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My grandfather, John SPOUSE, was born on Tuesday 08 August 1871 at 11:30 am in the small fishing village of Eyemouth, located on the south east coast of Berwickshire, Scotland.  His parents were William SPOUSE Fisherman/Merchant and Sarah GRAY.  After the birth of three daughters their first son arrived and John was named after his paternal grandfather.  Over the next several years four more sons were born, however only two daughters and two sons survived. 

Records reveal SPOUSE families lived in Berwickshire as early as 1785.  Eyemouth and the surrounding coastal villages had been thriving fishing communities for many decades.  There were good years and lean years but seldom a disastrous year, except for 1881.  For some unknown reason three generations of my family decided to leave Eyemouth around 1873.  They crossed the border into England where William and Sarah opened two seafood retail outlets, the first in Blackhill, Durham then another in Tynemouth, Northumberland.  Five years later on 06 Nov 1878 tragedy struck the family.  Sarah, only 37 years of age, suddenly succumbed to a stroke a few months after the birth of her fifth son.  John was only seven when his mother died.  With the help of William's sister, Isabella, they all pulled together and continued on. 

Breaking away from a family tradition of fishing John pursued a teaching career in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  There he met his future bride, Margaret STURGESS, also a school teacher.  In November 1898, a few months before their marriage at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, John was appointed Principal of the West Hartlepool Pupil Teacher Centre which he filled with great success.  John and Margaret had two children, Winifred born in 1901 and Frederic Alan in 1905. 

During the early 1900's there was a wave of immigration to Canada.  Margaret's father, now retired, plus his wife and daughter decided to join their son who was already in B.C.  In 1905 the Sturgess family left Newcastle-upon-Tyne, headed for Canada and settled first in Victoria, then Nelson.  Letters to Margaret regarding prospects in this new country must have been encouraging, so after careful consideration the SPOUSES packed up their belongings and sailed from Liverpool 28 May 1910 on the White Star's S.S. Laurentic, "one of the most cosy and comfortable vessels afloat", arriving 04 June at Quebec City. 

 The SPOUSES then took a CPR passenger train west to Nelson and joined Margaret's family who were living on a farm they called "Jesmond", located on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake.  John tried his hand at fruit farming but quickly decided it was not for him.  He yearned to return to his teaching profession so after a month in Nelson they headed to Victoria where John was appointed Principal of George Jay Elementary School.  Margaret's parents, Thomas and Elizabeth STURGESS and their daughter Mary, soon followed.  In 1911 John's aunt and uncle from Tynemouth, plus two cousins and their families, emigrated to Victoria.  One of John's cousins was a carpenter and together they built the family's first home in Canada.  

The following year a new challenge awaited John in Vancouver.  The position of Assistant Master of Mathematics, Science and Nature Studies at the Provincial Normal School for Student Teachers was  offered and eagerly accepted.  Every April the Board of Examiners would hold meetings in Victoria in preparation for Provincial Exams and in 1914 John represented the Provincial Normal School.  The Superintendent of Education assigned the preparation of papers and subsequent valuation of answers to these Examiners.  As an Examiner, John covered the areas of Bridgeport, Ladner, Point Grey and Vancouver South in 1915 and 1916.    

John shared his love of the outdoors with family and students, as several photos have shown.  He and Margaret enjoyed taking their children on long weekend walks.  When time permitted John would take his son on hikes up Grouse and Dam Mountains and this sparked Alan's interest in mountain climbing.  John was highly respected, not only by his peers but also by all who knew him.  When I first met my high school math teacher Miss Adams she asked if I was related to John SPOUSE, as this was not a common surname.  I replied that he was my grandfather.  Miss Adams told me he had taught her mathematics and mentioned just how much she respected him.  She said he was a wonderful, gentle human being and for me to always be proud that he was my grandfather.  Many years later, after reading his letters sent home from England and France, I realized what a deeply devoted and loving father he truly was to his son and daughter.  He had a very special gift of communicating with such understanding and tenderness.  He always offered his children encouragement, for their joys and sorrows were of the utmost importance to him.  And he had a sense of humour.  The more I learned about him the more my love and respect for him grew.   

When W.W. I broke out the first bombs that landed on British soil hit the city of Hartlepool, where his children were born.  John was nearing 45 when he enlisted at the Central Recruiting Depot in Vancouver on 16 May 1916.  Prior to that he had served eight months with the Vancouver Volunteer Reserve.  Fearing age would cause him to be rejected he wrote "August 8^th, 1875" instead of 1871 for his date of birth.  Two weeks later John learned his 21 year old nephew, Stoker 1st Class James RUDDICK, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Queen Mary, was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916.  

Corporal John SPOUSE, Regimental Number 506134, became a member of CANADIAN ENGINEERS 6th FIELD COMPANY in North Vancouver, an Active Militia Unit.  He served for six months before being transferred to the Engineers Training Depot at St. Johns (St. Jean), Quebec.  This Overseas Draft of 6th FIELD COMPANY, CE, left Vancouver in late October 1916.  Enroute to Montreal a group of the boys, travelling with "Sgnt Spouse in charge", wrote a little note of thanks to his children Winifred and Alan.  They had prepared a few parcels for the Sappers to open and enjoy on their train journey east and their thoughtfulness was much appreciated.   

From information contained in his Attestation Papers John was described as 5' 11" tall, 170 pounds;  fair complexion with blue eyes and golden hair;  apparent age of 41 years;  conduct and character very good with special qualifications as a Schoolmaster by trade.  John received his Commission at St. Johns a few months later. 

During the winter of 1916-17 Margaret, Winifred and Alan joined John in Iberville, a small village near the Engineers Training Depot.  The following spring he was assigned to the Canadian Expeditionary Force's 24th & 25th Drafts, which embarked from Halifax 03 May 1917 aboard the S.S. Justicia.  A smooth, uneventful sailing in a "comfy cabin" was reported and on the 14th they disembarked in England, then proceeded to Crowborough in Sussex.  His family returned to Vancouver. 

It appeared John remained at Crowborough Camp about two months.  Letters and postcards home reveal that he enjoyed leave in Bournemouth and London before proceeding to the Canadian Training School located at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex.  The Officers lived in "a big hotel just across the road from the beach" and John took pleasure in walking along the promenade, plus an occasional band concert.  

In early January 1918 John joined C.E.R. Pool in France however it's not known exactly where he was located during the next six months.  John was "Taken on Strength" 01 June as a Reinforcement from C.E.R. Pool and assigned to "7th Battalion C.E." somewhere near Arras.  His duties consisted of supervising the movement of material to forward companies.  Less than two months later, Sunday 21 July 1918, an incoming, high velocity shell landed very close to John and he was killed instantly.  His C.O. advised the family that Lieut. SPOUSE was most painstaking in carrying out his duties and was in every way a most conscientious and satisfactory Officer.  On Monday, as many of his brother Officers as possible attended the funeral, a firing party of twenty men fired three volleys over his grave and the Last Post was sounded.  Ironically, John's last letter home was postmarked Sunday 21 July 1918. 

John's widow Margaret and his children, 17-year-old Winifred and 12½-year-old Frederic Alan, presented a memorial cross in his honour to St. Stephen's Anglican Church located at 885 - 22nd Street, West Vancouver.  His name may be found in the Canadian Book of Remembrance on Page 505.  In 1990 John's name was also added to the Scottish National War Memorial Roll of Honour of Scots in Canadian Forces (1914-18) located on the grounds of Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. 

Researched and compiled by Beverley Joan SPOUSE, November 2003 

- Ship photos from www.greatships.net; postcards & Ephemera Collection by Jeff Newman; narrative by Mark Baber. 

- SS Laurentic history taken from "White Star" by Roy Anderson