Spink was posted to India with his battalion after service in South Africa.  The 2/Shropshire's remained in India until the beginning of the Great War and it appears that Spink was still serving when the war broke out. The supplemental 14 December 1914 edition of the London Gazette mentions Spink, now a company sergeant-major as being commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2/Shropshires. Three other senior NCOs in his battalion were also commissioned at the same time. Spink was assigned to "D" Company.

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The battalion had embarked for England in October on SS Neuralia. Spink transferred to the 1/Shropshires and deployed to France in December 1914. In January he was wounded at Bromezee;e but refused evacuation. He was wounded a second time in April 1915 near Zonnebeke. He saw additional action at the Somme and was Gazetted for the Military Cross for gallantry in action at Transloy Ridges in October 1916.

 

His citation for the Military Cross reads in full:

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"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He personally conducted and posted advanced posts, showing marked courage and initiative. The information sent in from his personal reconnaissance was of the greatest value."

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The war's toll finally caught up with Spink when, suffering from shell shock, he was invalided home after the battle of Cambrai in November 1917.

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For his wartime services, Captain Edgar Vincent Thomas Alexander Spink earned the Military Cross, the 1914-15 Star, and the British War and Victory Medals.

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Spink's wartime and post-war promotions included in part:

2nd Lieutenant - 14 December 1914

Lieutenant - 10 August 1915

Acting Captain - 25 August 1915

Captain - 28 February 1919 (antedated 25 August 1917)

Retires on Retired Pay - 10 August 1921

Reserve of Officers

Lieutenant-Colonel/Chief Recruiting Officer (Local Rank) - 2 January 1929

Relinquishes Recruiting Officer Appointment - 16 January 1934

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Spink married twice. His first marriage was to Florence Caroline Allan (1884-1927) and the union produced at least one child: Gladys Florence Spink (b. 1907). His second marriage was to Minnie Emily Palmer (1905-1987) with at least two children being produced: Thomas Edgar Spink (b. 1932) and Elizabeth Gwendoline Mary Spink (b. 1934)

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Edgar Vincent Thomas Alexander Spink passed away in Gosport, Hampshire in 1942.

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Cabinet Photograph

C. W. Lawrie & Co. - Photographer

Lucknow, Naini Tal, Bareilly, & Ranikket, British India

1905

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