He was the son of John and Sarah Spear of Russell St., St. Sidwells, Exeter and was born in Exeter in the September Quarter of 1889. 

From The London Gazette

15 March 1920

AWARD OF THE DCM TO SERGEANT W. SPEAR

"He showed great gallantry, resource and initiative on several occasion between the 10th and 13th November 1918, when his platoon was engaged on patrol work and acting as advanced guard between Renaix and Grammont.*

During these operations he personally reconnoitred positions, and from his reports material assistance was rendered to the infantry."

*These were the final days of the Great War. On 11th November, the Canadians captured Mons and at 11.0am that day, the British Army called off all fighting in accordance with an armistice signed earlier that morning with representatives of the German High Command. However, this news took some time to reach every single British and German unit on the front line and the dangers faced by William Spear on the dates mentioned were still very real.