This greatcoat has been lurking behind my desk for a while and belonged to Fred MacKenzie, service #148127 of Altamont Manitoba. Enlisted August 6, 1915 and served with the 8th Battalion, Little Black Devils Winnipeg. An accidental injury occurred on April 30, 1917 where Fred sustained shrapnel wounds to his face and hands. According to the investigation at the time a fire was lit in the vicinity of the Douai Tunnel near Vimy Ridge. Unknowingly an unexploded Mills bomb detonated under the fire injuring MacKenzie and several others.
On April 8, 1918 he was diagnosed with Chicken pox.
On April 29, 1918 he sustained gunshot wounds to his right arm and chest and was subsequently discharged and shipped home. Seems April was not Fred's lucky month although he survived the war.
The helmet on this display belonged to Edward Patey of the 3 rd Battalion. Edward sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm on Sept. 8, 1918, survived the war and died in the 1970's in Mississauga Ontario.
The gasmask is a british/Canadian issue with a bronze coloured canister and flapper guard.
thanks for looking,
Cheers
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