Source: Duty ND page 246 Joined unit August 31, 1917. Died almost a year later.
Family Search: When Lieutenant John Clauson Spence was born on 21 May 1888, in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, his father, William Green Spence, was 39 and his mother, Catherine McDonald, was 36. He lived in Ontario, Canada in 1901. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1913, at the age of 27, his occupation is listed as accountant, phillip morris mfg. in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He died on 27 August 1918, in Vis-en-Artois, Pas-de-Calais, France, at the age of 30, and was buried in Chérisy, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Went by Clauson Spence.
This man was working at Montreal, Quebec as an accountant for Phillip Morris Mfg. when he decided to enlist in the CEF. Returning to his home town of Parry Sound, he enlisted as an officer with the 162nd Battalion on 14 January 1916.
He was promoted to Captain on 10 October 1915 and the until sailed for England on 31 October 1916 via Halifax and arrived 11 November 1916 at Liverpool.
He was transferred to the General List while at West Sandling Camp on 4 January 1917 and was attached to the 4th Reserve Battalion effective 4 January 1917.
He was put “On Command” with the Officer’s Battalion at Seaford on 12 August 1917.
He reverted to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant on 15 June 1917 and was sent overseas as he was transferred to the 18th Battalion effective 23 August 1917.
He arrived “in the field” on 30 August 1917 and was granted a 14 days leave to England 14 January 1918.
He was sent to the 1st Army Rest Camp on 22 July 1918 and returned to duty on 7 August 1918.
He had only 20 days to live, as he was shot by a German sniper on 27 August 1918.
OFFICERS AMONG CASUALTIES
Lieut. J.C. Spence, Parry Sound, brother of Mr. Claude Spence, 43 Greenlaw avenue, killed in action; Lieut. G.R. Collin, 96 Glendale avenue, killed in action; Lieut. N.H. Clemes, 123 south drive, wounded.
Source: Date and source unknown. Toronto Circa August 1918.
Lieut. J.C. Spence Killed.
Lieut. J.C. Spence, whose brother, Mr. Claude Spence, lives at 45 Greenlaw aveneue, Toronto, was killed in action on August 27th. Lieut. Spence joined the 162nd Battalion at Parry Sound in February, 1915. He went overseas as a captain in October 1915, and when his battalion was broken up reverted to the rank of lieutenant to go to the front. He was 30 years of age and is survived by his widowed mother, two sisters and four brothers.
The Toronto Star. Sept. 9. 1918.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 