Summary

Australian Army uniform, 1914-1918, belonging to Lieutenant Edward John Gaynor, 23rd Battalion Australian Imperial Forces. Uniform consists of jacket, field service cap, breeches, pair of puttees.

Lieutenant Gaynor was born 17 June 1872, and was 22 years old when he enlisted on 7 May 1914. He was a clerk in the Commonwealth Public Service, single, living at 'Wendowrie', 56 Albert Street, East Melbourne, probably with his family. He had already given over four years of military service, qualifying as a 2nd lieutenant in 1912. He left Melbourne on the Euripides transport on 8 May 1915. He arrived in Gallipoli on 30 August, and received a bomb (later described as bullet) wound on 25 November, damaging his forearm and fracturing his ulna. He was sent to hospital in Malta, and boarded the H.S. 'Karoola' for Australia on 12 April 1916. He was noted to be suffering from paralaysis of the right arm, the result of a compound fracture and a loss of a portion of the 3rd right ulna bone. He was considered unfit for service. He was discharged 13 January 1917, and was treated in the no.11 Australian General Hospital in Caulfield.

Gaynor then joined the 3rd District Guard, a home service unit. The unit camped in Domain Road, St Kilda. While inspecting a guard, the army car in which he was travelling collided with a cable tram in front of Victoria Barracks. He received head and eye injuries and was admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital. He was discharged and returned to the Domain camp. Years later authorities could not find record of this injury.

Physical Description

Khaki twill jacket. Jacket is lined with internal left breast pocket. Two hip pockets with button flaps. Two breast pockets with pleat and three pointed button flaps. Waist band with pocket opening on right hand side. Collar with rounded lapels. Rising Sun 'Australian Commonwealth Military Forces' collar badges. Lieutenant's pips of shoulder straps with 'Australia'. Brown and red colour patches of 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion with brass 'A' on both sleeves below shoulder. Sleeve with sewn back pointed cuff. Wound stripe on left sleeve. Vent at centre back and two metal belt hooks.

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