28890 2nd Lieutenant Louis Philip Kane, NZEF
NZEF Pair - Officer - Kane
The British War Medal and Victory Medal pair to 28890 2/Lt. Louis Patrick Kane.
Louis Kane, a clerk employed by the Timaru Herald newspaper, was born in Timaru on 25th August 1894, the son of Patrick and Hanna Kane. He enlisted for service with the NZEF in August 1916, and sailed with the 18th Reinforcements. Kane served on the Western Front with 2nd (South Canterbury) Company, 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment from March 1917. He was promoted to corporal in May 1917, and was wounded on th June 1917 during the Battle of Messines. He was promoted to sergeant whilst convalescing, in July 1917, rejoining his unit the following month. In December 1917 Kane was nominated for a commission, and in May he graduated from OTU as 2nd Lt. Kane returned to France in June 1918, serving out the remainder of the war with D Company, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade.
During the Second World War Kane served as a 2/Lt. in the Nicholson Battalion, Home Guard. This service would qualify Kane for the New Zealand War Service Medal, but there is no evidence this was ever claimed.
After the war Louis Kane worked as a journalist in various parts of the country. He died in Wellington on 5th September 1971.
Both medals are correctly impressed 28890 2/LT. L. P. KANE. N.Z.E.F. Medals to New Zealand officers who were commissioned from the ranks and saw fighting service as officers are difficult to find, as significant numbers of commissions were granted after the war had ended.