Spinney, RE
(1892 - 1917)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
16th April 1892
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1907 - 1909
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
Childerley, Copers Cope Road, Beckenham
REGIMENT
Intelligence Corps
FINAL RANK:
Lieutenant
DATE OF DEATH:
1st February 1917
AGE AT DEATH:
24
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Puchvilliers
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Puchevillers British Cemetery. V A 9
Lieutenant Robert Eric Spinney
Eric was born on April 16th 1892, the youngest son of R.A. Spinney, a British Postal Agent at Mazagan, Morocco, who would later work as a consul in the country. He joined Dulwich at the start of 1907 and was a boarder in the Orchard throughout his almost three years at the College. After leaving at the end of 1909 he joined his father in Morocco before going on to spend a period of time in Germany.
Upon the outbreak of war in late summer 1914 Eric took a commission in the Army Service Corps with whom he not long afterwards proceeded to France, serving there until the summer of 1915. That June he transferred to the West Riding Regiment and subsequently returned to England, where he was for a year involved in staffing and intelligence. In September 1916 he went back over to the front, by now serving with the Intelligence Corps. He was awarded the Military Cross in January 1917 for his work in reconnaissance: having scouted an enemy advance post by himself he returned some days later accompanied by two bombers, this time capturing seven prisoners. On February 1st he was very badly hit in the left arm and he died as a result later that night, at the age of 24.
