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Eliot Spencer, born on 5th April 1891, was admitted to King Edward’s School in January 1902 and was awarded a Foundation Scholarship biennially from 1904 until he left. He lived with his father, Thomas, a mechanical engineer, his mother, Ada, and his four siblings at ‘Eastville’, 51, Beeches Road, West Bromwich.
As a pupil of the Modern School, Eliot studied a primarily scientific, rather than classical, curriculum. His status as a Foundation Scholar was based on merit, and the School Lists show that Eliot was a highly able student. In his final year, he not only came second in his class of 16 in chemistry but also won the German Prize for his class. After leaving School, the 1911 Census reveals that he became an engineering pupil.
In 1914, Eliot enlisted as a Private Soldier with the 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, along with many other Old Edwardians. He obtained his commission as a Second Lieutenant in September 1915 with the 3/5th Battalion, RWR, Territorial Force. He served with the Battalion (Reserves) throughout 1916 and was promoted to Lieutenant. In January 1916, he was posted to France for the first time, with the 1/6th Battalion, RWR. Eliot was wounded on 27th August 1917, and his wounds were of sufficient gravity for him to have been invalided back to ‘Blighty’. He died of these same injuries on February 18th 1918 in the Prince of Wales Hospital, London. As his body was in England, Eliot was buried in West Bromwich Cemetery. He left his estate of £446 to his father, who had been made a Knight of the British Empire and a Justice of the Peace.