Victor Spencer

Who was Victor Spencer?

Victor Manson Spencer was a volunteer from Invercargill, New Zealand who fought in the Otago Regiment of the New Zealand Division in World War I. Victor was executed for desertion on 24 February 1918, despite later suggestions that he was severely traumatised by shellshock, having fought and survived several campaigns.

New Zealand soldiers were subject to British military law. By contrast, death penalties imposed on Australian soldiers had to be confirmed by the Governor-General, which the Australian government did not allow.

Spencer was formally pardoned under the provisions of the Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Act 2000 which was passed by the New Zealand Parliament, in a departure from custom since pardons are normally granted by the Crown, and are rarely posthumous. The grounds for the pardon was that the execution was not a fate that Spencer deserved but was one that resulted from the harsh discipline that was believed at the time to be required; and the application of the death penalty for military offences being seen at that time as an essential part of maintaining military discipline.

Section 8 of the Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Act reads thus: