The Entomologist

George Johnston Spencer was a well known entomologist based at the University of British Columbia and became Professor Emeritus after his retirement in 1953. His collection of insects, at 600,000 specimens, is the second largest in Western Canada and his work led, in part, the the creation of an entomological museum that now is part of Beaty Biodiversity Museum.

His path to this career was interrupted by war.

Lieutenant George Johnston Spencer joined the 186th Overseas Battalion in Chatham, Ontario on May 29th, 1916. He had previous military experience with the Volunteer Rifles, India (3 years); 2nd Manchester Territorials (2 years); and the Canadian Training Officer Corp (C.O.T.C.) (15 months). At 28 years old he had traveled very far in distance and experience.

Lieutenant Spencer was born in Yercuard, South India in 1888 and attended the exclusive Bishop Cotton’s Boy School in Bangalore, India he proceeded to England where he attended Regent Street Polytechnic (now the University of Westminster) and the University of Manchester where he was a member of the 2nd Manchester Territorials. Emigrating to Canada he was involved in undergraduate studies at the Ontario Agricultural College (now University Guelph) and may have been doing research in the Chatham, Ontario area when he decided to join the C.E.F.

His background in science did him good stead it may have contributed to his Mention in Desptaches as he was instrumental in the capture, and technical description of a German gas generator while serving with the 18th Battalion.

Lieutenant Spencer has a collection of items available for viewing and research at the Canadian War Museum and that collection can be accessed here.