Richard Spender

Richard Willian Osborne Spender, also known as Dicky Spender, was a British poet and officer in the British Army during The Second World War. He served as a paratrooper in the North African campaign and was killed in action at the Battle of Sedjenane whilst leading a charge against a German machine gun position. He was recognised as a poet during his life and has been celebrated posthumously.

Early life Spender was born in Hereford, the youngest of four children, and son of Frank Osborne Spender and Elizabeth Ann Spender, of Letchworth. His family briefly lived in London before moving to Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire where Spender attended King Edward VI School from 1930 to 1940, where he was Captain of School. He was accepted to read Modern History at St Catherine's College, Oxford, but instead decided to enlist in the British Army.

Military service

After enlistment, Spender was assigned to the Gloucestershire Regiment, and received his officer training at 163 Officer Cadet Training Unit at Royal Military College Sandhurst from January to April 1941. He was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles. In autumn 1941 he became an instructor with 47 Division and later GHQ Battle School, where he played the part of 'Casey' in a training film entitled 'The Fighting Section Leader.'

Legacy Because of his connection to King Edward VI School in Stratford, when the house system at the school was reformed into four houses in 2000, it was decided that one should be named after Spender, with the colour purple.

Opened in 2017, a £2.2 million building housing the new school library as well as English and Computer science departments was named in his honour.