Seven: Private J. Spain, East Lancashire Regiment, later Battery Quartermaster Sergeant, Royal Artillery, who was wounded in 1916 whilst service with the Kut Relief Force in Mesopotamia

1914-15 Star (7524 Pte. J. Spain. E. Lan: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7524 Pte. J. Spain. E. Lan. R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (742322 Sjt. J. Spain. R.A.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial, with Second Award Bar (742322 B.Q.M. Sjt. J. Spain. R.A.) last with named card box of issue and outer OHMS transmission envelope addressed to ‘Mr. J. Spain, 32 North Erskine Street, Dundee’, contact marks to the Great War awards, these very fine, the rest nearly extremely fine (7) £300-£400

John Spain was born in Oldham, Lancashire, in 1898 and attested for the East Lancashire Regiment on 28 August 1914. He served with the 6th Battalion during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of War from 23 September 1915, and the following year in Mesopotamia as part of the Kut Relief Force. The Battalion, as part of the 13th Division, took part in the attack on the Dujaila Redoubt, 7-9 March 1916, the Battles of Hanna and Fallahiyeh, 5-8 April 1916, and the Battles of Bait Aisa and Sannaiyat, 17-22 April. Wounded during his service with the Kut Relief Force, Spain was subsequently discharged on account of his wounds on 13 July 1916, and was awarded a Silver War Badge.

Spain joined the Territorial Army following the cessation of hostilities and was posted to the Royal Artillery. Advanced Battery Quartermaster Sergeant, he served during the Second World War at the Royal Artillery Practice Camp batteries at Tilshead, Otterburn, and Redesdale, and was awarded his Efficiency Medal in 1943. Following the cessation of hostilities he was posted to 79 Field Regiment in Germany, as part of the British Army of the Rhine, in September 1945, and was released on 10 July 1946. Re-enlisting, he was awarded a Second Award Bar to his Efficiency Medal in 1950, and was finally discharged on 15 October 1952. He died in Dundee on 28 June 1956.

Sold with various riband bars; Army Council enclosure for the Second War awards, with card box of issue; Record Office enclosure for the Second Award Bar to the Efficiency Medal, in OHMS envelope; and copied research.