Robert Spall of Spencer Road awarded medal during the First World War

A ceremony took place this Monday (13 August) on Spencer Road Acton to mark the award of a Victoria Cross (VC) to a former resident of the street with the installation of a paving stone.

It is part of a national program which aims to place a commemorative paving stone on or near to the date of the action for which the VC was awarded and in a location that has significance for the recipient.

Robert, or Bob Spall as he was known, was born on 5 March 1890 and lived in Spencer Road with his parents before moving as a child to Canada. In July 1915, at the age of 25, he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and came across to Europe to fight in the First World War.

He achieved the rank of sergeant, a non-commissioned officer rank, in the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and was awarded the VC for his actions in protecting the men in his platoon on 13 August 1918 near Parvillers-le-Quesnoy, France.

His VC citation from ‘The London Gazette, October 1918’ reads, ‘For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice when, during an enemy counter-attack, his platoon was isolated. Thereupon Serjt. Spall took a Lewis gun and, standing on the parapet, fired upon the advancing enemy, inflicting very severe casualties. He then came down the trench directing the men into a sap seventy-five yards from the enemy. Picking up another Lewis gun, this gallant N.C.O. again climbed the parapet, and by his fire held up the enemy. It was while holding up the enemy at this point that he was killed. Serjt. Spall deliberately gave his life in order to extricate his platoon from a most difficult situation, and it was owing to his bravery that the platoon was saved.’

Bob died on 13 August 1918 aged 28 and his final resting place has never been identified. He is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial with more than 11,000 other Canadian dead whose remains were lost or never recovered.

The paving stone was laid by the mayor of Ealing, Councillor Tejinder Dhami. Also in attendance was council leader Julian Bell, Rector of Acton the Reverend Dean Ayres and military representatives.

Councillor Dhami said, “It is extremely important that we never forget the outstanding sacrifices made during the First World War. I am honoured to lead this ceremony paying tribute to the exceptional bravery of Robert Spall.”

The commemorative paving stones are provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government and include the name, rank and regiment of the individual (at the time the VC was awarded) and the date of the action for which the VC was awarded.

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award for gallantry that British and Commonwealth serviceman can achieve.

The commemorative VC paving stones are being laid in towns across the country to mark the centenary of the heroics for which the medals were awarded. The first one was laid in 2014.

In total, 469 stones will be laid in communities in England, Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland. To commemorate VC recipients born overseas, 145 stones will be laid in The National Memorial Arboretum. The programme will also see 35 VC recipients commemorated in the Republic of Ireland and 8 VC recipients commemorated in Northern Ireland.

August 16, 2018