User:Caliandris/Charles Henry Hughes Spivey

Charles Henry Hughes Spivey (1870-1935) was the first non-commissioned officer in the Scots Guards. He was awarded the MBE in 1917 for his services in mobilizing the Scots Guards during the First World War.

Charles Henry Hughes Spivey was born in Carmarthen on October 26, 1870, the son of William Smith Spivey, a solicitor's managing clerk, and Maria Elizabeth Hughes. His mother and father died before 1881 and he went to live in Walthamstow with his older brother W.F. Spivey, who was a schoolmaster and later headmaster of Monoux School. Initially working as a bank clerk, he joined the Scots Guards on September 10, 1893.

He served in the ranks 23 years and 136 days, being promoted to a combatant commission in the Scots Guards on January 24, 1917. Before this promotion, he served in South Africa with the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards from 15 March, 1900 to 27 October 1902 in the 8th Division. He often talked about his experiences during the seige of Ladysmith, when he had been forced to eat rats and boot leather to stay alive.

The award of the MBE was a civil award, despite being granted in connection with his work in the Scots Guards. He used to recount that the records for the soldiers who had served with the Guards had been sent for archiving, but he managed to remember a large number of their names and addresses from memory, and so he was able to work to mobilise the men to serve in the First World War.

Charles Henry Hughes Spivey's medals were donated by the family to the Scots Guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks, but were unfortunately destroyed when the chapel was hit during the Second World War. The handwritten letters that he was sent offering the medal, are retained by his family.

Charles Henry Hughes Spivey's sister, Maria Isabel Spivey, later Mrs William Richardson, was also awarded the MBE.

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