John Mainprize

Medals are shown left to right, as per the bullet point list above.

John (Jack) Mainprize was born on the 25th of March 1887 in the village of Wold Newton near Bridlington.

Before the First World War he worked as a labourer.  Whilst serving with the 5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment (as the Green Howards were called at the time) he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions during an attack in August 1917.

His citation reports “He displayed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the attack he stood up and shot three of the enemy in charge of a machine gun, afterwards going forward and bringing in the gun. During the remainder of the day he lay out well in front of the British trenches and did excellent work sniping, setting a fine example of energy and keenness.”

In April 1918 he suffered serious gunshot wounds and was hospitalised in Rouen.

After the war John worked as a gas works fitter in Bridlington. He was a member of the local Green Howards Association and was awarded his fifty-year gold badge in 1965.

He spent his last years in the Royal British Legion home for disabled and aged ex-servicemen in Ripon. He died, aged 81, on 13 May 1969.