Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Able Seaman F. Kean, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who after 16 months service and being posted to the Machine Gun Company, Royal Naval Division was discharged for underage enlistment. On being remobilised he served on the Western Front with Hawke Battalion and was wounded in action in October 1918 during the Second Battle of Cambrai

British War and Victory Medals (T.Z.5547 F. Kean. A.B. R.N.V.R.) edge bruise, nearly extremely fine (2) £70-£90

Frederick Kean was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire on 3 April 1899 and enlisted into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Royal Naval Division in June 1915 declaring his his age as 18 years, when in reality he was only 16 years and 3 months. In January 1916 he was promoted to Able Seaman and the following July he was posted to the Machine Gun Company. At the end of October 1916, after 16 months service, his true age was discovered and he was immediately demobilised due to “mis-statement as to age”. On 11 May 1917 he was remobilised on becoming of age, but less than a month later was given 28 days detention for being in possession of a forged pass and travelling voucher. On 16 July 1918 he was posted to Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Division, joining them in France on 28 August 1918. On the 8 October 1918, Kean was wounded in the nose, neck and chest during his battalion’s attack on Cambrai, where they suffered 13 killed, 86 wounded and 10 missing. After being evacuated back to Britain he was admitted to Leeds War Hospital. He was demobilised in February 1919.