Spence was born in 1818 in Inverkeithing, Fife, Scotland. He joined the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers in 1842. When he was 40 years old, and a troop sergeant-major in the 9th Lancers, British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 17 January 1858 at Shumsabad, India for which he was awarded the VC:
