Little is known of Geoffrey's early life beyond that he was born to Bertie James and Elizabeth Louisa (née Fisher) Spencer in Kentish Town on 19th May 1919. His father is recorded as serving as a police constable (as had his father) with the London Metropolitan Police Force and Geoffrey had one sibling, his older brother Lesley James Spencer (28th October 1912 to March 1996).

Records indicate that 40th Fortress Company undertook a range of activities in the early stages of the Battle for Hong Kong, which included demolition work, laying of minefields and constructing protection for billets and defensive positions from air attacks and shelling. Activities in the later stages included fighting alongside the infantry battalions with some street fighting on the final day.

The report by Lt. Col R.G. Lamb dated 24/9/1945 (National Archives WO172/11400) gives some indication of the action Geoffrey may have seen.

• 8/12/1941 "...and 40th Coy. were ordered to deploy...to the Shouson Hill area..."
• 12/12/1941 "...reserve fuel dump in Fort Belchers. This had been set on fire by enemy arty. but all reserve fuel was evacuated by a party of 40th Coy."
• 14/12/1942 "Further heavy fire at Belcher Fort, but again 40th Coy. salved fuel supplies and lorries."
• 19/12/1941 "Orders from C.E. to take all available men to Wong Nei Chong Gap...Two sections, one 40th Coy. under Major Murray ...were left to deny the direct approach to the enemy., and the remainder of the party withdrew to reform and counterattack. "

Geoffrey was captured at the surrender of the garrison on 25 December 1941 and was interned at Sham Shui Po POW camp before embarking on the Lisbon Maru.

Sadly Geoffrey did not survive the sinking of the Lisbon Maru and is recorded on Column 7 of the Sai Wan Memorial in Hong Kong.

Geoffrey's cousin Reginald Charles Spencer, was a fellow Royal Engineer serving in Hong Kong, who also sadly did not survive the sinking of the Lisbon Maru.

Geoffrey's older brother Lesley died a bachelor with no known offspring, so I am unaware of any surviving close family relatives after Lesley's death.