The Rev William Spinks died of wounds on this day in 1918
William was a Baptist Minister who resigned his position with Woodgate Baptist Church to serve with the YMCA in France giving pastoral care in hospitals in Etaples.
After a period of ill health back in England, William returned to Etaples in mid May 1918 and had only been back in France for a few days when the Germans carried out an air raid on 19 May 1918 on the hospital in which he was working.
Whilst sheltering a young Chinese man with his own body, he was severely wounded by shrapnel, with a serious wound at the base of his spine. He died ten days later, aged 45. His wife had been notified of his condition but had not travelled beyond Folkestone before hearing of her husband's death.
William is now buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, his headstone succinctly tells his fate in four lines of text.
The personal inscription on the headstone reads:
"Died from injuries received
Whilst rescuing a Chinaman
During an Air raid
Greater Love Hath No Man"