Lieutenant
Jonathan Terence Raban
SPENCE
Royal Navy
26
Jonathan Spence was born in Gloucestershire on 27 January 1958. He joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman on 1 September 1976 at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 1 September 1978 and to Lieutenant on 1 September 1980, in which year he also graduated with a BA from Cambridge University (Corpus Christi College).
In 1981 he was appointed to the frigate HMS TORQUAY. Jonathan Spence next joined submarines in 1982 with an appointment to the HMS DOLPHIN ‘for the Submarine Course’. On completion he was appointed to HMS SCEPTRE where he served as Deputy Weapons Engineer Officer.
Jonathan Spence of Jasper Farmhouse, St Clear, Liskeard, Cornwall, died in a car accident on 21 September 1984. He is buried in Weston Mill Cemetery, Plymouth.
2 responses
Jon is kneeling on the right of the picture – this from Sceptre 1983
I had the privilege of serving with Jon Spence in HMS Sceptre. Not only was he a delightful and fun loving companion but he was also a quite excellent DWEO who was most effective and much loved by his department. A Cambridge graduate, he was highly intelligent, exuded confidence and was an excellent control room watchkeeper clearly destined for senior rank. His analytical input on fire control helped Sceptre to become the first ‘S ‘boat winner of the Sealion Trophy.
A keen sportsman he was a demon spin bowler who played a major part in us winning the Plymouth Command 6 a side cricket competition in 1983. His death, in an horrific car accident, was much mourned by all who knew him. The Royal Navy and the Submarine Service, in particular, lost an upcoming star.