MS 1001
Reference code
MS 1001
Title
Speller family papers
Level
Sub-fonds
Administrative / Biographical history
Herbert Elsmere Speller (1886–1917) was born in London, the eldest son of Samuel Joseph Speller (1853–1914), a draughtsman and photographic artist, and Mary Frances Speller (née Stamp) (1867–1940). The family later moved from London to Frome, Somerset, where he was employed as a brewer’s clerk and cashier at Lamb Brewery Ltd, and also undertook advertising design work for the company. He married Maude Victoria Gibson in August 1914. Called up for military service in June 1916, he served with the 12th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry as a signaller. In 1917 he was deployed to Egypt with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He was shot by a Turkish sniper in the leg in Palestine in September 1917 and died of his wounds at Port Said on 15 December 1917. He was buried at Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria, and is commemorated on the Frome war memorial .
Maude Victoria Speller (née Gibson) (1887–1970) was born at Beckington, Somerset, the daughter of James Gibson (1861–1937), a wealthy grocery and bakery owner, and Ellen Matilda Gibson (née Tripp) (1860–1928). She married Herbert Elsmere Speller in August 1914. Widowed during the First World War and left with two young sons, she was responsible for their upbringing and education. She died at Taunton in January 1970.
Horace Jack Speller (1915–1997) was born at Frome, Somerset, the eldest son of Herbert Elsmere and Maude Victoria Speller. He was two years old at the time of his father’s death. Educated at Frome Grammar School from 1925 to 1931, apprenticed at Barton Press, Frome, he trained in advertising design. He went on to become publicity manager within the Gaumont-British Picture Corporation, responsible for the administration of theatres in the west of England and south Wales. In 1942 he married Eileen Lena Cecelia Leach (1918-2009), who was born at Yeovil, Somerset, the daughter of Frederick W. Leach and Ellen Jane Smith Chant.
During the Second World War Jack enlisted in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1941 and served as an ammunition examiner. From February 1944 to June 1945, he was attached to Special Operations Executive (SOE) as a Sub-Conductor at ES6 WD and Station 12, Aston House, Hertfordshire, where his unit was engaged in the manufacture and preparation of explosive devices for Resistance operations in Europe and the Far East. He was demobilised in August 1946.
After the war Jack worked as a theatre manager on the film circuit in south-east England, living in Andover before settling at Eton. From 1959 to 1984 Jack and Eileen and their daughter Jane Lesley Speller (born 1944) managed Tudor Stores at Eton. Jack died at Eton in 1997 and Eileen died at Windsor in 2009.
Ernest James Speller (1895–1987) was born at Frome, Somerset, the youngest child of Samuel Joseph and Mary Frances Speller, and the younger brother of Herbert Elsmere Speller. He was apprenticed as a printer by 1911. He served during the First World War with the Worcestershire Regiment and the Dorset Regiment. He died at Lewes, East Sussex, in 1987.
Maude Victoria Speller (née Gibson) (1887–1970) was born at Beckington, Somerset, the daughter of James Gibson (1861–1937), a wealthy grocery and bakery owner, and Ellen Matilda Gibson (née Tripp) (1860–1928). She married Herbert Elsmere Speller in August 1914. Widowed during the First World War and left with two young sons, she was responsible for their upbringing and education. She died at Taunton in January 1970.
Horace Jack Speller (1915–1997) was born at Frome, Somerset, the eldest son of Herbert Elsmere and Maude Victoria Speller. He was two years old at the time of his father’s death. Educated at Frome Grammar School from 1925 to 1931, apprenticed at Barton Press, Frome, he trained in advertising design. He went on to become publicity manager within the Gaumont-British Picture Corporation, responsible for the administration of theatres in the west of England and south Wales. In 1942 he married Eileen Lena Cecelia Leach (1918-2009), who was born at Yeovil, Somerset, the daughter of Frederick W. Leach and Ellen Jane Smith Chant.
During the Second World War Jack enlisted in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1941 and served as an ammunition examiner. From February 1944 to June 1945, he was attached to Special Operations Executive (SOE) as a Sub-Conductor at ES6 WD and Station 12, Aston House, Hertfordshire, where his unit was engaged in the manufacture and preparation of explosive devices for Resistance operations in Europe and the Far East. He was demobilised in August 1946.
After the war Jack worked as a theatre manager on the film circuit in south-east England, living in Andover before settling at Eton. From 1959 to 1984 Jack and Eileen and their daughter Jane Lesley Speller (born 1944) managed Tudor Stores at Eton. Jack died at Eton in 1997 and Eileen died at Windsor in 2009.
Ernest James Speller (1895–1987) was born at Frome, Somerset, the youngest child of Samuel Joseph and Mary Frances Speller, and the younger brother of Herbert Elsmere Speller. He was apprenticed as a printer by 1911. He served during the First World War with the Worcestershire Regiment and the Dorset Regiment. He died at Lewes, East Sussex, in 1987.
Date
c.1880-2019
Extent & medium
6 boxes
Content description
The collection comprises papers of three generations of the Speller family of London and Frome, Somerset: Herbert Elsmere Speller (1886-1917), his wife Maude Victoria Speller (1887-1970) née Gibson), their son Horace Jack Speller (1915-1997), his wife Eileen Lena Cecelia Speller (1918-2009) née Leach, and their daughter Jane Lesley Speller (born 1944); also included are a few items relating to Ernest James Speller (1895–1987), younger brother of Herbert Speller.
Herbert Speller’s papers comprise family letters, employment papers and relating to his military service during the World War I and his death in Egypt in 1917. Maude Speller’s papers document the difficulties she faced as a war widow and subsequent family life after Herbert’s death. Also included are some papers relating to her Gibson and Tripp relatives.
Herbert and Maude’s son Jack Speller’s papers relate to his employment and studies in advertising and publicity management, his World War II military papers documenting aspects of his service in Special Operations Executive (SOE), and papers relating to his business activities and management of Tudor Stores at Eton, with his wife Eileen and daughter Jane.
The papers include files of papers and documents letters, diaries, photographs, military documents and objects, and date predominantly from 1900 to 1985.
Herbert Speller’s papers comprise family letters, employment papers and relating to his military service during the World War I and his death in Egypt in 1917. Maude Speller’s papers document the difficulties she faced as a war widow and subsequent family life after Herbert’s death. Also included are some papers relating to her Gibson and Tripp relatives.
Herbert and Maude’s son Jack Speller’s papers relate to his employment and studies in advertising and publicity management, his World War II military papers documenting aspects of his service in Special Operations Executive (SOE), and papers relating to his business activities and management of Tudor Stores at Eton, with his wife Eileen and daughter Jane.
The papers include files of papers and documents letters, diaries, photographs, military documents and objects, and date predominantly from 1900 to 1985.
Provenance
Papers created by generations of the Speller family: Herbert Speller and his wife Maude, passed to their son Jack Speller and his wife Eileen and passed on to their daughter, Jane Speller.
Arrangement
Artificial arrangement imposed by the archivist. The papers have been divided into 4 series:
01 Papers of Herbert Elsmere Speller
02 Papers of Maude Victoria Speller
03 Papers of Horace Jack Speller and his family
04 Papers of Ernest James Speller
01 Papers of Herbert Elsmere Speller
02 Papers of Maude Victoria Speller
03 Papers of Horace Jack Speller and his family
04 Papers of Ernest James Speller
Location of this record in the archive hierarchy
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Number 127 of 128 at this Level
Beneath this record in the archive hierarchy
- Speller family papers: Papers of Herbert Elsmere Speller, MS 1001 01, (c.1880-1919)
- Speller family papers: Papers of Maude Victoria Speller, MS 1001 02, (c.1890-1942)
- Speller family papers: Papers of Horace Jack Speller and his family, MS 1001 03, (c.1890-1942)
- Speller family papers: Papers of Ernest James Speller, MS 1001 04, (1915-1969)