BRITISH WWI MACHINE GUN CAVALRY OFFICERS TUNIC AND TRENCH CAP.

A superb trench grouping comprising the heavyweight tunic and cap, cuff ranking to a 2nd Lieutenant William Andrew Kean, Machine Gun Corps, MC Winner. One ink stain to the base of the left breast pocket where his pen has leaked. Standard 4 pocket configuration. One Machine Gun Corps button missing to the lower left hand pocket, otherwise all of his Machine Gun Corps buttons are complete. The collar badges are in silver indicating Cavalry Machine Gun Corps. Medal ribbons are the MC., Victory Medal, War & Victory Medal. Wound stripe to the lower right hand sleeve as the tunic is worn and 4 overseas stripes in blue to the opposite sleeve. Tailors label from a King Street, Covent Garden tailor with the name of the tailor missing but clearly inscribed ‘W.A.Kean Esquire, 14.7.17’. Accompanied by his floppy trench cap, complete with the matching silvered Machine Gun Corps badge. One small moth hole. Narrow chinstrap. Football type leather side buttons. Multi stitched circular lining to the upper inner crown. The grouping is accompanied by copies of his war service record, formerly of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, transferred to Machine Gun Corps, served in France from the 14th September 1915, supplement to the London Gazette, named W.A.Kean MC on the 26th January 1919, supplement to the London Gazette 16th December 1918, ‘2nd Lieutenant William Andrew Kean MGC for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, he held onto a trench with two guns after the infantry had evacuated, after firing all ammunition he got out of the trench and under heavy shell fire collected ammunition from casualties and refilled some belts and continued to fire into the advancing enemy. He did splendid work’.

Code: 85610