South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
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| France & Flanders | 1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 2 Nov 1914 in France | ~ | Studley War Memorial |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Winter Operations 1914-15 | 1902 in Worcester | Toronto Old City Hall |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| E Kemmel | ~ | |
- A member of D Company
Circumstances of Death
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Joseph is listed as being killed in action on 30th January 1915. The 3rd Battalion war diary entries for the period 28th to 31st January are transcribed below along with a newspaper article from the Toronto Star and a card sent by Joseph to a friend in Canada. The newspaper article gives the exact details of how Joseph was killed. War Diary Entries28th Jan 1915 - E Kemmel: Relieved Royal Fusiliers in trenches. Casualties 1 killed & 2 wounded 29th Jan 1915 - E Kemmel: In trenches E Kemmel. Casualties 1 wounded 30th Jan 1915 - E Kemmel: In trenches E Kemmel. Casualties 1 killed & 4 wounded 30th Jan 1915 - E Kemmel: In trenches E Kemmel. Casualties 0 Newspaper Report and Post CardTORONTO RESERVIST KILLED Private Joseph J. Spiers, C Coy of the 3rd Worcesters was killed in action on January 29 according to word received in Toronto by Mrs. B Parker, 57 Russett Avenue. Private Spiers was a motorman in the employ of the Toronto Railway Company and was attached to the Lansdowne Barns. He left Toronto on August 18 to join his regimentin the Old Country. Mrs Parker received a letter from her husband who is at the front and another from here sister-in-law in the Old Country both of which tell of the death of Spiers. Len Parker who is a member of D Coy, 3rd Worcesters writing from the front to his wife in Toronto says "I am sorry to tell you that Joe was killed on the 30th of January, poor chap. I can hardly believe it for I was only talking to him the night before and as I left him I wished him good night and good luck. He was on his way to the trenches. That was the last I saw of him. He was hit in the mouth and through the head from a very lucky shot through the loophole in the trench. I feel lost without him, poor chap.
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| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
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| Jan Qtr 1885 in Sambourn | 14 Jul 1898 in Redditch |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Charles Joseph and Martha Spiers | New Road, Studley |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1886 - 25 Edward Street, Redditch | 1891 - School age |
| 1891 - 20 Charles Street, Blockhouse, Worcs (visitor) | 1901 - Groom/Gardener |
| 1901 - Three Horse Shoes, Wixford (servant) | 1911 - Unemployed ex-Soldier |
| 1911 - High Street, Studley | 1914 - Motorman for Toronto Railway Co |
| 1914 - Toronto, Canada | |
- At the outbreak of the war Joseph was living and working in Toronto when he was mobilised from the Reserves. He arrived back in the
UK in August 1916 - Brother of William John and Charles Joseph Spiers both of whom also fell