David Spence

For the Canadian politician see David Spence (Canadian politician). For the candidate for Governor in Missouri see Dave Spence

David Spence
as Yeoman of the Guard
Born	1818 Inverkeithing, Fife
Died	17 April 1877 (aged 58) Lambeth, London
Buried at	Lambeth Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Regimental Sergeant-Major
Unit	9th Lancers
Battles/wars	First Anglo-Sikh War Second Anglo-Sikh War Indian Mutiny
Awards	Victoria Cross
Other work	Yeoman of the Guard

David Spence VC (1818 - 17 April 1877) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Spence was born in Scotland. He joined the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers in 1842. When he was about 40 years old, and a troop sergeant-major in the 9th Lancers (The Queen's Royal), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 17 January 1858 at Shunsabad, India for which he was awarded the VC:

Troop Serjeant-Major Spence

Date of Act of Bravery, 17th January, 1858
For conspicuous gallantry on the 17th of January, 1858, at Shumsabad, in going to the assistance of Private Kidd, who had been wounded, and his horse disabled, and bringing him out from a large number of rebels. Despatch from Major-General Sir James Hope

Grant, K.C.B., dated 8th April, 1858.^[1]

Further information

He later achieved the rank of regimental sergeant-major and in 1862 became a Yeoman of the Guard.^[2]

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Regimental Museum of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers in Derby Museum, England.

References

1. ^ London Gazette: no. 22212. p. 5512. 24 December 1858. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
2. ^ Derby Council tribute

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (S. London)

Persondata
Name	Spence, David
Alternative names
Short description	Victoria Cross holder
Date of birth	1818
Place of birth	Inverkeithing, Fife
Date of death	17 April 1877
Place of death	Lambeth, London