1939-45 Star : Private C J Spence, 2/18 Battalion, AIF

1939-45 Star. Impressed on reverse with recipient's details.

Colin John Spence was born in West Taier, New Zealand, in April 1912, and arrived in Australia as a young man. He was employed as a school teacher at Gloucester, NSW before joining the AIF in July 1940. Allocated the service number NX33552, he was posted to 2/18 Infantry Battalion, part of the 8th Australian Division, which was sent to Malaya in early 1941. Following the Japanese invasion in December, the battalion was deployed on the eastern side of the Malayan peninsula, and successfully ambushed the advancing Japanese 55th Infantry Regiment on the Mersing-Jemaluang road on the night of 26-27 January 1942. For his leadership and gallantry in the Jemaluang action, Spence was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), but was also severely injured by a sword blow, the wound running from his right shoulder to left waist. He recalled that, at the time, the sensation felt similar to being struck across the back with a length of bamboo, and that he experienced no particular discomfort until he saw the expressions on the faces of his colleagues. Evacuated to Singapore, he was operated on at 2/10 Australian General Hospital the following day by Lieutenant Colonel (later Sir) Albert Coates. In early February, just before the surrender of Singapore, Spence was evacuated to Australia with 100 others aboard an Indian ship. Owing to the serious nature of his wound, and the time needed for it to heal, he was discharged from the Army in October 1942, and resumed his career as a teacher. He worked in coastal areas for many years, since it was thought that sea bathing would assist the healing process. Col Spence died at Forster, NSW in November 2005, aged 93.