Andrew Spence

Police Constable 362, Toronto Police Force | Corporal, 20th Battalion (Central Ontario) CEF

Andrew Spence, was born on 29 August 1885 at Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Emigrating to Canada at the age of twenty and worked “for eight years at one firm” before Spence joined the Toronto Police Force on 1 October 1914, as Police Constable 362. Spence served out of No. 9 Police Station (in the Keele St and Dundas St W area), and lived at 98 Campbell Avenue with his wife Jessie and their two daughters.

On January 31st, 1916, Constable Spence took leave from the police department to enlist with the 180th (Sportsmen) Battalion in Toronto. Sailing to England in November 1916, he continued to train until his unit was broken up for reinforcements. Spence joined the joined the 20th (Central Ontario) Battalion upon landing in France. Spence proceeded to the front and saw action at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Later that summer, in the lead-up to the Battle of Hill 70 Spence took part in a raid on enemy trenches in the Maroc sector on Thursday, August 9th 1917. Spence was was reported missing in action. The Red Cross later confirmed through German sources that Spence died on or after that date, behind enemy lines.

With no known grave, Constable Andrew Spence is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.

  • Research Sources:
  • H. Grasett – Annual Report of the Chief Constable of the City of Toronto for the Year 1914, Page 66. Toronto: The Carswell Co Ltd City Printers, 1915.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Service File of No. 862014 Andrew Spence.
  • Library and Archives Canada. War Diaries of the First World War – 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1917/05/01 – 1917/12/31.
  • Library and Archives Canada. War Graves Registry – Commonwealth War Graves, No. 862014 Andrew Spence.
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Casualty Details for No. 862014 Andrew Spence.
  • International Committee of the Red Cross Archives. Prisoners of the First World War – Spence, Andrew No 862041
  • The Toronto Daily Star (1916, February 2nd), Page 2. “Toronto Police are Enlisting”. (Photo 1)
  • Toronto Telegram (1917, August) “Corp. Andrew Spence”. (Photo 2)
  • The Toronto Daily Star (1918, March 16th), Page 21. “West Toronto Police Honor Roll”.
  • The Toronto Evening Telegram (1918, March 15th). “West Toronto Police Honor Roll”.