Robert Rodney Spence

Royal Canadian Navy

Canadian Armed Forces

Robert (Bob) Rodney Spence was born 05 November 1944 in Belfast, Ireland to Robert and Elisabeth (Dickson) Spence. He had 2 younger brothers, Colin also born in Ireland and William (Bill) who was born in Canada. The Spence family immigrated to Canada in December 1950 and travelled by train from Halifax to Vancouver. On arrival in Winnipeg, en-route to Vancouver, the sun was shining brightly, like it often does on a Manitoba winter day, so the family got off the train to enjoy the sunshine. They had never experienced such cold and their jaunt lasted about 2 minutes before they got back on the train.

Bob was raised and educated in Richmond, British Columbia and left school after completing grade 10. In 1963 he enrolled in the Royal Canadian Navy under the Apprenticeship Program. Under this program he committed to 3 years of training as a Marine Engineering Mechanic (Stoker) and then a further 4 years of service. He did the majority of his training at HMCS (Her Majesty’s Canadian Station) Naden in Esquimalt, BC. He finished the course with a 6 month apprenticeship on the HMCS (Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship) Qu’Appelle and a promotion to Leading Seaman (LS). He was next posted to HMCS Annapolis and while serving on her, they had the distinction of being the first RCN ship to visit Aalborg, Denmark after WW II.

LS Spence was seeking adventure and when an opportunity presented itself he took a transfer to the east coast, HMCS Stadacona in Halifax, NS. Shortly after arriving at Stadacona Bob attended a dance and met Alice Louise Herron who was also in the service. They dated a short time and were married 06 September 1967. They had 3 children, Jeffery Bruce 1968, Robert Ryan 1972 (deceased 08 February 2019), and Kelly Kristin 1974. From 1968 until 1970 LS Spence served on HMCS Annapolis and HMCS Bonaventure, Canada’s last aircraft carrier. He had agreed to 7 years and as his release date approached he finished his High School and got his Machinist License (NS) prior to release.

Upon Bob’s release from the Navy the Spence family moved to Thompson, MB where Bob had accepted a position as a Mechanic at the refinery. While there Bob challenged the Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) exam, passed and got his license. After approximately one year the Spence family moved to Gillam where Bob worked for Manitoba Hydro, repair and maintenance on power generating turbines. After a year in Gillam, the family moved to Prince Rupert, BC where Bob took the position of Millwright at a paper mill. Twelve months later they were on the move again, back to The Pas, Manitoba. Bob started as a Millwright in 1973 and retired as the Maintenance Superintendent.

Bob and Alice moved to Morden in 2007 after his retirement. Bob spends time curling, golfing and walking his dog. He and Alice are members of the Royal Canadian Legion in Morden.