Virtual War Memorial | John Alexander SPENCE DCM, MM

John Alexander SPENCE DCM, MM Update Details

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SPENCE, John Alexander

Service Number:	3400
Enlisted:	2 August 1915, Perth, WA
Last Rank:	Sergeant
Last Unit:	52nd Infantry Battalion
Born:	Fremantle, WA, 1893
Home Town:	Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Fremantle, Western Australia, 20 November 1962, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Fremantle Cemetery, Western Australia
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

2 Aug 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3400, 12th Infantry Battalion, Perth, WA
1 Nov 1915:	Involvement Private, 3400, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: ''
1 Nov 1915:	Embarked Private, 3400, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Fremantle
1 Jun 1916:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 12th Infantry Battalion, Egypt
23 Jul 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3400, 12th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières
3 Sep 1916:	Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3400, 12th Infantry Battalion, BW to finger. Remained at duty.
16 Sep 1916:	Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12th Infantry Battalion, France
7 Jun 1917:	Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3400, 12th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines
6 Jul 1917:	Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Battle of Messines, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Messines. He led his men to the attack with great courage, capturing two enemy field guns and killing the crews.
4 Jan 1918:	Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, 52nd Infantry Battalion, France
5 Apr 1918:	Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3400, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Dernancourt/Ancre
24 Apr 1918:	Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3400, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Villers-Bretonneux, GSW to hip and thigh. Evacuated to UK. Never rejoined unit.
6 May 1918:	Honoured Military Medal, Dernancourt/Ancre, For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Dernancourt on the 5th April 1918.
22 Mar 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3400, 52nd Infantry Battalion, RTA 10 December 1918 and discharged as MU (wounds).

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