative talents.' (Source: Waters, Sydney D.; Ross, Squadron Leader J. M. S.; Underhill, Rev. M. L.; Winhall, Rev. N. E. Chaplains. p. 41.) AWMM Read more Death About death Contribute › Death Date of death10 January 1974 Public - Mike - Researcher - 10 September 2015 - Death Records Age at death72 Public - Mike - Researcher - 10 September 2015 - Death Records Place of deathLower Hutt, New Zealand Public - Mike - Researcher - 10 September 2015 - Death Records Cause of death Death notes Cemetery Cemetery name Grave reference Obituary Memorial name Memorial reference Memorials Memorial Contribute › Memorial name Roll of Honour Remember George Archibald Douglas Spence by laying a poppy. Frederick John Spence Geoffrey Reginald Lowther Spence George Archibald Douglas Spence George Garson Spence George Hollands Spence Lay a poppy for 2021 Leave a note Leave a tribute or memory of George Archibald Douglas Spence Leave a note Contribute › Processing Related Serviceperson Janet May Spence Sources Sources Contribute › External links'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November 1941 to April 1942.' (London Gazette, 9 September 1942, p.3949.). Military Cross. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35697/pages/3949 Further Reference The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Spence, George Archibald Douglas. (Ref. WO 373/20/245). Military Cross. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7359154 Further Reference DocumentsSecond New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 1 (Embarkations to 31st March, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM WW2 1: WW2 170 AWMM Pringle, D., & Glue, W. (1957). 20 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM pp.10, 41–2, 47–8, 91, 100, 120, 141, 166, 179, 194, 212– 14, 250, 281, 299, 301, 305, 420, 602. AWMM McKinney, J. (1952). Medical units of 2NZEF in Middle East and Italy. Wellington, N.Z.: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM p.37. AWMM Rev. M. L. Underhill ... [et al.] (1950). New Zealand chaplains in the Second World War. Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch, Wellington, N.Z. AWMM p.41. 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 Contributors Processing Command item Command item Add new record Refresh DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact 10 September 2015Mike600Researcher The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided. Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Search results Next record Previous record