23/799 Rfm Peter Kean, 4th Battalion, 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade
NZEF Trio - KiA at Le Quesnoy - Kean
The emotive 1914/15 Star trio awarded to the next-of-kin of 23/799 Peter Kean, who was killed during the famous capture of Le Quesnoy by the New Zealanders, the last main action for the NZ Division of the Great War.
Peter Martin Kean was born 30th October 1882 at . Son of Denis and Mary Kean (née Corcoran). At the time of his enlistment in 1915 he was working as a farm labourer at Wedderburn. He embarked with the 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade and saw active service during the Senussi Campaign in Egypt over Christmas 1915. He transferred to the Western Front and was wounded during the Battle of Messines, suffering a gunshot wound to the shoulder. After recovery and a posting to the NZ RB Reserve Depot, Kean returned to his unit in France in March 1918, but transferred to the 4th Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade the following month.
On 4th November 1918, the 4th Battalion was at the forefront of the assault on the ramparts of the town of Le Quesnoy - famously using ladders to scale the walls. During this attack Kean was killed in action. His body was later recovered and he lies in Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine-Au-Bois.
The trio is correctly impressed 23/799 RFLM. P. KEAN. N.Z.E.F.