| Regimental number | 6645 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Port Darwin, South Australia |
| True Name | SPAIN, Prudencio Vidal Puerte |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Fitter and turner |
| Address | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 21 |
| Height | 5' 6" |
| Weight | 125 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Alfred Spain, Port Darwin, Northern Territory |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Perth, Western Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 28th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/45/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A28 Miltiades on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 49th Battalion |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Discharge date | |
| Family/military connections | Brother: 3496 Pte Felix SPAIN, Australian Corps School, returned to Australia, 27 March 1920; Brother-in-law: 5079 Corporal Joseph Edward GREEN, Anzac Provost Corps, discharged, 24 October 1919. |
| Other details |
War service: embarked from Fremantle, 29 January 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 27 March 1917. Transferred to 52nd Bn, 13 June 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 2 July 1917; taken on strength, 52nd Bn, 22 July 1917. Transferred to 51st Bn, 7 August 1917. Admitted to 13th Australian Field Ambulance, 11 September 1917 (cut head, accident); transferred to England, 15 October 1917; admitted to War Hospital, Lakinham, 16 October 1917 (trench fever). Transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 26 November 1917. Granted furlough, 27 November 1917, to report to No. 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 11 December 1917. Convicted in civil court, 20 September 1918, of obtaining good by false pretences: fined 2 pounds and awarded forfeiture of 4 days' pay. Marched in to No. 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 20 September 1918. Found guilty of being absent without leave, 11-17 September 1918: awarded 6 days' Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeiture of 13 days' pay. Found guilty by Court Martial, Fovant, 10 October 1918 of (1) being absent without leave at Hurdcott, 26 June-1 July 1918; (2) of improperly wearing 3 chevron ribbons in Norwich, 1 July 1918; (3) improperly wearing a WO II badge at Fovant, 24 September 1918. Awarded 1 day's detention and forfeiture of 31 days' pay. Tried by District Court Martial, Longbridge Deverill, 17 December 1918 of (1) being absent without leave, 6-19 November 1918, and (2) conduct prejudicial ... by masquerading as an officer: found guilty on charge (2): awarded 90 days' detention. Discharged from Lewes Detention Barracks, 14 March 1919. Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Armagh', 5 April 1919. Disembarked Durban, South Africa; failed to return to his ship. Found guilty of being absent without leave; returned to Australia under detention on HT 'Commonwealth', 10 May 1919; disembarked Fremantle, 30 May 1919; discharged (termination of period of enlistment), Perth, 4 July 1919. Died suddenly while attending a theatre performance. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal A serial fraudster, he at various times claimed to have been awarded the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal. |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 22 |
| Place of burial | Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, SPAIN Percy
Paul Rosenzweig, 'Lieutenant Percy Boyle VC DCM MM: the war service record of Prudencia Spain', Sabretache LX: 2 (June 2019), 4-21. |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
