Summary

Australian Army tropical service helmet, khaki-covered with rising sun badge at front, issued to Lt Edward John Gaynor. The helmet was made in London and inscribed 1909, and may have been issued during Edward's army service before World War I.

Born in 1892, Edward passed the Melbourne University Commonwealth Public Senior Clerical Exam and became a clerk in the Prime Minister's department. When he enlised he had already served for 4 1/2 years in the 1/6 Australian Infantry Regiment (AIR), including over three years as a commissioned lieutenant. Edward served in the 23rd Battalion, First AIF 7 May 1915 - 12 January 1917. He landed in Gallipoli 3 September 1915 and remained there until he received a severe arm wound from a bomb on 25 November. He was shipped to Malta where he was treated for nearly four months but remained unfit for duty due to continued paralysis of his right arm. He was repatriated to Australia, and was discharged from the Army in January 1917. He was given an invalid pension and joined the 3rd District Guard of the home service unit. Even in Australia he was not safe, and while travelling in an army car was injured in a collision with a cable tram in St Kilda, outside Victoria Barracks, receiving head and eye injuries.

Physical Description

Khaki-covered helmet, linen puggaree,with rising sun badge at front, green material lining under brim leather lining band and chinstrap.

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