Canada. A Victory Medal to Greek-born Private Anastos Spanos, WIA during the Battle of the Canal du Nord

(3083264 PTE. A. SPANOS. 14-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Edge nicks, bruised, gilt wear, spotting, original ribbon, fine.

Footnote: Anastos Spanos was born on March 8, 1896 in Cape Matelan, Greece (although during a medical examination conducted in January 1919, his birth date is recorded as December 15, 1896), the son of Charles Spanos and Mary Spanos. He was a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (3083264) with the 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Quebec Regiment, on April 3, 1918 in Montreal, Quebec, at the age of 22, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Charles Spanos of Cape Matelan, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his religion was Green Orthodox and that his trade was that of Machinist. Private Spanos embarked for overseas from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Melita on April 17, 1918, arriving in England on the 28th. Upon arrival in England, he was posted to the 23rd Reserve Battalion and placed on command to the Segregation Camp at Frensham, from April 28 to June 6, 1918. Private Spanos was struck off strength of the 23rd Reserve Battalion, to the 14th Infantry Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment), for service in the French theatre, on September 11, 1918. He arrived at the Canadian Base Depot in France on September 12th, which was followed four days later by his arrival at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp on the 16th. Private Spanos left for the 14th Infantry Battalion on September 21st, joining them in the field the same day. He was in action one week afterwards at the Battle of the Canal du Nord, on September 28, 1918, when he suffered a gun shot (shrapnel) wound to his right shoulder, which caused two exit wounds. He was initially admitted to No. 4 General Hospital Dannes at Camiers, before being immediately invalided to England. Upon arrival in England, he was posted to the Quebec Regimental Depot and admitted to Berrington War Hospital at Shrewbury on September 29th. His wounds had healed by November 4th and after seven weeks hospitalization at Berrington, he was transferred and admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom on November 16th. After nine days at Epsom and declared to have "no disability", he was discharged from hospitalization on November 25th. He was attached to the 2nd Canadian Convalescent Depot at Bramshott on November 25th, then posted to the 1st Canadian Convalescent Depot at Bramshott on December 5th. Private Spanos returned to the 23rd Reserve Battalion on December 17th and was taken on strength at Bramshott. He was placed on command at the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park, Rhyl, North Wales, on January 8, 1919 for return to Canada. He embarked Liverpool, England aboard the HMT Aquitania on January 18, 1919, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 24th and posted to the Casualty Company on January 27th. Private Anastos Spanos, 14th Infantry Battalion was discharged upon demobilization at Military District No. 4 in Montreal, Quebec, on February 17, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Spanos died in July 1975, the exact date not known, at the age of 79. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, Plot: Public Lot-7, Section-4, Grave-503. The Department of Veterans Affairs was informed that he had passed away, however, the date of his death was not stated, the death notification form dated October 22, 1975.