Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leslie Michael (known as ‘Mick’) was born at Thebarton on the 14th August 1906. He was the third son of John Christopher and Jane Spain. He had two older brothers, John Christopher and Thomas (Tom), four older sisters, Margaret Mary, Eileen Helen, Dora May and Ethel. (Two-year-old Rose died in June 1896). The children had quite varied talents with older sister, Margaret being the first boarder at Loreto in 1907, and by1910 had gained University music honours.
Not being tall, both Mick and Tom were both sportsmen and were of a good size to become jockeys. Tom followed this path professionally, but Mick used his speed, leap and tactical skills to become a talented footballer, playing for Underdale. As a seventeen-year-old Mick was Captain Coach preparing his team playing in the Amateur League, for the coming season. At training, he made a focus of specific skills – that year it was the Flick Pass, which the team mastered and utilised to great advantage. Aged 21 Mick showed outstanding form, kicking a huge 28 goals in just three matches, inevitably being the leading goal kicker. The following season, Mick relinquished both captain and coaching roles to focus on his own playing responsibilities. He completed the season scoring an impressive total of 33 goals, winning the Grand Final against University and being named in the best players.
This, however, did not prevent him as a 23-year-old, from also playing in football matches for a jockeys’ team, (captained by his brother Tom, by then a professional rider,) in a match against a police team at Thebarton. The Register newspaper published a photo of him taking a mark during the match. The brothers were praised for doing much for their side. In subsequent years Mick also played in a representative jockeys’ team in an annual match against veteran league footballers at the Sacred Heart College Oval, Glenelg and in another match against the Waterside Workers at the Alberton Oval, again joined by his brother, Tom. The proceeds of that match were for the Mayor of Port Adelaide’s Relief Fund. Mick also turned his hand to officiating as a central umpire.
By the end of the ’38 season, Mick announced his retirement from football, with the Mail recording that ‘After 18 years of amateur football, Mick Spain, Underdale goal sneak, announced his retirement after the AI Grade Final today. Spain has been with Underdale since 1927. He captained them from 1930 to 1935.’ He was described as ‘one of the most consistent performers in Amateur League, and for many years leading light and skipper. He acknowledged early the ravages on his body from the sport well before his jockey brother Tom, who suffered numerous falls, fractures and concussions.
WWII intervened. 33-year-old Mick, a labourer, and his brother, Tom both enlisted on the same day, 5th July ’40 in Adelaide. Mick was allocated the number SX7931 and 39-year-old Tom was allocated the number SX7908 with both being placed in the 2/48th Reinforcements. Training at Woodside followed as the brothers and other new enlistees prepared to head overseas.
In a cruel blow, the following week, the sons attended their 69-year-old mother, Jane’s funeral. She was buried with her own mother, and her baby daughter, Rose in the West Terrace Cemetery.
The brothers arrived in the Middle East in March the following year, with their brief placement in the 2/48th Battalion Reinforcements changing. Mick was allocated to the 2/4th Field Ambulance.
Any news from young men serving overseas was shared with friends and often re-published in newspapers as happened with one of Mick’s letters in August ’41 ‘Friends of the West Torrens sportsman, Pie. L. M. ("Mick") 'Spain, a brother of the Morphettville jockey, Tom, will be pleased to learn that he is doing well overseas. Ini a letter received from Mick today he tells of many interesting experiences. and mentioned that he had recently met many pals, all of whom were going along fine. Unfortunately, a few days before Mick's letter arrived. news was received of the death of one of the number---Don Walte, the Popular West Torrens footballer-and his many friends were grieved to learn that this fine athlete had passed on.’ Not unexpectedly, Mick also caught up with so many soldiers, ex-footballers of note, who had all enlisted.
A fellow soldier, a coursing judge in civilian life, added that "Our only sport here is two-up, and plenty of It. I've had a good run myself. "I am writing this on a box under my truck but may shift any tick of the clock because there's a Jerry plane not far away, and dugouts are first preference if he comes down. I don't think Jerry has missed a day "laying eggs" over Tobruk since we came here. but he does no damage as the place is already in ruins." He said the flies were terrific, and the water brackish. "Still we can take it, and intend seeing it through to the finish."
Tom also wrote home, excited that he had been able to watch Mick, one of the best forwards in Adelaide’s Amateur League, kick seven goals in an inter-battalion football match. Much prestige was attached to these games by both the players and the watching troops.
By February the following year, Mick returned to Australia where he was soon granted a fortnight’s compassionate leave following the death of his father, John who had lived to be 72 but died in July ’42.
Mick’s brother Tom received an early discharge on the 11th March ’43, just prior to his 43rd birthday. It was perhaps ironic that he was classified ‘fit for employment in civilian life’, when it was his employment as a jockey that had caused what the Army diagnosed as post-concussion syndrome.
Mick continued to serve, heading to Queensland in preparation for the tropical conditions he would endure serving in New Guinea. He had two stints, the first in ’42 and again in ’43 until the start of ’44. Unfortunately, he contracted several bouts of malaria before sailing to Morotai in June ’45. With deteriorating health exacerbated by the conditions, including dehydration, Mick experienced the painful development of ‘stones’ (renal colic) in Borneo causing him to be hospitalised. He finally left Singapore, returning home via Melbourne before eventually being discharged on the 28th November ’45. He was 39 years old.
Aged 75 Mick died on the 31st May 1982. He now rests in the Derrick Gardens, Centennial Park Cemetery Path 42 Plot 840B. His plaque proudly names his service in both the 2/48th Battalion and the 2/4th Field Ambulance.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.