DIED FROM INJURIES RECEIVED
WHILST RESCUING A CHINAMAN
DURING AN AIR RAID
"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN"

REVEREND WILLIAM SPINKS

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

29TH MAY 1918 AGE 45

BURIED: ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, FRANCE


On the night of 19/20 May 1918 the Germans bombed the base camp at Etaples causing many casualties among soldiers, nurses and members of the Chinese Labour Corps. The Reverend William Spinks was severely injured and died of his wounds ten days later. It is estimated that there were nearly 100,000 Chinese Labourers working for the British Army in France by the time of the Armistice of whom about 2,000 died.