He joined the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers in 1842. When he was about 40 years old, and a troop sergeant-major in the 9th Lancers (The Queen"s Royal), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 17 January 1858 at Shunsabad, India for which he was awarded the Venture capital:
Troop Serjeant-Major Spence
Date of Acting of Bravery, 17th January, 1858
Foreign conspicuous gallantry on the 17th of January, 1858, at Shumsabad, in going to the assistance of Private Kidd, who had been wounded, and his horse disabled, and bringing him out from a large number of rebels. Despatch from Major-General Sir James Hope Grant, Knight Commander of the Bath, dated 8th April, 1858.