Military History

Embarked Fremantle per RMS ‘Mongolia’ 22.11.1915.
Roll Rank Private
Roll Rank 3rd Infantry Brigade, 11th Battalion, 12th Reinf.
Spice disembarked at Egypt. After a period of training, he joined 11th ‘B’ Coy. 2.3.1916 in defensive duties around Gebel Habieta, guarding the Suez Canal (AWM 11th Bn). Spice entrained to Alexandria, joined the BEF 9.3.1916 and embarked for France per HT ‘Corsican’ 29.3.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 5.4.1916. The 11th Bn. were moved by train to billets at Fletre. They were moved to Sailly to commemorate ANZAC Day on 25.4.1916. The 11th Bn. were moved to the front line at Fleurbaix in mid May 2016. The 11th Bn. experienced their first battle on the Western Front at Cordonnerie Salient on 30.5.1916. The 11th Bn lost 37 men killed and 70 wounded in this action. (AWM 11th Bn) Spice was KIA in this combat 30.5.1916. He was buried Rue Petillon Military Cemetery, Plot 2, Row A, Grave 16 - located, 2 ¾ miles east of Laventie and 4 miles South West of Armentieres. His burial was attended by Rev. W. K. Douglas. There was some renumbering of plot details, however, Spices’ grave site was unchanged and he was given a permanent head stone. Today his grave is found at Plot 1, Row H, Grave 34, Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Bethune, Nord Pas de Calais, France. His name was detailed in the 181st casualty list in the West Australian 3.7.1916
Final Rank Private, 11th Infantry Bde.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos Theodore Spice Morley with Flora and children.  Photograph donor Terry Mann c/o Discovering Anzacs, photograph source National Archives of Australia             
              Pte. Theo Spice. Photographer unknown, photograph source Daily News 5.7.1916 p6
              SS 'Mongolia'. Photograph of postcard, source AWM 303637  Naval  History  Collection
              Ruins of Fleurbaix August 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E03723

Information Source
AWM 303637. SS 'Mongolia'. Photograph of postcard, sourced from the Naval History Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E03723. Ruins of Fleurbaix August 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll Theodore Morley Spice.
AWM Roll of Honour Theodore Morley Spice
AWM 11th Bn
Daily News
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Spice Theodore Morley
NAA:  Theodore Morley Spice with wife Flora and children. Photographer donor Terry Mann c/o Discovering Anzacs, photograph source National Archives of Australia
West Australian Newspaper

Boundary Road, Midland, WA.

Associated Images